Bengaluru, 9 September

The Karnataka Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Karnataka Aerospace Policy 2026-31, aiming to encourage industries related to aerospace technologies, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said on Wednesday. 

Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Parameshwara said Bengaluru was already emerging as a major aerospace manufacturing hub with Tata Advanced Systems set to manufacture 40 aircraft and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) producing 97 Light Combat Aircraft.

Parameshwara stated that the policy aims to attract investments worth Rs 60,000 crore in a phased manner and generate 60,000 jobs over five years.

Drones To Transport People?

Parameshwara said Karnataka would establish a drone testing facility in Chikkaballapur, which he claimed would be the first of its kind in the country.

“Drone technology is advancing rapidly. Medicine delivery by drones has already started in Bengaluru. In the future, drones could be used to transport people over short distances,” Parameshwara said.

Scheme to provide housing near work

The Cabinet also cleared the Shramika Nivas scheme to provide housing near workplaces for industrial workers, financial incentives for industries creating jobs, Parameshwara said. 

Initially, 10,000 houses will be built, with companies and industries expected to establish the housing facilities with government support and subsidies. The Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) will facilitate the land requirements on a subsidised basis, and incentives would be linked to the level of backwardness of taluks as identified in the M Govinda Rao report.  

Shakti Cards

The Cabinet also decided to introduce the Shakti Smart Card for women beneficiaries of the Shakti scheme (free bus rides for women), which is estimated to cost around Rs 237 crore. It will be taken up under a PPP model, he said.  

“When the card is swiped, we will receive travel data, like how many people travelled, where they travelled from and to, and the distance travelled. Such data is currently not available,” Parameshwara said.

The Cabinet also cleared the Chief Minister’s Negila Yogi scheme, the government will hire private tractors to cultivate the land of eligible farmers. “We may purchase 500 or 1,000 tractors depending on the requirement,” the Deputy CM said.