Karnataka Legislature Approves Bill to Increase Ministerial Salaries
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Synopsis
On March 21, the Karnataka state Assembly passed a bill increasing salaries and allowances for ministers, MLAs, and MLCs significantly. This move, amidst funding complaints, has faced criticism and sparked debate.
Key Takeaways
- Salary increases for Chief Minister and ministers.
- Controversy surrounding the honey trap scandal.
- Increased rental and travel allowances for legislators.
- Additional financial burden of Rs 62 crore on the state.
- Last salary revision occurred in 2022.
Bengaluru, March 21 (NationPress) The state Assembly on Friday approved the Karnataka Legislature Salaries, Pensions and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which suggests substantial salary increases and allowances for MLAs, MLCs, ministers, and Assembly staff.
This decision, made despite ongoing funding shortages reported by the government, has attracted criticism and sparked debate.
Passed amidst the controversy surrounding the honey trap scandal, the Bill proposes a 100% salary increase for the Chief Minister, raising it by Rs 1.50 lakh from Rs 75,000. For ministers, the salary will see a 108% hike, increasing Rs 1.25 lakh from Rs 60,000. Legislators will receive a 100% increase to Rs 80,000 from Rs 40,000. Moreover, the rental allowance for ministers will also be doubled from Rs 1.20 lakh to Rs 2.50 lakh.
The monthly salary for the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the Chairman of the Legislative Council will rise from Rs 75,000 to Rs 1.25 lakh, with their allowances increasing from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.
The proposed Bill was approved by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Thursday. The government wasted no time in presenting it in the legislature on Friday, the final day of the budget session. The implementation of this Bill is projected to impose an additional burden of Rs 62 crore on the state.
The salaries and allowances for legislators were last revised in 2022, with the BJP government committing to review them every five years.
Legislators had previously requested an increase during the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) discussions.
Pensions for legislators will also increase from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000, while the annual travelling allowance for flights and railway services will be raised to Rs 3.50 lakh from Rs 2.50 lakh.
