Students who paid for bus passes for the 2026-27 academic year can get the amount refunded to their bank accounts within seven days of applying through the State government’s Seva Sindhu portal, following Karnataka’s decision to provide free bus passes to all school and college students travelling on State-run transport services.

In a press release, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) said student bus passes for the academic year 2026-27 have been issued through the Education Department’s EDCS Seva Sindhu portal since May 29, 2026. Subsequently, the State government announced free bus passes for students using services operated by KSRTC, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC).

Students who paid the prescribed fee and obtained bus passes through the Seva Sindhu portal from May 29 onwards are eligible for a refund. To claim the amount, students must log in to the Seva Sindhu portal using their registered mobile number and OTP, complete Aadhaar-based e-KYC verification and submit their own or their parents’ bank account details.

According to KSRTC, the refund amount will be credited directly to the bank account through NEFT/RTGS within seven days of submitting the application. Students will also receive an SMS confirming the refund. The corporation clarified that students need not visit any transport corporation office or pass counter, as the entire refund process will be carried out online.