Thu May 22 15:25:36 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

The Karnataka Administrative Reforms Commission, led by R.V. Deshpande, has presented its eighth report proposing 189 reforms to improve governance across various departments in Karnataka. Key recommendations include establishing a temple task force for better temple management, delegating staffing power to the Endowment Commissioner, strengthening the integrity of public service exams through stricter security measures, modernizing frontline offices with digital infrastructure, and streamlining the ration card issuance process.

**News Article:**

**Karnataka Commission Proposes Sweeping Reforms, Focusing on Temple Management and Public Service Transparency**

**Bengaluru, May 22, 2025** – The Karnataka Administrative Reforms Commission has unveiled a comprehensive set of 189 reform proposals aimed at enhancing governance, transparency, and accountability across various sectors in the state. The commission, headed by veteran Congress leader R.V. Deshpande, submitted its eighth report to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday.

A key focus of the reforms is the management of Karnataka’s 34,500 temples. The commission proposes the creation of a dedicated temple task force responsible for crowd control, emergency response, ticketing, and the efficient distribution of prasad during festivals and special events. To expedite temple operations, the report recommends granting the Endowment Commissioner the authority to sanction new staff posts, bypassing the current requirement for Finance Department approval. Crucially, these staff salaries will be funded by temple income, avoiding additional burden on the state budget.

To combat corruption and enhance the integrity of exams conducted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) and the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), the commission advocates for mandatory installation of CCTV surveillance, mobile jammers, and secure storage for question papers and answer sheets. A two-tier exam system is also proposed to reduce candidate numbers and improve monitoring.

The report also emphasizes the need for digital governance. It suggests modernizing frontline offices such as gram panchayats, primary health centers, raitha seva kendras, and police stations, acknowledging the current lack of basic infrastructure in many of these locations. Streamlining the issuance of ration cards through the integration of State-run platforms such as Bhoomi, Aadhar, Kutumba and Seva Sindhu is another key recommendation.

Speaking to reporters after submitting the report, Mr. Deshpande noted that the commission had previously made 5,039 recommendations in its earlier seven reports, with approximately 30% of those implemented. The commission hopes these new proposals will further improve public services and strengthen governance in Karnataka.

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