“Free bus passes for all school and college students on buses of Karnataka's four state transport corporations (KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, KKRTC)”

On 3 June 2026, the day he was sworn in as Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar announced free bus passes for all students on Karnataka's four state transport corporations, extending to boys a benefit girls already had under the Shakti scheme (Deccan Herald). The government issued an order after the first Cabinet meeting; Deccan Herald put the cost at about Rs 1,700 crore a year for over 10 lakh male students. Passes were issued from 12 June, with more than 2,700 issued in the first two days.

D.K. Shivakumar made this promise on 3 Jun 2026, as Chief Minister. The original report is linked below.

1. 3 Jun 2026 ·Deccan HeraldVerified source
   D K Shivakumar swearing-in highlights | Free bus passes for students regardless of cost, this is Shivakumar's govt: DKS ↗
2. 5 Jun 2026 ·Deccan HeraldVerified source
   Karnataka: Free bus pass scheme to benefit 10 lakh male students, cost Rs 1,700 crore a year ↗
3. 5 Jun 2026 ·Deccan HeraldVerified source
   Karnataka govt issues order implementing free bus pass scheme for students ↗
4. 14 Jun 2026 ·Deccan HeraldVerified source
   Over 2,700 free student bus passes issued to boys in just 2 days in Karnataka ↗
5. 4 Jun 2026 ·ThePrintVerified source
   Don't succumb to pressure, even if it's from my own office—CM DK Shivakumar warns top govt officials ↗