Karnataka’s Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar during the 80th Independence Day celebrations at Field Sam Marshal Manekshaw Parade Ground in Bengaluru on August 15, 2026.
Karnataka will focus on creating one lakh new jobs, expanding artificial intelligence (AI) education, and establishing technology hubs across the State as part of its vision for a ‘Young Karnataka–New India’, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said on August 15.Addressing the 80th Independence Day celebrations at Manekshaw Parade Ground in Bengaluru, Mr Shivakumar announced the launch of the Chief Minister Udyoga Sankalpa and Udyoga Nidhi schemes, aimed at improving employment opportunities and encouraging job creation.The State Government has begun the process of filling 72,000 key vacancies, with notifications for all the posts expected to be issued within the next six months, he said.Under Udyoga Nidhi, entrepreneurs in 10 economically backward districts will receive an incentive of ₹2,500 per month for every new job created, with the government targeting one lakh additional jobs through the initiative.AI from class 6 in govt schoolsThe Chief Minister outlined an ambitious technology and education agenda. AI will be introduced in government schools from class 6, alongside the proposed AI Akshara Abhiyana and Coding Gurukula programmes. Bengaluru will get the country’s first government-owned AI university, while AI hubs will be established to strengthen the State’s technology ecosystem.Under the ‘Beyond Bengaluru’ initiative, five global technology centres are proposed in Kalaburagi, Belagavi, Hubballi-Dharwad, Mangaluru and Mysuru. An Advanced Manufacturing Cluster is being established in Doddaballapura, with investment commitments of ₹20,000 crore and an expected employment potential of around one lakh jobs.Mr. Shivakumar said, “Karnataka is targeting a $3 trillion economy, equivalent to ₹320 lakh crore, by 2047. The State’s per capita income had reached ₹4.33 lakh, and Karnataka ranked second in GST and income-tax collections.”Calling on people of Karnataka to participate in the State’s development, Mr. Shivakumar said, “Two hands alone are not enough to pull the chariot of the State’s development. The hands of every Kannadiga must join mine. Let us come together and pull the chariot of development.”The government plans to integrate technology into agriculture through the Chief Minister Raitha Chaitanya scheme, under which drones and satellite imagery will be used for crop surveys. The Raitha Mitra scheme will provide farmers owning three acres or less with a 50% subsidy on agricultural machinery rental charges.On infrastructure, Mr. Shivakumar said, “1,663 km of State Highways, 3,000 km of major district roads, and 125 bridges had been constructed over the past year. Development of 7,100 km of rural roads is under way under the Pragathi Patha scheme with an investment of ₹5,200 crore.”For Bengaluru, infrastructure projects worth ₹1.50 lakh crore have been taken up. The Namma Metro network is expected to expand to 220 km after completion of Phase III, while a 117-km ring road under the Bengaluru Business Corridor is planned at a cost of ₹26,000 crore.According to the Chief Minister, the government has prioritised water security, with 112 major water-resource projects worth ₹16,000 crore approved this year. The first phase of the Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Project is nearing completion, with water expected to reach Tumakuru district by November.Mr. Shivakumar announced plans to establish the Karnataka State Motor Vehicle Insurance Corporation to provide simpler insurance services to vehicle owners.Highlighting the government’s welfare measures, he said that ₹77,000 crore had so far been transferred directly to 1.28 crore women under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, while 1.65 crore households were receiving free electricity under Gruha Jyothi. Women in Karnataka had made around 796 crore free journeys under the Shakti scheme. Published - August 15, 2026 02:49 pm IST
