Karnataka government announces 11 eligibility criteria for Permanent Resident Certificates

The Karnataka state government has defined 11 eligibility criteria for issuing Permanent Resident Certificates (PRCs) as part of the Election Commission of India's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The announcement was made at Vidhana Soudha and inaugurated by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, who said PRCs are one of the eleven documents recognised for inclusion in voter lists.

Eligibility includes birth in Karnataka, at least ten years of continuous residence, parental residence of a decade, completion of class 12 or ten years of education, employment, marriage, ownership of residential property, legal heir status, presence in the voter list, Aadhaar, ration‑card and revenue records. The government also launched a free doorstep delivery service for caste certificates and PRCs, identifying about 4.85 crore caste certificates for distribution. Beneficiaries can download certificates from the official website, receive them via WhatsApp, or collect them at local help centres, with a grievance redressal mechanism through Tahsildars and sub‑divisional officers.

Opposition leader R. Ashoka criticised the scheme as a constitutional overreach and warned of national‑security implications.