Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday, 24 May 2026 marked three years of the Congress government in power by crediting the state's people for his administration's achievements and listing a series of welfare measures rolled out for transport corporation employees and accident victims across Karnataka.

Posting in Kannada on the occasion of the government's third anniversary, Siddaramaiah wrote: 'ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಜನರ ಆಶೀರ್ವಾದದೊಂದಿಗೆ ನಾವು ಅಧಿಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದು ಮೂರು ವರ್ಷಗಳು ಪೂರೈಸಿರುವ ಈ ಸಾರ್ಥಕ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ' ['On this meaningful occasion of completing three years in office with the blessings of the people of the state']. He dedicated all the government's achievements to every Kannadiga and said the administration takes pride in having kept every pre-election promise.

Context

The Congress government in Karnataka assumed office in May 2023 after winning the state assembly elections, promising a package of welfare guarantees alongside employee-friendly reforms in public sector undertakings. The third anniversary, branded under the hashtag #3YearsOfNavaKarnataka, was used by the Chief Minister to present a public account of welfare deliveries — particularly for workers employed in the state's road transport corporations.

Siddaramaiah stated that his government has 'travelled far' in the mission to rebuild a 'strong, prosperous, and self-respecting Karnataka' (ಸಶಕ್ತ, ಸಮೃದ್ಧ, ಸ್ವಾಭಿಮಾನಿ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ) and pledged that efforts would become faster and more effective going forward.

Policy Backdrop

Among the specific measures cited, the government increased scholarships for children of transport staff, with a cumulative payout of ₹4.06 crore reported so far. Ex-gratia compensation paid to dependants of employees who die in service was also raised across all four state transport bodies.

At the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), the ex-gratia was hiked from ₹10 lakh to ₹14 lakh. The North-Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) saw a revision from ₹5 lakh to ₹7 lakh. The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) limit moved from ₹10 lakh to ₹12 lakh, and the Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) from ₹10 lakh to ₹12.50 lakh. Total disbursements under this head were stated at ₹93.34 crore. Separately, financial compensation for dependants of passengers killed in bus accidents was raised from ₹3 lakh to ₹10 lakh.

Karnataka governments have periodically revised ex-gratia and scholarship amounts for transport corporation workers to keep pace with inflation and to maintain workforce stability — a pattern seen across multiple state administrations nationally.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries of these revisions are employees of KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC — collectively among the largest public-sector workforces in Karnataka — along with their families. Families of passengers who die in accidents on corporation-run buses also stand to benefit from the threefold increase in compensation.

Transport unions have historically been a significant political constituency in the state, and enhanced social security provisions are seen as a signal of the government's responsiveness to organised labour within the public sector.

What's Next

The Chief Minister indicated that the government's reform and welfare push would accelerate in the period ahead. Further details on scheme utilisation and any additional revisions are expected to emerge during the 2026-27 Karnataka budget session or through annual corporation reports. The anniversary messaging also sets the political tone as the Congress looks to consolidate its support base ahead of future electoral cycles in the state.