Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in remarks submitted to the NITI Aayog assembly in New Delhi on Saturday, unveiled an formidable roadmap aimed toward positioning Karnataka as South Asia’s electrical automobile (EV) capital. The chief minister, nevertheless, additionally critiqued the nation’s rising political polarisation and the challenges of cooperative federalism.
Though he was unable to attend the assembly in particular person, Siddaramaiah described Karnataka’s growth mannequin as a replicable framework for inclusive, sustainable, and equity-driven development, calling on the Union authorities to embrace pluralism, justice, and constitutional integrity.
“The journey to 2047 can’t be purely financial,” Siddaramaiah mentioned. “It should even be socially harmonious and constitutionally anchored. Rising polarisation, exclusionary narratives, and erosion of belief in establishments weaken the very foundations of our Republic.”
Karnataka’s 1,000-day roadmap
As a part of a 1,000-day motion plan, the Chief Minister laid out a number of formidable objectives for the state. These embody common entry to piped water, complete digital and monetary inclusion for ladies, transformation of each taluk right into a Ability District, and the doubling of natural farming. He additionally introduced an enlargement of early warning programs to boost local weather resilience, asserting that Karnataka goals to turn into India’s most effective state in public service supply.
A significant part of Siddaramaiah’s plan targeted on the state’s electrical mobility sector. Highlighting important investments and coverage assist, he declared his intent to determine Karnataka as South Asia’s EV capital.
Karnataka already sources 62 per cent of its power from renewables and has made important advances in EV coverage, photo voltaic parks, and clear expertise. The state additionally led the nation in service sector exports in 2023–24, with figures reaching $166.5 billion. Karnataka attracted Rs 54,427 crore in international direct funding throughout the identical interval and is dwelling to over 20 lakh micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), using roughly 1.86 crore individuals.
Welfare as a pillar of constitutional compassion
Siddaramaiah additionally highlighted the state’s flagship welfare applications, together with the 5 “Assure Schemes,” which account for an annual funding of Rs 52,000 crore and attain an estimated 76 per cent of Karnataka households.
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Amongst these applications, Gruha Lakshmi offers Rs 2,000 monthly to 1.25 crore ladies, Shakti provides free public transportation for ladies, and Yuva Nidhi helps roughly 3.7 lakh unemployed youth. Siddaramaiah described these efforts as “embodiments of financial justice and constitutional compassion,” drawing a distinction with what he described as much less inclusive nationwide welfare insurance policies.
Federalism and nationwide imaginative and prescient
The Chief Minister’s remarks additionally contained criticisms of the Union authorities. Citing rising financial and regional disparities, he warned that centralised policymaking too usually ignores state-specific challenges.
“A robust Union can solely emerge from sturdy, equitable, and empowered states,” Siddaramaiah mentioned, including that true cooperative federalism requires greater than rhetoric.
He expressed concern over the Centre’s strategy to digital inclusion, warning of what he termed “digital stratification” if rural and susceptible populations are left behind. “The promise of Digital India should not exclude the final village, the aged lady, or the tribal scholar,” he mentioned.
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Siddaramaiah additionally addressed the urgent problem of jobless development and underemployment, warning that India’s demographic dividend may flip right into a legal responsibility with no responsive nationwide skilling framework.
On local weather change, he described it as a “current disaster,” with tangible impacts on water safety, agriculture, and concrete air high quality. With out naming the Centre, he emphasised the necessity for stronger nationwide assist for climate-responsive planning in ecologically delicate and semi-arid areas.
Nevertheless, regardless of his criticisms, Siddaramaiah prolonged a proposal of collaboration to the Union authorities and NITI Aayog, proposing that Karnataka’s growth initiatives and coverage fashions be shared extra extensively.
“Karnataka’s progress holds that means solely when it contributes to the nation,” he mentioned.