Karnataka Budget 2023 Highlights: CM Siddaramaiah attacks National Education Policy

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah put forward a proposal for two distinct Metro rail projects in Bengaluru, amounting to a total of Rs 31,328 crore.

A simplified software will be introduced for accurate verification of motor vehicle tax transactions. The current tax levied on certain vehicle categories will be revised.

Revenue collection by Mines and Geology Department would be increased by employing scientific and technical methods, through better monitoring of the mining of minerals and minor minerals in order to promote sustainable, safe and scientific mining.

CM Siddaramaiah has said that provisions for urban development, the government will allocate Rs 3,400 crore for effective disposal of legacy waste, liquid waste management and to control of the flow of pollutants into rivers and lakes.

In the 2023-24 Budget announcement, CM Siddaramaiah announces allocation of Rs 100 crore by the state government for repair, renovation and maintenance of Indira Canteens across the state.

Talking about the housing sector, CM Siddaramaiah said, "The provisions of the Forest Rights Act pose a major hindrance to providing housing to forest dwellers."

In view to strengthen traffic management and ensure the safety and security of women in Bengaluru city, action will be taken to establish five traffic police stations and six women police stations.

The average budgetary allocation for the department is Rs 20,000 crore and the estimated cost of approved works is five times this allocation, Siddaramaiah said.

CM Siddaramaiah today said that Karnataka's financial situation has worsened during the previous Bommai-led government.

"At the end of 2022-23, the cost of pending projects was Rs 2.5 lakh crore. It will take a minimum of six years to complete it. This has made it a challenge to take up any new projects. Total liabilities were at around Rs five lakh crore," Siddaramaiah said.

Rs 37,587 Crores allocated for Education, Rs 24,166 Crores for Women and Child Development. This is 11 percent and 7 percent respectively of the total budget allocation. Rs 14,950 Crores, 4 percent of the total allocation, allocated for Health and Family welfare.

1. Revenue Expenditure at Rs 2,50,933 crores
2. Capital Expenditure at Rs 54,374 crores 
3. Loan repayment at Rs 22,441 crores

During his budget speech, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asked the Opposition not to deride the five guarantee schemes of the Congress government as freebies. "I have asked the Opposition parties and others not to deride guarantee schemes as freebies," he said.

CM Siddaramaiah begins the Budget presentation. "Development and Social justice is what Karnataka has strived for, since the times of Basavanna. I have tried to continue the tradition," CM Siddaramaiah said.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday (July 7) said that he will try to widen his 'Samapalu, Samabalu for all' model in the current budget. In a message in Kannada on Twitter, the Congress leader urged people to not listen to politically motivated comments and bless him and his government.

Karnataka Minister KJ George has assured that all five of the Congress party's poll guarantees will be implemented. "We have already started implementing all the promises we made to the people. We will do it. All five guarantees will be implemented. This Budget's greatest expectation - all five guarantees - will be implemented," the minister said.

Congress Legislative Party meeting in underway ahead of budget presentation today. CM Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and other ministers are also present in the meeting.

The Siddaramaiah government is set make budgetary provisions for its five guarantee schemes, namely Gruha Jyoti, Gruha Lakshmi, Anna Bhagya, Yuva Nidhi, and 'Shakti'.

The ruling Congress government in Karnataka may introduce a bill repealing the Karnataka Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, besides another amendment pertaining to the Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation and Development) (Amendment) Act, 2020, in the second state budget of the 2023-24 fiscal today.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah is set to present the second state budget of the 2023-24 fiscal today. The budget is expected to focus on increasing revenue generation and the five pre-poll guarantees of Congress, among other areas.

The ruling Congress government in Karnataka is likely to table a bill scrapping the anti-conversion law called Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2022, in the budget session today. The law was promulgated by the previous BJP government.