The decision is part of two amendment bills – Karnataka Ministers’ Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and Karnataka Legislative Members’ Salaries, Pensions, and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
The bills are expected to be tabled in the state assembly soon.
Details of the salary hikeÂ
If the bill is passed, the Chief Minister’s monthly salary will increase from ₹75,000 to ₹1.5 lakh. MLAs and Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) will see their salaries double from ₹40,000 to ₹80,000. Â
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Additionally, other key office bearers, such as the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and Opposition leaders, will also receive increments.
The proposed amendment includes an increase in allowances such as the sumptuary allowance, house rent allowance (HRA), and travel benefits.
The Speaker and Chairman of the Legislative Council will see their salaries rise from ₹75,000 to ₹1.25 lakh, while the Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairman will receive ₹80,000 instead of the current ₹60,000.
The Leader of the Opposition will also see a similar increase, reported India Today.Â
The amendment proposed that ministers’ salaries be increased from ₹60,000 to ₹1.25 lakh, with an enhanced sumptuary allowance of ₹5 lakh. Their HRA is also expected to be revised from ₹1.2 lakh to ₹2 lakh.Â
The bill also proposes revisions to pension benefits, travel allowances (TAs), and medical reimbursements for both sitting and former legislators.
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‘Everybody has to survive’: Justification for the pay raiseÂ
Home Minister G Parameshwara defended the decision, stating that the rising cost of living has affected legislators just as it has impacted the general public.
“The justification is that their expenditure is also going up along with other people. A common man is also suffering, and MLAs are also suffering. So, recommendations have come from MLAs and others, and that is why the Chief Minister has taken the decision,” he told ANI.
“Everybody has to survive, and the CM will manage to give this money from some account…,” Parameshwara added.
State Minister MB Patil also supported the proposal, asserting that appropriate compensation ensures that legislators remain independent and less prone to corruption.
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“There is nothing wrong in the salary and perks of MLAs being raised. It is not fair if we do it ourselves, that is why a committee is there which has recommended it. You take the example, the PM, Ministers and MPs are the highest paid in the world. That makes them very independent, not corrupt. We cannot compare our salaries to Singapore, but still decent pay should be given,” Patil was quoted as saying by ANI.
Political reactions and criticismÂ
Not all lawmakers are in favour of the proposal. Congress MLA Dr Ranganath expressed reservations about the hike, suggesting that a smaller increment would have been more appropriate.
“I am not very sure about this issue. I am a doctor and MLA. I am not expecting that hike personally, but there are many MLAs who need a basic salary. If they give a hike, it won’t be more than 10-20%,” Ranganath stated.
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The move has sparked debate, with critics questioning the necessity of such a large hike, especially at a time when the state is grappling with financial constraints. Some have pointed out that while public sector employees and other government staff often face delays in salary revision, legislators have approved their own pay increase.
(With inputs from agencies and media reports)Â
