Shakti Smart Card: big changes in Karnataka free bus scheme
Shakti Smart Card: In a significant move to streamline the Shakti Scheme, the Karnataka Cabinet, led by CM Siddaramaiah, met on Thursday, February 12, 2026, and approved the transition from Aadhaar-based verification to Shakti Smart Cards.
Lakhs of women travel free of cost in Karnataka transport buses by showing their Aadhaar card every day. Now, instead of Aadhaar, a decision has been taken in the cabinet meeting held on Thursday under the leadership of CM Siddaramaiah to distribute smart cards under the Shakti Scheme. In addition, many important decisions have been taken in the cabinet.
This change aims to address several operational challenges and improve the efficiency of the free bus travel initiative.
Key Decisions on the Shakti Scheme:
Smart Card Rollout: The Cabinet granted administrative approval to distribute smart cards and implement the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) across all four State Transport Undertakings (KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC).
Farewell to Manual Verification: Currently, conductors must manually check Aadhaar cards and issue “zero tickets.” The smart cards will allow for a “tap-and-travel” system, making the process much faster during peak hours.
Curbing Misuse: The government noted instances of duplicate or out-of-state ID cards being used. The new smart cards will ensure only residents of Karnataka benefit from the scheme.
Data Accuracy: The system will help the government accurately record the number of passengers and travel patterns to manage funds and policy decisions more effectively.
Other Important Cabinet Decisions:
The meeting also covered several other critical administrative and financial matters:
2026-27 State Budget: CM Siddaramaiah is scheduled to present the state budget on March 6, 2026. The budget session will run for 14 days, from March 3 to March 27.
Voter List Revision (SIR): The Cabinet discussed the Election Commission’s proposal for a Special Integrated Revision (SIR) of voter lists and directed the Law Department to study the legal implications.
New Buses: Approval was previously set in motion for the procurement of hundreds of new buses to bolster the fleets of various transport corporations to handle the increased ridership.
Social Media Analytics: A sum of ₹67.26 crore was cleared for AI-powered social media analytics to verify digital content and prevent the spread of fake news.
The transport department will likely open registrations for these cards soon via the Seva Sindhu portal or Karnataka One/Bangalore One centers.
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