The Karnataka government has announced free bus passes to all students across the state, and is spending a total estimate of ₹236.08 crore every year to issue free bus passes to school and college going students across the state.

This cost comes with an additional amount of ₹15 crore towards processing charges and accident relief fund which will again be paid by the government.

On Thursday the government ordered the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) to give free bus passes to all students from Karnataka, and process refunds for the passes that have already been bought.

Students need to apply for these passes through the Seva Sindhu Portal. The eligibility criteria would be decided based on educational qualifications, distance, and time validity.

This order is followed by the state government’s decision to issue free bus passes to all students instead of limiting it to just female and transgender students in the state.

Published on June 12, 2026