Karnataka Chief Minister and State Finance Minister Siddaramaiah presented the Karnataka State Budget 2025 in the Vidhana Soudha, unveiling a series of initiatives aimed at the development of minority communities, religious institutions, and educational infrastructure.

A key highlight of the budget is the government’s decision to integrate formal education with religious studies in madrasas. To help students prepare for the SSLC examination through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), the government will provide computers, smart boards, and other necessary facilities in madrasas. Additionally, the Karnataka Minority Development Corporation will promote entrepreneurship among minority youth by encouraging start-ups.

To support Muslim community infrastructure, the budget allocates ₹150 crore for the repair and renovation of Waqf properties and the protection of Muslim burial grounds. In a major step for minority development, an action plan worth ₹1,000 crore has been drafted under the "Chief Minister's Minority Colony Development Programme," with implementation set for the financial year 2025-26.

Apart from Muslim community welfare, the state has announced ₹100 crore for the comprehensive development of Jain, Buddhist, and Sikh communities, while the Christian community will receive ₹250 crore for various initiatives. Bengaluru will also see the establishment of a Buddhist Study Academy, and the 100-year-old library at the Mahabodhi Study Centre will be digitized and upgraded at a cost of ₹1 crore.

In a significant move, the honorarium for religious leaders will be enhanced. Jain priests, Chief Grantis of Sikhs, and Pesh-Imams of mosques will now receive ₹6,000 per month, while Assistant Grantis and Muezzins will see their honorarium increased to ₹5,000 per month.