Karnataka Budget 2025 LIVE: CM Siddaramaiah begins presentation of budget
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah begins presentation of budget for the 16th time on Friday, March 7, breaking his own previous records.
Last time, the CM had presented a budget amounting to Rs 3.71 lakh crore. Reports suggests that a this year Rs 4 lakh crore outlay is expected.
Here are the live and important updates related to Karnataka Budget 2025:
1:20 PM: Government will begin electrification of 25,971 borewells under Ganga Kalyana scheme, announces CM
1:05 PM: A grant of ₹2 crore has been allocated for Rangayana activities in Mysuru
1:00 PM: New sand mining policy introduced
1:00 PM: Plans are underway to launch an international water metro in Mangaluru
12:30 PM: Budget 2025: Two observers in the assembly gallery shout slogans demanding internal reservation, detained
12:30 PM: The honorarium for Maulanas of mosques has been increased to ₹6,000, while the honorarium for Muazzins has been raised to ₹5,000
12:20 PM: A total of ₹320 crore has been allocated to prevent maternal mortality in the state.
12:20 PM: Two hostels for boys and girls will be built in Bengaluru city to provide residential training to backward classes candidates for competitive examinations
12:15 PM: 8 DCP divisions in Bengaluru increased to 11
12:15 PM: Bomb disposal squads to be set up in five parts of the state
12:10 PM: Rural warehouses will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 60 crore in collaboration with KKRDB
12:10 PM: New satellite market will be established on the outskirts of Bengaluru
12:05 PM: Agricultural research center will be established in Muddebihal taluk of Vijayapura.
12:00 PM: Upgradation of Urdu medium schools to Maulana Azad Public Schools
12:00 PM: Development of Muslim colonies under Rs 1000 crore action plan
11:40 AM: CM announces expansion of Namma Metro network
11:40 AM: Honorarium of ASHA workers has been increased, and mid-day meal staff will receive a ₹1,000 increase in their honorarium
11:35 AM: Bangalore City University to be named after Dr. Manmohan Singh, announces CM Siddaramaiah
11:30 AM: Steps have been taken to double the student intake at Mangalore Fisheries College
11:30 AM: Fishermen will receive a 50% subsidy on the purchase of four-wheelers
11:25 AM: A film library will be established at a cost of ₹3 crore.
11:25 AM: Insurance amount for registered workers in APMCs increased to ₹5 lakh
11:20 AM: Pre-planning of the Mekedatu project has been finalized, and central approval is now awaited: CM
11:20 AM: A project to replenish water in Tumkur district from the Yettinahole project will be implemented at a cost of ₹553 crore.
11:15 AM: Karnataka public school network to be expanded with the opening of 500 new public schools, announces CM
11:15 AM: Dakshina Kannada: The Taluk Hospital in Puttur will be upgraded, and a new medical college will be established in Puttur.
11:10 AM: A total of ₹46 crore has been spent on purchasing cooking equipment under the Midday Meal Scheme.
11:10 AM: CM Siddaramaiah announces Rs 500 crore grant for establishing Film city, additionally announces development of a film academy in private partnership
10:55 AM: Government will launch its own Kannada OTT (over-the-top) platform
10:55 AM: Mandya Agricultural University has been established, and classes will commence this year itself
10:50 AM: Land survey covering 11 lakh hectares area under World Bank-assisted reward scheme will be conducted
10:50 AM: The government has implemented new technology in togari (Pigeon peas) cultivation and launched 5,000 new small food processing units. Additionally, Joida Taluk has been declared the first organic taluk of the state, says CM
10:45 AM: CM Siddaramaiah announces reservations for minority community contractors in state government contracts, including those under Category 2A and 2B.
10:45 AM: Govt to allocate Rs 51,034 crore for five guarantee schemes this fiscal year: CM Siddaramaiah
10:40 AM: Uniform pricing will be implemented in multiplexes, with ticket prices now set at ₹200 across all multiplexes: CM
10:40 AM: Government has urged centre to give 50 percent tax back to the state's contribution, says CM Siddaramaiah
10:40 AM: A grant of ₹428 crore will be provided to support 50,000 farmers under the Agricultural Mechanization Program in the state for the year 2025-26, announces CM
10:35 AM: A sum of ₹44,000 crore was allocated for the farmers' welfare scheme earlier, and this time, the allocation has been increased to over ₹51,331 crore: CM
10:35 AM: State government has introduced new policies aimed at creating employment opportunities for up to 20 lakh people.
10:35 AM: Karnataka's economic growth surpasses the national average, with Karnataka contributing 8.4% to the country's GDP, says CM Siddaramaiah.
10:30 AM: State GDP has grown by 7.4%, says CM
10:30 AM: 233 crores directly transferred to each assembly constituency in a guarantee scheme: CM10:28 AM: Karnataka ahead in the use of renewable energy, giving high priority to education and health sectors: CM
10:28 AM: BBMP to get comprehensive plan under Brand Bengaluru project: CM Siddaramaiah
10:20 AM: Budget aims to fulfill the dreams of every citizen of the state, says CM Siddaramaiah
10:20 AM: Guarantees are not freebies; they are investments in social concern: CM Siddaramaiah
10:20 AM: CM begins the budget presentation with lines from poets Kuvempu and Gopala Krishna Adiga.
10:15 AM: Ahead of the budget presentation, Finance Department Principal Secretary Ritesh Kumar Singh and Secretary P.C. Jaffer handed over the budget copy in a suitcase to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Additional Chief Secretary to the CM, L.K. Atheeq, and Economic Advisor Basavaraj Rayareddy were also present at the event.
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345 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran return home via Armenia
New Delhi (PTI): A group of 345 Indian fishermen, who were stranded in Iran amid escalating regional tensions, returned to India via Armenia on Saturday, officials said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for assistance in return of the Indian nationals.
The Indian nationals arrived in Chennai this evening, the officials cited above said.
The circumstances that led to them being stranded in Iran were not immediately known.
"Thank FM @AraratMirzoyan and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen today from Iran, through Armenia to India," Jaishankar said on social media.
Over 1,500 Indian nationals have left Iran through land border crossings in Armenia and Azerbaijan since the start of the West Asia conflict over a month ago.
"A group of Indian fishermen, stranded in Iran, are returning home via Armenia today; their flight is expected to reach India this evening," a government statement said.
It said the Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the West Asian region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community being accorded the highest priority.
It also made a mention of five Indians being injured in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
According to Abu Dhabi authorities, the Indian nationals were among the 12 people injured by debris from an intercepted missile.
"In an attack in Abu Dhabi, five Indian nationals were injured; four have been discharged, one remains under treatment," the Indian government's statement said.
It said the Indian mission in Abu Dhabi is extending "full" assistance and coordinating with local authorities, adding that their flight is expected to reach India this evening.
