Elector-Population Ratio: Karnataka sees drop in people below 18 years as senior citizens surge
Bengaluru: Karnataka is experiencing a demographic shift, with the population under 18 years steadily decreasing while the number of adult voters and senior citizens continues to grow. This trend, particularly evident in several districts, raises concerns about a potential population crisis driven by declining birth rates.
As of January 2025, the Elector-Population Ratio (EPR) for Karnataka stands at 70.61, surpassing the national average of 65, according to the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka, as reported by The New Indian Express on Monday.
However, significant variations in the EPR exist across districts. Chikkamagaluru district leads with the highest EPR at 85.84, followed closely by Kodagu at 84.25. In Chikkamagaluru, this means that more than 85 out of every 100 people are aged 18 or older, with a projected population of 11.33 lakh, of which 9.73 lakh are adults enrolled as voters.
“The EPR shows the number of electors in the state. The idea of preparing it regularly is to know if all the people above 18 years of age (voting age) are included in the rolls or not. The present EPR data shows the number of electors in the state is high, the elderly and people above 18 years are more than the young and newborn. However, this does not give the accurate population as the base for calculation (actual population of the state) is not accurately available in the absence of the latest census report,” TNIE quoted Manoj Kumar Meena, Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka, as saying.
District-level officials, when asked to explain the unusually high Elector-Population Ratio (EPR) in certain areas, pointed to factors such as migration, low birth rates, and under-registration of the voting population.
The yet to be released NHFS-6 report mentioned that there is low fertility in the districts of Dakshina Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Hassan, Shivamogga, Bengaluru Urban and Mysuru.
Meanwhile, the EPR is lowest in Bengaluru Urban district and the city’s municipal area, ranging between 51.78 and 63.21.
“Bengaluru houses a large number of young people. It is a youth-centric city with a good number of elderly people and children. But most of them are migratory. They stay here, with voting rights elsewhere. Healthcare facilities and economic growth in Bengaluru is very high, but at the same time the fertility rate is on a gradual decline. A separate study on Bengaluru city is needed,” TNIE quoted experts from the Election Commission and demographers as saying.
Earlier this month, a United Nations report projected that India’s population would reach 1.46 billion in 2025, while highlighting a critical demographic trend: the country’s fertility rate has dropped below the replacement level. This indicates that fewer children are being born than are needed to sustain the current population size across generations, in the absence of migration.
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Karnataka offers extensive incentives in its proposed IT policy
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka has proposed a new Information Technology Policy for 2025–2030, offering extensive financial and non-financial incentives aimed at accelerating investments, strengthening innovation and expanding the state's tech footprint beyond Bengaluru.
The Karnataka Cabinet gave its nod to the policy 2025–2030 with an outlay of Rs 445.50 crore on Thursday after the Finance Department accorded its approval.
The policy introduces 16 incentives across five enabler categories, nine of which are entirely new, with a distinctive push to support companies setting up or expanding in emerging cities.
Alongside financial support, the government is also offering labour-law relaxations, round-the-clock operational permissions and industry-ready human capital programmes to make Karnataka a globally competitive 'AI-native' destination.
According to the policy, units located outside Bengaluru will gain access to a wide suite of benefits, including research and development and IP creation incentives, internship reimbursements, talent relocation support and recruitment assistance.
The benefits also include EPF reimbursement, faculty development support, rental assistance, certification subsidies, electricity tariff rebates, property tax reimbursement, telecom infrastructure support, and assistance for events and conferences.
Bengaluru Urban will receive a focused set of six research and development and talent-oriented incentives, while Indian Global Capability Centres (GCCs) operating in the state will be brought under the incentive net.
Incentive caps and eligibility thresholds have been raised, and the policy prioritises growth-focused investments for both new and expanding units.
Beyond incentives, the government focuses on infrastructure and innovation interventions.
A flagship proposal in the policy is the creation of Techniverse -- integrated, technology-enabled enclaves developed through a public-private partnership model inside future Global Innovation Districts.
These campuses will offer plug-and-play facilities, artificial intelligence and machine learning and cybersecurity labs, advanced testbeds, experience centres, and disaster-resistant command centres.
There will also be a Statewide Digital Hub Grid and a Global Test Bed Infrastructure Network, linking public and private research and development, and innovation facilities across Karnataka.
The government has proposed a Women Global Tech Missions Fellowship for 1,000 mid-career women technologists, an IT Talent Return Programme to absorb experienced professionals returning from abroad, and broad-based skill and faculty development reimbursements.
Shared corporate transport routes in Bengaluru and tier-two cities will be designed with Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation and other transport entities to support worker mobility.
The government said the policy is the outcome of an extensive research and consultation process involving TCS, Infosys, Wipro, IBM, HCL, Tech Mahindra, Cognizant, HP, Google, Accenture and NASSCOM, along with sector experts and stakeholder groups.
It estimates an outlay of Rs 967.12 crore over five years, comprising Rs 754.62 crore for incentives and Rs 212.50 crore for interventions such as Techniverse campuses, digital grid development, global outreach missions and talent programmes.
