Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday announced a series of major welfare and development measures following the first Cabinet meeting chaired by him after taking office. The decisions include free bus passes for students, recruitment to 56,000 government posts, large-scale youth development initiatives, and major urban infrastructure spending, marking an expansive policy push focused on employment, education, and civic development.
One of the key announcements was the introduction of free bus passes for all students across the state. The government said the move aims to improve access to education and reduce financial pressure on families. Shivakumar noted that the decision was taken after receiving feedback from students, and clarified that eligible students will need to apply to avail the benefit under the new scheme.
The Cabinet also approved plans to fill 56,000 vacant government positions through a structured recruitment process. Officials said a detailed hiring schedule will be released soon. Alongside this, the government will establish a private employment exchange system to connect trained youth with private-sector employers, with the aim of improving job matching and increasing participation of Kannadigas in private employment opportunities.
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As part of a large-scale youth engagement initiative, the government announced the formation of 10,000 “Bharat Jodo Youth Associations” across Karnataka. These associations will be set up in every gram panchayat and urban ward, with each unit comprising 150 to 200 members. The programme is intended to promote sports, cultural activities, leadership development, and social harmony, with each association receiving financial support of ₹10 lakh.
In addition to employment and youth-focused measures, the Cabinet addressed long-pending civic and property-related issues. A one-time relaxation will be provided for certain residential buildings with minor deviations, enabling homeowners to obtain Occupancy Certificates and Completion Certificates. The government also extended its B-Khata to A-Khata conversion scheme statewide, describing it as a key step in formalising property ownership and improving access to civic services.
The government further approved a ₹2,000-crore road resurfacing programme for Bengaluru, aimed at upgrading urban infrastructure across the city. Shivakumar said the work would cover roads beyond existing projects and is expected to be completed within three to four months. Defending the scale of welfare spending, the Chief Minister emphasized that the administration was committed to supporting students and youth, stating that the government would allocate necessary funds to implement its initiatives.
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