Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah presented the state budget in the assembly on Friday. He announced in the budget that the total expenditure is estimated to be Rs 3,27,747 crore. This includes revenue expenditure of Rs 2,50,933 crore, capital expenditure of Rs 54,374 crore and loan repayment expenditure of Rs 22,441 crore.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah presented the state budget at 12 noon today which is the first budget after the Congress came to power in the state following its massive victory in the assembly elections on May 10. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah arrives at the Legislative Assembly in Bengaluru to present the state budget. Karnataka minister HK Patil said, 'People have a lot of hope and trust in us. Congress party has built its credibility in Karnataka and in the country. I am sure we will be able to accomplish this. People will appreciate the budget.

This is Siddaramaiah's seventh budget as Chief Minister, before which he presented six budgets during his tenure as Chief Minister of Karnataka from 2013 to 2018. Earlier this month, CM Siddaramaiah had announced that all the 'five guarantees' would be implemented in the current financial year at a cost of about Rs 50,000 crore every year. He said, 'We had a long discussion. It will be given in this financial year." A meeting of the Congress Legislature Party was held before the presentation of the budget. CM Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and other ministers were also present in the meeting.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah targeted the central government on price rise. He blamed the previous BJP government in the state for the "deteriorating" state of the economy. The Karnataka CM slammed the previous BJP government for "destroying" the state's economy. "The central government failed to control the steep rise in prices of essential commodities and fuel during 2022-23," he said. "The common man is deeply troubled by the steep rise in prices," Siddaramaiah said in his budget speech in the assembly. He said that saving the common man from such adverse environment has been the primary motivation behind the 'five guarantees' (poll promise of the Congress).

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday hit out at the National Education Policy (NEP), saying it was not in line with the federal system. He said, there are many anomalies in it, which weaken the constitution and democracy.

In his budget speech in the assembly, the CM said that the Karnataka government will formulate a new education policy keeping in mind the local society, culture and economic environment of the state. He said that the new policy of the state would bring the higher education standards to the global level and would empower the youth to compete globally and get meaningful employment opportunities.