Fri Mar 07 09:19:12 UTC 2025: ## Karnataka Budget 2025: Major Boost for Minority Welfare Initiatives

**Bengaluru, March 7, 2025** – The Karnataka government unveiled its 2025-2026 budget today, featuring a significant focus on improving access to higher education and overall welfare for minority communities. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a series of initiatives aimed at uplifting minorities, sparking both praise and criticism.

Key highlights of the budget include a 50% fee reimbursement for minority students securing professional course admissions through the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA). The National Foreign Student Scholarship for minority students will also see a substantial increase, jumping from ₹20 lakh to ₹30 lakh. The government also plans to establish a regional center of Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) at the Haj Bhavan to broaden access to higher education.

Further initiatives target infrastructure improvements and skill development. The budget allocates funds for constructing 15 women’s colleges on Waqf institution land this year, with another 16 planned for next year. Self-defense training will be provided to 25,000 girls in minority residential schools and colleges. The government also aims to integrate formal education with religious instruction in madrasas, providing necessary classroom resources and preparing students for SSLC exams through NIOS. Commerce streams will be introduced in 62 Morarji Desai Residential Schools, and existing Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in minority-heavy areas will be upgraded. A phased rollout of 250 Moulana Azad Model English Medium Schools is also planned, mirroring the model of Karnataka Public Schools.

Significant financial allocations support these programs: ₹100 crore for the Moulana Azad Public Schools project, ₹1,000 crore for the Chief Minister’s Minority Colony Development Programme, ₹150 crore for the protection of Muslim burial grounds and Waqf properties, and ₹250 crore for the welfare of the Christian community. Further funds are allocated for the development of Jain, Buddhist, and Sikh communities. The budget also includes provisions for enhancing honorariums for religious leaders and promoting simple marriages amongst economically backward minority communities.

The opposition BJP has criticized the budget’s provisions for minorities as “appeasement at its peak,” while the government maintains the initiatives are crucial for promoting inclusivity and social justice.

Read More