Karnataka bears pension burden as Centre contributes just 4 percent of Rs 11,000 crore: Report
Bengaluru: Karnataka has borne the overwhelming share of social security pension payouts in the last two fiscals, with the Union government contributing only a fraction—just 4% of the total Rs 11,831 crore spent—according to official data cited by Deccan Herald on Monday.
The minimal contribution by the Centre towards pension payments in Karnataka, Rs 564.44 crore in 2023-24 and 2024-25, came under scrutiny during a District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reportedly expressed strong displeasure at the Centre’s inaction on revising pension amounts.
“How can a government give just Rs 200 as pension in this day and age? The state government has revised the pension amount while the Centre hasn’t,” DH quoted Chief Minister’s Additional Chief Secretary L.K. Atheeq as saying.
The Union government’s pension amounts, unchanged since at least 2012, range between Rs 200 and Rs 500 per month under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension scheme, Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme, and the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme.
Meanwhile, Karnataka has significantly increased its contribution, paying between Rs 400-2,000 per month as its share under the three schemes.
In addition to raising pension amounts, the state has expanded the list of beneficiaries by easing the criteria. “For example, the Centre’s guidelines say that a person’s disability should be 75 percent or more in order to receive pensions. The state government has reduced the disability limit to 40 percent and above,” the news outlet quoted Atheeq as saying.
Currently, the Centre’s pension schemes cover 14.14 lakh beneficiaries in Karnataka. In contrast, the total number of beneficiaries under all state-funded pension schemes stands at 82.57 lakh.
Data also revealed a broader trend of underfunding. Between 2014 and 2024, Karnataka experienced a shortfall of Rs 25,926.93 crore under various centrally sponsored schemes due to the Centre not releasing its full share. The central government exceeded its committed contribution in only two financial years—2019–20 and 2023–24.
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Centre spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print media ads for RSS centenary, reveals RTI
New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Culture allegedly spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print advertisements marking the 100-year celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply.
The information was sought by RTI activist Ajay Basudev Bose, who filed an application seeking details on expenditure incurred by the ministry for advertisements commemorating the RSS centenary.
Bose shared a picture of the reply from the ministry on his official ‘X’ handle.
“It is informed that an amount of Rs 76,13,129 has been spent on advertisement given in various print media by the Ministry of Culture on the occasion of the completion of 100 years of RSS,” the government’s reply stated.
RTI reply shows Min of Culture Govt of India spent a Whopping Rs 76L,13K,129 on Advertisement in Print Media on occasion of 100 yrs of #RSS
— AJAY Basudev Bose (@AjayBos93388306) April 16, 2026
When Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??@RSSorg… pic.twitter.com/dW4IUtdNCg
Bose questioned the expenditure in the post X, “when Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??”
Reacting to the development, Karnataka’s IT-BT and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge also criticised the spending.
In a post on X, he asked why public money was being used for what he described as a “private ideological project.”
"Modi Sarkar spent Rs 76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS. Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to celebrate their centenary?," he added.
Why is public money being used to serve a private ideological project?
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) April 16, 2026
Modi Sarkar spent ₹76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS.
Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to… pic.twitter.com/EoZ6Pim3IM
According to reports, the RSS describes itself as a volunteer-based organisation and has stated that it functions as a body of individuals rather than a registered entity.
Founded by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925, the organisation is marking its centenary year beginning from Vijaydashami in 2025, with the milestone observed on October 2.
