Karnataka Budget 2025 Live Updates: BJP calls Karnataka Budget ‘Halal,’ Congress' Priyank Kharge hits back

Karnataka Budget 2025 Live: Bommai slams Budget, calls it 'anti-development'

Former Karnataka CM and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai criticised the state budget, calling it "anti-development." He said it lacks clear purpose and proper consultation. Bommai also claimed that the state's debt has increased and last year's performance was poor, pushing Karnataka towards a financial crisis.

Karnataka Budget 2025 Live: BJP calls Karnataka Budget ‘Halal,’ Priyank Kharge fires back

The opposition BJP has strongly criticised Karnataka’s state budget, calling it a "halal budget" and accusing the Congress government of appeasement.

Hitting back, state minister Priyank Kharge dismissed the BJP’s remarks, calling them baseless. "The BJP is running out of ideas. Their leadership is incompetent. Karnataka is number two in forex direct investment—so is that also a ‘halal budget’?" he said on Friday.

Kharge further accused the opposition of being unable to understand the budget. "They are talking nonsense because they cannot even decipher the numbers," he added.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Ajay Singh hailed the budget as "historic," highlighting that this was Siddaramaiah’s 16th budget and the first time the allocation had crossed ₹4 lakh crore. He assured that all guarantees made by the government were being implemented, with a strong focus on infrastructure, particularly roads.

The BJP, however, has dubbed the budget a "scam" and accused Congress of vote-bank politics. The party pointed to allocations for the Muslim community, including reservations in government contracts, financial aid for weddings, and infrastructure development for Waqf properties and graveyards.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, while presenting the budget, claimed that the government had maintained fiscal discipline for the financial year 2025-26.

CM tabled a 'Halal' budget: BJP

BJP has accused Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah of presenting a "Halal Budget," labelling it as a form of appeasement at its peak. The party criticised the Budget for focusing heavily on provisions aimed at benefiting the Muslim community, while overlooking the needs of other marginalised groups such as SCs, STs, and OBCs. The BJP has termed it a "scam" and accused the Congress of playing vote-bank politics with the state's resources.

In a blazing attack at the Congress leader, who presented his record 16th budget, the opposition BJP called the fiscal plan a "modern Muslim League budget".BJP's spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari lashed out at Siddaramaiah's budget, claiming that the Karnataka government "is running the government exactly similar to how Muhammad Ali Jinnah had run the government in Pakistan."

In Karnataka, the Congress party has passed a modern Muslim League Budget. In this modern Muslim League budget, the Congress party is increasing the honorarium of Imams to Rs 6000. Waqf is being given Rs 150 crores. Money for self-defence training is being given only to minority girls. Over Rs 1,000 Crores is being used for the benefit of minority.

Yesterday, the Karnataka Government spoke about withdrawing cases against Hubballi rioters. So, the Congress party in Karnataka is running the government exactly similar to how Muhammad Ali Jinnah ran the government in Pakistan. It is taking back the Constitutional values and it is only implementing statements, policies which are in the interest of minority communities," Pradeep Bhandari told news agency ANI.

Karnataka Budget 2025-26 Live Updates

Bilingual sections will be started in 4,000 government schools in the state to enhance students’ fluency in English language as well as in the mother tongue: CM

Karnataka Budget 2025-26 Live Updates

Construction of new buildings for 100 veterinary institutions will be taken up under NABARD assistance during the Financial Year 2025-26. Additionally, nNomadic shepherds will be trained in modern sheep husbandry practices and precautionary measures to be followed during natural calamities in collaboration with Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University: CM Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Budget 2025-26 Live Updates

To assist the farmers and policy makers take accurate decisions on crops to improve productivity, Digital Agricultural Service Centres will be established. These centres will use digital, artificial intelligence as well as innovations in the field of geospatial technologies at global stage to find solutions to the challenges being faced by State’s farmers, says CM Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Budget 2025-26 Live Updates

This year's budget will focus on implementing programs across six key developmental dimensions: CM

Welfare Programmes Budget: In addition to our guarantee schemes, our Government has focused on other people-oriented initiatives. We aim to further strengthen the facilities provided to weaker sections of society. Our Government will implement programmes for the prosperity of various groups, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes, Minorities, Women, Farmers, and Laborers.

Agriculture and Rural Development Budget: Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, and Rural Development are complementary sectors that work in harmony with each other. The Government is planning numerous schemes for the comprehensive development of these sectors. These initiatives that increase the income of farmers, fishermen, and others, will play a pivotal role in driving the future economic growth of Karnataka. Efforts will focus on developing villages and improving villagers' incomes through initiatives such as the registration of agricultural and other assets, provision of basic infrastructure, adequate power supply, and availability of warehouses among other initiatives.

Development-Oriented Budget: Our Government acknowledges the decisive role of the infrastructure sector in driving the State's holistic economic growth and has provided substantial funding for capital expenditure in the current year. This is underscored by a 47.3 percent increase, highlighting our development-oriented approach. Investments in health and education will pave the way for building a healthy society.

Prioritizing urban development: Special emphasis has been placed on urban development projects to provide adequate basic infrastructure and quality services to citizens in the rapidly growing cities of the state. Additionally, Bangalore Metropolis, as the largest contributor to the State exchequer, has been witnessing ambitious projects implemented under the 'Brand Bengaluru' concept to improve infrastructure, service delivery and traffic management. Plans have also been designed to reduce the pressure on Bangalore by comprehensively developing second and third-tier cities.

Investment and Job Creation: New policies are being implemented in the MSME, tourism and ITBT sectors which generates the most employment. Priority is being given to create an
investor-friendly environment in the State, which as a result is attracting more investment and creating new jobs.

Governance Reforms: To enhance transparency and efficiency in governance and to curb corruption, technology is being leveraged effectively. We will implement strategies to provide people-friendly and efficient services by adopting administrative reforms, simplifying service delivery and enforcing transfer policies through counselling. Over Rs 1 lakh crore has been directly transferred to the bank accounts of beneficiaries of various Government schemes without any scourge of intermediaries, and certain subsidies have been directly credited to departmental accounts. On an average Rs 233 crore has been transferred to each assembly constituency solely through the guarantee schemes. Measures like direct cash transfers exemplify our Government's accountability. This further strengthens public trust on the Government.

Karnataka Budget Live Updates: 500 new Karnataka Public Schools will be started with Rs 2,500 crore assistance from Asian Development Bank: CM Siddaramaiah

Breaking: Bangalore City University to be renamed after ex-PM Manmohan Singh

Karnataka Budget 2025 Live Updates: Rs 51,034 cr for guarantee schemes and Rs 51,339 cr for Agriculture sector

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah presented the state budget for the financial year 2025-26 in the Legislative Assembly, allocating a sum of Rs. 51,034 crores for the implementation of various guarantee schemes in the current fiscal year.
CM Siddaramaiah emphasized that the government has managed these guarantees while maintaining fiscal discipline, adhering to the fiscal deficit norm of 3 per cent of GSDP and a debt-to-GSDP ratio of 25 per cent over the past two budgets.

The agriculture sector, which faced a negative growth rate of -4.9 per cent in the previous year, has rebounded with a 4 per cent growth in 2024-25, outpacing the national agricultural growth rate of 3.8 per cent.

This recovery has been attributed to government initiatives promoting Kharif sowing, favourable monsoon conditions, and improved reservoir levels. The government has increased its allocation to Rs. 51,339 crore for the farming sector from Rs 44,000 crore last year.

To ensure balanced infrastructure development across Karnataka, the government has launched the Chief Minister's Infrastructure Development Program (CMIDP) with an investment of Rs. 8,000 crores.

Karnataka Budget 2025 Live: Religious and Community Development

The government has set aside ₹100 crore for Jain, Buddhist, and Sikh communities and ₹250 crore for Christian development. A new Sannati Development Authority will be established in Kalaburagi’s historic Buddhist center. Honorariums for Jain priests, Sikh Granthis and Muslim clerics have also been increased.

Karnataka Budget 2025 Live: Minority Welfare Initiatives

The budget emphasises minority welfare, introducing educational and entrepreneurial support schemes. Madrasa students will receive computers and smart boards to aid SSLC exam preparation. ₹150 crore has been earmarked for the renovation of Waqf properties and burial grounds, while ₹1,000 crore has been allocated for the ‘Chief Minister’s Minority Colony Development Programme.’

Karnataka Budget 2025 Live: Strengthening 'Brand Bengaluru'

Under the ‘Brand Bengaluru’ initiative, ₹1,800 crore has been allocated for 21 development schemes. A ‘Comprehensive Health Programme’ worth ₹413 crore will be implemented over three years to enhance the city’s healthcare infrastructure, aiming to meet global standards.

Karnataka Budget 2025 Live: Infrastructure Boost for Bengaluru

The budget prioritises Bengaluru’s infrastructure, increasing the city's annual grant from ₹3,000 crore to ₹7,000 crore. A 40.5 km double-decker flyover worth ₹8,916 crore will be constructed alongside Namma Metro Phase-3. Additionally, ₹3,000 crore will be used to build 300 km of new roads, and 120 km of flyovers and grade separators will be developed to ease congestion.

Karnataka Budget 2025 Live: Fiscal Discipline Maintained

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, while presenting the Karnataka Budget for 2025-26, asserted that the state has adhered to fiscal discipline. The total estimated expenditure stands at ₹4,09,549 crore, comprising ₹3,11,739 crore for revenue expenditure, ₹71,336 crore for capital expenditure, and ₹26,474 crore for loan repayment. The fiscal deficit is projected at ₹90,428 crore (2.95% of GSDP), while the revenue deficit is pegged at ₹19,262 crore (0.63% of GSDP).