Karnataka to Add 1 Lakh Jobs and Introduce School AI, Says CM Shivakumar

Delivering his first Independence Day address as Chief Minister at the Manekshaw Parade Ground in Bengaluru on August 15, D.K. Shivakumar announced a series of statewide development initiatives, including plans to create one lakh new jobs, fill 72,000 government vacancies, and introduce artificial intelligence education in government schools from class 6.

Outlining a vision for a “Young Karnataka–New India,” Mr. Shivakumar launched the Chief Minister Udyoga Sankalpa and Udyoga Nidhi schemes to stimulate employment and support entrepreneurship. Under the Udyoga Nidhi programme, entrepreneurs operating in 10 economically backward districts will receive a monthly incentive of ₹2,500 for every new job generated, with the state targeting one lakh jobs through the measure. In addition, recruitment notifications for 72,000 key state vacancies are scheduled to be issued within the next six months.

On the education and technology front, Bengaluru is slated to host the country’s first government-owned AI university, supported by the rollout of the AI Akshara Abhiyana and Coding Gurukula programmes. Outside Bengaluru, five global technology centres are planned across Kalaburagi, Belagavi, Hubballi-Dharwad, Mangaluru, and Mysuru. An Advanced Manufacturing Cluster is also being established in Doddaballapura, backed by ₹20,000 crore in investment commitments and estimated to generate one lakh jobs.

Addressing economic targets, Mr. Shivakumar stated that Karnataka is working toward achieving a $3 trillion economy, equivalent to ₹320 lakh crore, by 2047. He noted that the state’s per capita income stands at ₹4.33 lakh and highlighted Karnataka’s second-place ranking in national GST and income-tax collections.

For Bengaluru, infrastructure projects totaling ₹1.50 lakh crore are underway. The Namma Metro network is projected to reach 220 km upon the completion of Phase III, alongside a 117-km ring road under the Bengaluru Business Corridor planned at an estimated ₹26,000 crore. The Chief Minister also announced plans to restructure the Bengaluru police administration by dividing the existing commissionerate into five separate units.

In agriculture, the Chief Minister Raitha Chaitanya scheme will deploy drones and satellite imagery for crop surveys, while the Raitha Mitra scheme will offer a 50% rental subsidy on farming machinery for landholders owning three acres or less.