Karnataka Budget 2026: CM Siddaramaiah Announces Social Media Ban for Minors and ₹40,000 Crore Corridor Projects

Karnataka Budget 2026: CM Siddaramaiah Announces Social Media Ban for Minors and ₹40,000 Crore Corridor ProjectsBENGALURU, March 6, 2026 — Chief Minister Siddaramaiah presented a forward-looking ₹4,48,004 crore State Budget for 2026-27 today, headlined by a landmark policy to ban social media usage for children under the age of 16 to combat the adverse effects of excessive mobile consumption.

Emphasizing a vision to “turn fire into light,” the Chief Minister balanced social welfare with massive infrastructure and technology investments, including the approval of the ₹40,000 crore North-South and East-West Corridor projects spanning 40 km under the BOOT model, alongside a ₹2,250 crore tunnel and elevated road project from Hebbal Junction to Mekhri Circle.

The budget also positions Karnataka as a global tech hub with the establishment of the “Bangalore Robotics and AI Innovation Zone” in collaboration with ISRO and KSEDCL, as well as new AI Centres of Excellence costing ₹16 crore. Despite these ambitious plans, the Chief Minister noted a fiscal challenge following the September 2025 GST rationalization, which slowed the state’s revenue growth from 10% to 4%, resulting in an expected ₹15,000 crore shortfall next year.

Additional highlights include a ₹5,000 crore World Bank-funded flood resilience program for Bengaluru, a ₹5 crore Leopard Rehabilitation Centre at Bannerghatta, and the implementation of transparent digital counseling for Excise Department transfers to curb corruption.