Govt releases draft reservations for five new Bengaluru city corporations

Bengaluru

The Karnataka government on January 8, 2026, released detailed draft category-wise reservation data for wards across five newly constituted city corporations in Greater Bengaluru, marking a key step towards restructuring urban governance and preparation for long-pending elections. 

The notifications, issued by the Urban Development Department (UDD), provide a clear break-up of ward reservations for Bengaluru South, North, West, East and Central City Corporations, following the earlier delimitation of wards notified in November and December 2025. The draft reservations are based on the 2011 Census and guidelines issued on December 19, 2025.

Reservation break-up by corporation

As per Bengaluru South City Corporation will have 72 wards, of which 7 wards are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC), 1 for Scheduled Tribes (ST), 19 for Backward Class ‘A’, 5 for Backward Class ‘B’, and 40 for the General category. Of these, 34 seats are reserved for women across categories.

Bengaluru North City Corporation will also have 72 wards, with 9 SC, 3 ST, 19 Backward Class ‘A’, 5 Backward Class ‘B’, and 37 General category wards. A total of 34 wards are earmarked for women candidates.

For Bengaluru West City Corporation, the largest among the new civic bodies, 112 wards have been proposed. As per notification No. UDD 18 BBS 2026, reservations include 9 SC, 2 ST, 30 Backward Class ‘A’, 7 Backward Class ‘B’, and 64 General category wards, with 55 seats reserved for women.

According to Notification No. UDD 17 BBS 2026, Bengaluru East City Corporation will comprise 50 wards, including 7 SC, 1 ST, 14 Backward Class ‘A’, 3 Backward Class ‘B’, and 25 General category wards. 23 of these seats are reserved for women.

Meanwhile, Bengaluru Central City Corporation, under Notification No. UDD 16 BBS 2026, will have 63 wards, with 11 SC, 1 ST, 15 Backward Class ‘A’, 4 Backward Class ‘B’, and 32 General category wards, including 30 seats reserved for women.

Objections invited

The government has invited objections and suggestions to the draft ward-wise reservations. Members of the public may submit written objections, with reasons, to the Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department, Vikasa Soudha, Bengaluru, by 5.30 pm on January 23, 2026.

Officials said all representations received within the stipulated period will be examined before finalising the ward-wise reservation, a process seen as crucial for conducting elections to the new city corporations and operationalising the Greater Bengaluru governance model.