Bengaluru: Jobs for youngsters, artificial intelligence (AI) and a push to take Karnataka’s technology story beyond Bengaluru formed the major highlight of Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s maiden Independence Day address as chief minister on Saturday, as he unveiled a series of welfare, infrastructure and industrial initiatives aimed at preparing the state’s young population for the next phase of economic growth.Hoisting the Tricolour at the Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Ground in Bengaluru during the state-level celebrations marking India’s 80th Independence Day, Shivakumar said neither he nor his govt was satisfied with what had already been achieved. “The focus would now be on shaping the present to prepare Karnataka for the future,” the CM said.Focusing on creating employment opportunities across sectors, Shivakumar announced the Chief Minister’s Jobs Mission, under which filling vacant govt posts would be accorded priority. “The recruitment process for 72,000 key vacancies across departments has commenced, with notifications for all the posts expected within the next six months,” he said.Besides, govt will launch Yuva Udyoga Setu, a digital platform connecting job seekers, employers and educational institutions. Further, 100 govt ITIs will be transformed into employment-oriented campuses in partnership with industries, with an initial target of creating employment opportunities for 10,000 youngsters, according to the CM.Providing another employment push, the new Udyoga Nidhi scheme will provide entrepreneurs creating jobs in the state’s 10 most backward districts an incentive of ₹2,500 per new job every month for two years. The scheme aims to generate one lakh jobs.AI UniversityTechnology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), will be another major pillar of the govt’s growth strategy. Shivakumar announced plans for a govt-driven AI University, aimed at strengthening AI education, research, innovation and industry collaboration. The state will also develop an AI ecosystem to equip its workforce with skills needed for emerging technologies, as Karnataka seeks to retain its position as a global technology hub amid rapid advances in AI.Bengaluru DevelopmentFor Bengaluru—the growth engine of Karnataka—the CM’s message was one of consolidation and expansion. While the city will continue to remain Karnataka’s technology and investment gateway, govt plans to create a wider network of technology centres across the state.Under the Beyond Bengaluru initiative, five Global Technology Centres will be established at Kalaburagi, Belagavi, Hubballi-Dharwad, Mangaluru and Mysuru. The move is aimed at taking high-end technology employment closer to talent outside Bengaluru and reducing the concentration of opportunities in the state capital.Govt also announced an Advanced Manufacturing Cluster at Doddaballapura, near Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), where investment commitments of ₹20,000 crore have already been secured and nearly one lakh jobs are expected to be generated. With Bengaluru facing mounting pressure from rapid urbanisation, CM Shivakumar also stressed the need for major infrastructure expansion. Projects worth ₹1.56 lakh crore have been sanctioned for the city, alongside plans to develop ring roads and mobility grids across urban centres.
