The Siddaramaiah-led Cabinet on Thursday approved the Karnataka IT Policy 2025-2030, which aims to nearly triple the state’s software exports in the next five years. The financial outlay for implementing financial incentives and concessions for IT companies and other initiatives under the policy amounts to Rs 967.12 crore.
The policy, accessed by The Indian Express, aims to “increase software exports from INR 4.09 lakh crore to INR 11.5 lakh crore by 2030, strengthening Karnataka’s leadership in global technology markets.” Its objectives include increasing the IT sector’s contribution to the country’s gross value added from the current 26 percent to 36 percent by the end of the policy period.
Among the policy proposals is the establishment of Technoverse, also known as Integrated Technology Campus, under the public-private partnership model. These universities will provide a “future-ready technology ecosystem with plug-and-play infrastructure” and advanced research and development laboratories for artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity and other IT sectors.
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A global testing infrastructure network to connect advanced public and private testing platforms across Karnataka’s major innovation hubs and Technoverse campuses, and a state-wide digital hub network to unify IT parks, centers of excellence, innovation centers and R&D facilities, are also proposed under the policy. The Women in Global Technology Missions Fellowship will be launched to train 1,000 mid-career women technology professionals.
The Cabinet also granted administrative approval for Rs 613.25 crore for leasing 46 sweeping machines to the five city corporations of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA).
The mechanical sweeping machines will be purchased on lease for a period of seven years, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Hong Kong Patel said at a press conference. Tenders for sweeping machines will be floated in accordance with the provisions of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act, a note issued by Patel’s office said.
The memo said that the proposal to rent the machines aims to improve air quality and road cleanliness and provide a solution to public health concerns caused by pollution. Any city company affiliated with GBA, which already has sweeping machines purchased under various schemes, should reduce consumption of the new machines that the government has decided to lease, the memorandum said.
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The cost of renting the machines will be borne from city corporate resources under the GBA.
(tags for translation) Karnataka IT Policy
