Bengaluru entrepreneur faces criticism for announcing ban on hiring male candidates from four North Indian states

Karthik SG, founder of A1 Sports World, announced on X that his company would no longer hire male candidates from four North Indian states: Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. The announcement drew strong criticism on social media. Karthik stated that the decision was made after lengthy discussion and debate, citing that the company already employs a Rajasthani woman and that 85–90% of the negative replies came from Bihar-based users.