Draft:Shakti Scheme (Karnataka)

Shakti Scheme (Karnataka), is a flagship welfare initiative launched by the Government of Karnataka, India, providing free bus transportation to women and transgender persons on state-run buses. The scheme was launched on June 11, 2023, as one of the five guarantee schemes promised by the Congress party during the 2023 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election.

Overview

The scheme aims to empower women financially by providing them free bus service across Karnataka state. As of July 14, 2025, the scheme has recorded over 500 crore (5 billion) free rides, with a total ticket value of ₹12,669 crore. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah symbolically handed over the 500th crore ticket to a woman passenger at a public event in Vijayapura, marking this significant milestone.

Implementation

Participating Transport Corporations

The scheme operates through four state-run transport corporations: Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and Kalyan Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC). The four corporations collectively operate thousands of buses with KSRTC having a fleet strength of 8,837 vehicles as of April 2024.

Eligible Buses

Free travel is available on ordinary, urban transport, express and regular transport buses. The scheme does not cover AC buses, AC sleeper, non-AC sleeper, or luxury buses. Interstate buses are also excluded from the scheme. Half of the seats on KSRTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC's ordinary and express buses are reserved for men, while luxury, AC and interstate buses as well as BMTC buses are exempted from this seat reservation.

Eligibility

The scheme is available to all women who are permanent residents of Karnataka, including girls aged 6 to 12 years. Transgender persons are also eligible for the benefits.

Application Process

Smart Card System

Initially, the government planned to issue smart cards through the Karnataka Seva Sindhu Portal for beneficiaries to access the scheme. However, after more than a year since launch, the government has been unable to provide smart cards to women beneficiaries as promised. The Seva Sindhu Portal, launched in 2017, serves as the common citizen service portal of Government of Karnataka to provide government related services in one place.

Alternative Documentation

Until smart cards are issued, women can avail free bus travel by showing original Aadhaar cards, driving licenses, voter identity cards, or any other photo identity cards to the bus conductor.

Financial Impact

Budget Allocation

The government allocated ₹5,015 crore for the scheme in 2024-25, and has budgeted ₹5,300 crore for 2025-26. In the 2023-24 state budget, the government had allocated ₹4,000 crore for the scheme. As part of the five guarantee schemes, the Karnataka government allocated ₹51,034 crore in the 2025-26 budget.

Financial Challenges

The scheme has caused financial strain on transport corporations, with KSRTC reporting a ₹295 crore loss over three months in October 2024. As of that time, the state had delayed reimbursements of ₹1,694.42 crore to the four corporations. In December 2024, the state took a ₹2,000 crore loan to partly cover ₹5,492 crore in pending liabilities. The corporations require ₹5,527.46 crore to clear their outstanding liabilities, with provident fund dues amounting to ₹2,901.53 crore.

Statistics and Impact

Ridership Data

As of July 10, 2024, 497 crore rides had been completed, with the ticket value of women passengers amounting to ₹12,593.86 crore. The scheme is estimated to benefit around 41 lakh women, with beneficiaries able to travel free of cost in 6,308 city buses, 5,958 ordinary buses, and 6,343 express buses. Distribution across transport corporations shows BMTC has provided 157.33 crore tickets, KSRTC 151 crore tickets, NWKRTC 117 crore tickets, and KKRTC about 72 crore tickets.

Economic Impact

After completing one year in 2024, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah termed the scheme "a transformative initiative," noting that it has "empowered women by increasing employment, offering monthly savings and contributed to a rise in GST collection from women's spending". Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy claimed that after the implementation of the scheme, "the number of women in the workforce has increased by 5 percent".

A study by the Foundation for Public Insights (FPI) found that from June 2023 to March 2024, Karnataka's GST collection "presumably" increased by ₹309.64 crores as money saved by women through free bus travel was redirected to consumption activities. Research analysis published in academic conferences has shown that the scheme "significantly boosted public transportation utilization among women, resulting in greater financial independence and economic involvement".

Recognition and Awards

The four transport corporations have jointly won 185 national and international awards over the past two years, with many credited to operational changes and outreach driven by the Shakti scheme. Public transport campaigner Srinivas Alavilli noted that the scheme had reduced congestion on streets as more women were opting for free bus rides.

Challenges and Criticism

Operational Issues

Some beneficiaries have reported overcrowding in buses due to increased ridership. As one user noted: "There are times when we have to wait for more than an hour since the Shakti scheme has attracted unnecessary attention from women who don't go to work." RTC employees have reported increased workload with no corresponding increase in salary or incentives. Deccan Herald reported in December 2024 that the state government owes its four road transport corporations nearly ₹1,800 crore for the scheme reimbursements.

Political Opposition

The BJP has consistently criticized the scheme's financial impact, with Leader of the Opposition Chalavadi Narayanaswamy warning that "people will not remain silent if deceived and would fight back". BJP state president B Y Vijayendra condemned fare hikes as "unscientific and anti-people", arguing that the decision burdens male commuters disproportionately.

Sustainability Concerns

Despite its popularity, the scheme has been a persistent source of fiscal strain for the ruling Congress, having overshot budget allocations every year since inception. Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge has warned party units about announcing guarantees beyond budget capacity, noting the risk of "bankruptcy" if implemented without fiscal prudence. Academic analysis published by Oxford Human Rights Hub described the scheme as a "blueprint for the world" that elevates women's economic rights, noting that "empowering women is not just about achieving a societal goal premised on substantive equality for all; it is also a smart economic strategy".

Industry Analysis

Business reporting has noted significant operational impacts, with the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation recording "a significant rise in daily bus passengers from 85.84 lakh to 1.17 crore post-implementation". Policy analysis has emphasized that "women's mobility has always been restricted as a cultural practice" in India, making free bus travel a significant empowerment tool.

Related Schemes

The Karnataka Shakti Scheme is one of five guarantee schemes implemented by the Congress government, which include Gruha Jyothi (free electricity up to 200 units per month), Gruha Lakshmi (₹2,000 monthly cash benefit to female heads of families), Anna Bhagya (5 kg additional rice for BPL/Antyodaya cardholders), and Yuva Nidhi (unemployment allowance for graduates and diploma holders). These schemes were announced during the 2023 Assembly election campaign and implemented after the Congress party came to power.

Political Context

The scheme was one of five guarantee schemes promised by the Congress party during the 2023 Karnataka state elections. In the 2025-26 state budget, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reiterated that the five guarantees are "strategic investments in social and economic justice," and not mere giveaways. The scheme was launched within 25 days of the Congress government coming to power on May 20, 2023.

See Also

• Women's empowerment in India
• Public transport in Karnataka
• Karnataka government schemes
• Free public transport
• Mission Shakti

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Categories:

• Government schemes of India
• Government Karnataka