Bengaluru: Within hours of being sworn in as Karnataka’s new Chief Minister, D. K. Shivakumar announced a series of welfare and employment-focused initiatives aimed at students, youth, and job seekers, signaling an ambitious start to his administration. The announcements came after the first Cabinet meeting chaired by Shivakumar on Wednesday.
Free Bus Travel for All Students
One of the most significant decisions taken by the new government is the introduction of free bus passes for students studying from school level to postgraduate courses. The scheme will allow students to travel free of cost in non-luxury government buses across Karnataka.
Shivakumar said the measure was intended to reduce the financial burden on families and improve access to education, adding that the government would implement the scheme regardless of its cost implications.
Private Employment Exchange to Connect Youth with Jobs
Addressing unemployment, the Chief Minister announced the creation of a state-supported private employment exchange. The platform will enable job seekers to register online and connect with opportunities in the private sector.
According to Shivakumar, the government will provide training, skill mapping, and industry linkages to help candidates secure employment. The modalities for the employment exchange are expected to be finalized within a month.
ಕರ್ಮಣ್ಯೇವಾಧಿಕಾರಸ್ತೇ ಮಾ ಫಲೇಷು ಕದಾಚನ |
ಮಾ ಕರ್ಮಫಲಹೇತುರ್ಭೂರ್ ಮಾ ತೇ ಸಂಗೋಸ್ತ್ವ ಕರ್ಮಣಿ || pic.twitter.com/VElVFR1U3M— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) June 3, 2026
Recruitment Drive for Government Vacancies
The Chief Minister also promised a major push in public sector recruitment. He said the government would soon release a recruitment calendar detailing notifications and timelines for filling vacant government posts.
Shivakumar stated that Karnataka has already identified around 56,000 vacancies and indicated that approximately 50,000 government jobs would be filled through a structured recruitment process. The move is aimed at providing greater employment opportunities for the state’s youth.
10,000 Bharat Jodo Youth Clubs
In another youth-centric initiative, the government announced the establishment of 10,000 Bharat Jodo Yuva Sanghas across Karnataka. Each village panchayat and urban ward is expected to have a youth organization with 150–200 members.
The government plans to provide financial assistance of ₹10 lakh to each youth club to promote leadership development, social harmony, and community participation among young people.
Focus on Farmers and Urban Infrastructure
The new Chief Minister also said his government would take measures to reduce migration from rural areas by creating opportunities in villages and strengthening agricultural support systems. Additionally, the Cabinet approved a ₹2,000-crore package for road infrastructure projects in Bengaluru.
A New Governance Agenda
The announcements mark an energetic beginning to Shivakumar’s tenure as Karnataka’s Chief Minister. By combining welfare measures, employment generation, youth engagement, and infrastructure development, the Congress leader has sought to lay out a governance roadmap focused on education, jobs, and social development from day one.
