Five Guarantee Schemes of Karnataka Government 2025

1. To receive the scheme’s benefit, residents should link their account number of ESCOM (Electricity Supply Company) with the Aadhaar number. 

1. Around 92% beneficiaries are benefitting from the Gruha Jyothi Scheme. 

Gruhalakshmi Scheme 

1. The goal of Gruhalakshmi is to enhance financial independence for women. 

1. Women head of the families receive Rs.2000 per month. 

1. The scheme is open to families from both below and above poverty line categories. 

1. Applicants need to declare the woman head of the family and fill the online application form with details such as bank account number and Aadhaar number.  

1. The husband of the applicant or the woman head should not be GST or income taxpayers. 

Anna Bhagya Scheme 

1. The objective of the scheme is to provide free rice to support low-income families across Karnataka. 

1. Beneficiaries now receive 10 kg of free rice per month. 

1. The households having Antyodaya or Priority Household (PHH) ration cards are eligible. 

1. Government also took anti-fraud measures such as CCTV installations in warehouses and GPS- based vehicle tracking. 

Shakti Scheme 

1. Under this scheme, women are provided with free bus travel in Karnataka. 

1. All women residents of Karnataka are eligible for it. 

1. It was launched to promote safety and mobility of women. 

1. CCTV cameras in buses and bus stations were installed. 

Yuvanidhi Scheme 

1. The aim of this scheme was to give financial assistance to unemployed youth in Karnataka. 

1. The people eligible are unemployed graduates and diploma holders. 

1. The amount given to graduates and diploma holders are Rs.3000 and Rs.1500 per month respectively. 

1. This initiative will help in youth employment and skill development. 

Applications to all the Five Guarantee schemes mentioned above can be submitted through the Seva Sindhu Portal. 

Significance of the Five Guarantee Schemes

1. The schemes were introduced to follow the directive principles of state policies provided in the Indian Constitution. 

1. They aim to benefit the vulnerable group directly like unemployed youth, BPL families, women heads of the families via guaranteed transfers or services. 

1. They represent a shift in welfare policy from selective subsidies to near-universal guarantees signalling a new political-economic approach in Karnataka. 

1. They serve as a major electoral promise by the ruling party. 

1. They are envisaged to stimulate demand and consumption at the grassroots level. 

Impact of the Five Guarantees Schemes

1. A study found that some 95% of low-income women beneficiaries reported better nutrition, around 90% reported improved access to healthcare, and near to 84% reported reduced financial stress. 

1. 65% of beneficiaries travel more due to the Shakti scheme. 

1. 87% of households are saving Rs.1000 per month on electricity bills. 

1. According to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report, the Five Guarantee Schemes accounts for about 15% of Karnataka’s revenue expenditure together in 2023-24. 

1. The CAG said that the Five Guarantee Schemes have contributed to less expenditure on capital expenditure (infrastructure development), increasing borrowing, and larger fiscal and revenue deficits. 

1. Free bus-travel scheme for women has increased the mobility and participation of women in the workforce. 

1. The report shows that in the implementation of the schemes there have been some delays in disbursing promised benefits.  

Karnataka’s Five Guarantee Schemes marks a major step toward inclusive welfare, empowering women and low-income families. However, their high fiscal cost raises sustainability concerns, challenging the state to balance social equity with prudent financial management.