Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: BJP criticises govt, saying it presented a 'Halal Budget'

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: "This is the 16th budget of CM Siddaramaiah. It is a record figure. He has done a very balanced exercise. Valuated at ₹4.09 lakh crores, this budget gives hope that the next one will cross ₹5 lakh crores... The budget has taken care of whole of the society and ensure justice to all..." Karnataka Minister HK Patil tells ANI.

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: Karnataka's Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) will be disbanded as the state has become 'free' of the outlawed members, state chief minister Siddaramaiah has announced, reported PTI.

He made the announcement while presenting the state budget for FY 2025-26. He also announced strengthening of the Cyber Crime Division.

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: The BJP has criticised the Congress-led government, calling today's budget a "Halal Budget" and accusing it of favouring scams that benefit minorities while neglecting SC, ST, and OBC communities.

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: The BJP and JDS held a joint protest at the Gandhi statue in Vidhana Soudha, demanding that funds allocated for SCSP-TSP not be diverted for guarantees and that ₹150 crore be allocated to each MLA’s constituency.

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: The state government has unveiled the New Industrial Policy 2025-30, designed to foster a favourable environment for industries in Karnataka. The policy aims to attract an investment of Rs. 7.5 lakh crore and create 20 lakh new jobs. Priority will be given to promoting industries and generating employment. To streamline industrialists' compliance, the government plans to introduce the Karnataka Employer’s Compliance Decriminalisation Bill and the Karnataka Employer’s Compliance Digitisation Bill. These bills will decriminalise violations by employers and digitalize compliance with employment regulations, making Karnataka the first state in the country to implement such a system.

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: To meet the rising electricity demand in Karnataka, the state has set a target to increase its installed capacity from 32 GW to 60 GW. In line with this goal, the installed capacity was raised from 31.83 GW to 34.99 GW in 2022-23. The state also plans to operationalize the Godhna Thermal Power Plant, which will have an 800 MW capacity and a project cost of Rs. 13,000 crore, through the Tariff Based Competitive Bidding model, a project that has been pending since 2008. Additionally, the Sharavathi Pumped-Storage Power Plant Project, with a 2,000 MW capacity and an estimated cost of Rs. 10,240 crore, is awaiting approval from the MoEF, and the tender process has already begun. To support renewable energy, a 1,000 MWh battery Power Storage facility, costing Rs. 1,846 crore, will be developed by KPTCL through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model at seven substations.

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: The Karnataka government has launched women empowerment initiatives in collaboration with gram panchayat self-help groups. As part of this, ‘Akka Café and Canteen’ will be set up in district and taluka panchayat office premises to generate employment for women. Additionally, Integrated Agricultural Clusters will be developed in every taluka to support women farmers. To enhance nutrition supply, self-help groups will be encouraged to provide eggs and vegetables to schools, anganwadis, and hostels. Furthermore, a Community Tourism Scheme will be implemented in each district, promoting local tourism and entrepreneurship among women.

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: The government will set up an Organic and Millet Hub with an investment of ₹20 crore to promote organic and millet farming, address supply-demand gaps, and provide better market access for farmers.

Additionally, an Agriculture Research Station will be established in Muddebihal taluk, Vijayapura district, while a feasibility study will be conducted for setting up an Agriculture College in Athani taluk, Belagavi district.

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, presenting his 16th state budget today, made a last-minute change to the schedule. Initially set for 11:00 AM, the budget speech was advanced to 10:15 AM to avoid ‘Rahukala,’ an inauspicious period starting at 10:30 AM, according to astrologers. The decision, reported by Prajavani, was taken just before the presentation at Vidhana Soudha

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: Bangalore City University will be renamed Dr Manmohan Singh Bengaluru City University, says chief minister Siddaramaiah during budget speech.

To develop it into a model institution, Government Arts College and Government R.C. College will be merged as its constituent colleges.

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: Siddaramaiah announced that 15 women's colleges will be built on vacant Waqf land in 2024-25 to enhance higher education opportunities for minority women. Additionally, 16 more women's colleges will be established in 2025-26.

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates Karnataka, in its 2025-26 budget, has allocated ₹5 crore to enhance its fight against cybercrime and strengthen the division.

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: CM Siddaramaiah announced a financial assistance scheme offering ₹50,000 to minority families opting for simple, low-cost weddings over lavish celebrations.

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: During his budget speech, CM Siddaramaiah announced an increase in food allowance for police personnel on bandobast duty from ₹200 to ₹300.

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: Karnataka will establish digital agricultural service centres to help farmers and policymakers make informed decisions on crops and enhance productivity.

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: CM Siddaramaiah announced that 4,000 government schools will introduce bilingual sections to enhance students' fluency in English and their mother tongue.

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: CM Siddaramaiah has announced major infrastructure projects to address Bengaluru's traffic congestion,

-North-South Tunnel (18.5 km): A ₹15,000 crore project to build a tunnel between Hebbal Esteem Mall and Silk Board Junction to ease traffic flow.

-East-West Tunnel (28.5 km): A ₹28,000 crore initiative to construct a tunnel from KR Puram to Nayandanahalli, improving citywide connectivity.

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: CM Siddaramaiah announced the creation of a ‘Knowledge Bank’ at IISc Bengaluru to support farmers with information on production techniques, crop health, market trends, and agricultural best practices.

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: CM Siddaramaiah announced that ₹233 crore has been allocated to each assembly constituency in Karnataka for the implementation of guarantee schemes.

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: CM Siddaramaiah announced key allocations in the budget,

- ₹1,800 crore for 21 projects under the 'Brand Bengaluru' initiative.

- ₹3,000 crore for climate resilience, focusing on tackling weather challenges and upgrading drainage and sewage treatment infrastructure.

- ₹555 crore for Cauvery Water Supply Phase 5, aimed at providing drinking water to 110 villages.

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: The Karnataka government has allocated ₹100 crore for the comprehensive development of Jain, Buddhist, and Sikh communities, while ₹250 crore has been earmarked for the development of the Christian community.

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: In the 2025-26 budget, CM Siddaramaiah announced an increase in honorarium for Jain priests, Chief Granthis of Sikhs, and Pesh-Imams of mosques to ₹6,000 per month. The honorarium for Assistant Granthis and Muezzins will be raised to ₹5,000 per month.

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: In the assembly, CM Siddaramaiah announced plans to launch a state-owned OTT platform to promote and develop Kannada language programs.

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: CM Siddaramaiah announced in the assembly that an additional building will be constructed at Haj Bhavan in Bengaluru to enhance facilities and amenities for Haj pilgrims and their relatives.

Karnataka budget 2025 live updates: CM Siddaramaiah announced that Bengaluru Metro will expand to Devanahalli, near Kempegowda International Airport, with the network set to grow to 98.60 km over the next two years, improving connectivity.