Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday, 12 June met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and submitted a detailed memorandum requesting the Centre's support for strengthening the state's security infrastructure, modernising its police force, and expanding law enforcement capabilities. The proposals collectively involve an estimated outlay exceeding ₹1,440 crore across multiple schemes.

Key Demands Raised

At the top of Shivakumar's agenda was the long-pending request to confer the President's Colour award on the Karnataka State Police — the nation's highest honour for a police force. The proposal was first submitted to the Union Government on 8 May 2024 and remains under consideration. The Chief Minister urged the Centre to expedite the approval, noting that Karnataka Police has yet to receive the distinction.

Shivakumar also sought approval to establish two additional India Reserve Battalions (IRBs) in Vijayanagara and Ramanagara districts, under a proposal worth ₹243.87 crore submitted to the Ministry on 4 February 2025.

Modernisation and Infrastructure Proposals

The memorandum included a ₹280 crore proposal under the Assistance to States and Union Territories for Modernisation of Police (ASUMP) scheme for setting up Command and Control Centres and communication infrastructure across four major cities in Karnataka. A separate ₹278.26 crore ASUMP proposal sought upgrades to CCTV surveillance systems at police stations statewide, in line with directions discussed before the Supreme Court of India.

For police training infrastructure, Shivakumar requested approval of a ₹258.53 crore proposal to upgrade facilities at police training institutions, based on gap analysis guidelines prescribed by the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D). He also sought the release of ₹20 crore in the 2025-26 financial year for prison modernisation, covering procurement of CCTV cameras, walkie-talkies, and related security equipment.

CSR Funds and Cybercrime Unit

In a notable ask, the Chief Minister sought inclusion of police-related activities under Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013, which would allow police departments to access Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds for various initiatives — a move that could open a new non-budgetary financing channel for law enforcement.

Highlighting the rising threat of cybercrime, Shivakumar informed Shah that the Karnataka government plans to establish the Karnataka Cyber Crime Control and Coordination Unit (K4C) at an estimated cost of ₹360 crore. He said a detailed project report would be submitted shortly and requested the Centre's support and approval for the initiative.

Other Requests

The Chief Minister also pressed for an extension of the deadline for implementing Rule 52-A of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 in Karnataka and requested Shah to take up the matter with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Shivakumar stated that the full set of measures would significantly enhance Karnataka's policing, internal security, and cybercrime prevention capabilities. How quickly the Centre responds to these proposals will be closely watched, given the scale of investment sought and the ongoing Centre-state dynamics in a Congress-governed Karnataka.