Karnataka Budget 2023: CM Bommai Announces Ram Mandir, Free Coaching For Minorites Under Agniveer Scheme

Karnataka Budget 2023: Bommai announced free education in Govt Pre-University and Govt Degree Colleges which would benefit 8 lakh students.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai presented the government's last revenue-surplus Budget 2023-24

Source : ANI

Chennai: With Assembly elections in Karnataka around the corner, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai who also holds the finance portfolio presented his government's last 'revenue-surplus' budget for 2023 on Friday. During the Budget, Bommai made a slew of announcements including the construction of Ram Mandir in Ramanagara and proposed to raise the limit of interest-free short-term loan to farmers from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

On Friday, Karnataka CM Bommai presenting the budget said, "Ram Mandir construction will be taken up in Ramanagara."

He announced free education in Govt Pre-University and Govt Degree Colleges which would benefit 8 lakh students.

Karnataka will provide free coaching to members of SC, ST and minority communities for Agniveer scheme in the Indian Army, he said. 

The CM also announced to increase professional tax exemption limit from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 per month. He also said that GST, Excise tax arrears and penalty would be waived off if they are paid before June 30 as per Karasmadhana Scheme.

The CM said, "Loan of Rs 25,000 crore will be distributed to over 30 lakh farmers in next financial year."

'Shrama Shakthi' scheme will be launched to provide aid of Rs 500 per head per month to landless women farm labourers, he said. 

Meanwhile, the Leader of Opposition and former CM Siddaramaiah and other Congress leaders wore flowers on their ears alleging that BJP government cheated the people by not fulfilling promises from previous budget and the promises made in 2018 manifesto in Karnataka Assembly.

Prior to the presentation of Budget 2023, Finance Department officials hand over the Budget copy to CM Basavaraj Bommai at his residence in Bengaluru.

Karnataka | Finance department officials hand over the Budget copy to CM Basavaraja Bommai, who also holds the Finance portfolio, at his residence in Bengaluru

CM Bommai will present his government's last budget today.

(Photo source: CMO) pic.twitter.com/8073Hl4v4K

— ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2023

Earlier, Basavaraj Bommai on the GST collection, "A record collection of Rs 6,085 crore has been made under GST this month. Karnataka continues to be the state with the highest growth rate of 30 per cent in the GST tax collection."

This year's remarkable mop up is due to measures undertaken for reforms, focused vigilance, recovery in economy and better compliance by taxpayers. "This augmentation to revenue will allow the government to present a better budget this year," he had said, as per PTI.

(With PTI inputs)