The Karnataka government is planning to ban social media for children below 16 years. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah informed this while presenting the state budget for 2026–27 in the Vidhana Soudha on Friday.
Presenting his record 17th budget, Siddaramaiah said the move aims to prevent the adverse effects of increasing mobile usage among children.
“The use of social media will be banned for children under the age of 16 to prevent the adverse effects of increasing mobile usage. The ban is aimed at preventing the negative impact on children caused by increasing mobile phone usage, ” Siddaramaiah, who uses only one name, said in his budget speech.
He also announced that an AI and Technology Park will be set up under the Indian Institute of Science, which will establish a Robotics and AI campus named the “Bangalore Robotics and AI Innovation Zone” in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organisation and Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation Limited.
“AI and Tech park under IISC will set up a robotics and AI campus called Bangalore Robotics and AI innovation zone in collaboration with ISRO and Keonics,” he added further.
The Karnataka Chief Minister further announced that the North-South Corridor project from Hebbal Junction to HSR Layout-Silk Board Junction and the East-West Corridor project from K. R. Puram to Mysore Road, covering a total length of 40 km, have been approved at an estimated cost of Rs 40,000 crore under the BOOT model. In the first phase, tenders have been invited for the 17-km North-South Corridor project for Rs 17,780 crore.
Karnataka Budget 2026-27
Karnataka State Budget 2026-27 has been pegged at Rs 4,48,004 crore, with a focus on technology-driven growth, infrastructure development, and environmental sustainability.
Presenting the State Budget, CM Siddaramaiah said that by not adhering to the federal system of governance as per the constitution, the Centre is doing injustice to Karnataka.
He also said that the state government is pursuing a development strategy that balances welfare programmes with investments in infrastructure and long-term economic transformation, while urging the Union government to be more sensitive to the state’s demands.
Siddaramaiah said Karnataka remains at the forefront of the nation’s development and is among the largest contributors of tax revenues to the country. “Our state is at the forefront in all sectors of the nation’s development; it is one of the key states that contributes the highest tax revenues,” he said.
Drawing an analogy from the epic tradition, the chief minister said, “The cow that yields abundant milk requires proper care. It is Bheeshma’s philosophy that if it becomes weak, the entire cowherd suffers”.
He said the Union government should recognise this and respond sensitively to the state’s demands. Siddaramaiah also emphasised the importance of cooperative federalism for a diverse country like India. “A nation like India, with its diverse cultures, can achieve development only through a cooperative federal system,” he said.
Highlighting the government’s flagship welfare initiatives, the chief minister said the Congress government prioritised economic security and social stability soon after coming to power in 2023 through the Guarantee Schemes, which are based on the concept of universal basic income. “Major studies in India and abroad show that these schemes are improving the financial condition of crores of families and increasing people’s purchasing power,” he said.
At the same time, Siddaramaiah said the government has also focused on capital investment, infrastructure development and long-term economic transformation. Citing economist Amartya Sen, he said economic development that neglects investment in human development is not only unstable but also unethical.
“We are investing in welfare schemes for the people with this understanding,” he said.
The chief minister said the government is developing a Karnataka-specific economic framework described as the ’11G model’ to guide the state’s growth.
According to him, the model includes components such as a guarantee economy promoting welfare and gender equality; good public education aimed at universal access to quality education; good health for all through comprehensive healthcare; a grassroots economy focused on agriculture and rural development; and good governance through people-friendly administration.
He also said that the model incorporates gig economy initiatives for labour welfare; Geographical equality to reduce regional disparities; a global trade economy to promote trade and industry; a tourism-driven, globe-trotting economy; a green economy encouraging renewable energy and environment-friendly activities; and a growing urban economy supporting sustainable urban growth.
“These economic principles form the basis on which we are steering the chariot of the state’s development,” Siddaramaiah said, adding that the finance department’s budget documents elaborate on how the framework defines Karnataka’s unique development model.
The chief minister also said that the state has started the process of filling 56,432 posts in various govt departments this year. He added that, considering the delay in recruitment due to cases pending in courts, the government has given an age relaxation of 5 years.
Siddaramaiah accused the Centre of treating Karnataka unfairly by disregarding the constitutional principles of cooperative federalism.
“Reduced Central share in centrally sponsored schemes, discriminatory allocation in Central Sector schemes, injustice due to 15th Finance Commission’s revenue sharing formula, non-implementation of special grants, recommended by the same commission and the untimely rationalisation of the GST rates have all led to additional burden and pressure on the state exchequer,” Siddaramaiah said.
He also hit out at the Centre, claiming that it systematically weakened the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Siddaramaiah said a weak rural employment scheme threatens the people’s right to employment and increases the financial burden on states.
“Under such circumstances, everyone must unite across party lines to safeguard the interests of the state and assert its rightful claims,” the CM said.
He also said that rate restructuring resulted in reduced GST collections by Rs 10,000 crore for the current fiscal year in Karnataka, and there will be a reduction of Rs 15,000 crore next year.
Siddaramaiah further said that Karnataka continues to demonstrate strong fiscal performance and robust revenue mobilisation capacity. Despite structural challenges due to the Centre’s tax policy changes, Karnataka’s own revenue collection exhibited resilience, he claimed.
(With agency inputs)
