Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah unveiled the 2026-27 state budget , prioritizing education with significant reforms. Key announcements include a ban on social media for children under 16, the deployment of AI tutors for over 1.2 million students, and the upgrading of 800 schools. The budget also targets filling 15,000 teacher vacancies across the state.
School Education Overhaul
The Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) model will expand to 800 institutions over three years, costing an estimated ₹3,900 crore. This model consolidates education from early grades to pre-university levels on a single campus. The expansion includes 500 schools funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), 200 by the Kalyana Karnataka Regional Development Board, and 100 by the Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation.
Infrastructure improvements in government schools are also a priority. Approximately ₹565 crore is allocated for new classrooms and repairs in primary, high, and pre-university colleges. An additional ₹75 crore will fund toilet construction, ₹25 crore for furniture, and ₹125 crore for School and College Development Committees for maintenance.
AI Tutors and Teacher Recruitment
Starting the 2026-27 academic year, free learning materials will be expanded. Pre-primary students will receive activity books, and Classes 1-10 will get value education books. Textbooks will also be free for pre-university students. The government plans to fill 15,000 vacant teaching positions to address staffing shortages.
In a move to leverage technology, the state will introduce AI-powered personalized digital tutors for approximately 12.28 lakh students in Classes 8 to 12, in collaboration with IIT Dharwad. This initiative is projected to cost ₹5 crore and aims to enhance individualized learning.
Social Media Ban for Minors
To mitigate negative impacts of excessive online engagement, Karnataka will ban social media access for children under 16. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated this measure aims to address adverse effects linked to increasing mobile phone usage among youth.
Mental health support will also be strengthened, with one qualified mental health counselor to be appointed in each of the state’s 204 Block Resource Centers. An AI-based facial recognition system will be implemented across schools, colleges, and hostels for attendance monitoring.
Higher Education Enhancements
The Karnataka Higher Education Transformation Project, supported by ADB with ₹2,500 crore, will continue. This project will upgrade 40 government colleges and 11 polytechnics into model institutions. Centers of Excellence will be established to foster research, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
New government first-grade colleges are planned for Vijayapura, Belagavi, Mysuru, and Raichur districts. Residential first-grade colleges will be established in Kalaburagi, Yadgiri, Raichur, and Koppal districts at an estimated cost of ₹18 crore each.
IIT-Level University Planned
The University of Visvesvaraya College of Engineering in Bengaluru will be upgraded to an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) level. A ₹500 crore allocation is designated for strengthening research capacity and academic infrastructure at the institution.
To meet industry demands, 15 new courses in fields like AI, machine learning, and automation engineering will be introduced in 11 government polytechnics and the Government Engineering College in Chitradurga. Additionally, ₹31 crore is allocated for infrastructure upgrades in 31 institutions with high female student enrollment.
Residential Schools and Hostels
Forty new residential schools will be established in areas lacking such facilities. Four Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society schools will be transformed into Centers of Excellence for competitive exam preparation, including K CET, JEE, and NEET.
To accommodate growing student populations, 62 new post-matric hostels will be built, with 31 for boys and 31 for girls, each housing approximately 150 students. The budget also includes establishing 25 new Saint Shishunala Shariff residential schools and upgrading 117 Maulana Azad Model Schools to the KPS model.
Student Welfare and Support
The state plans to enact the Rohith Vemula Act to prevent caste-based discrimination and atrocities in educational institutions. Two digital libraries and study centers for competitive exam preparation will be set up in Bengaluru and Dharwad, each costing ₹10 crore.
Skill development training will be provided to 3,000 female STEM graduates in partnership with AnitaB.org India to improve their employment prospects in technology and research.