Karnataka Budget 2026-27: AI Push, Second Bengaluru Airport, Under-16 Social Media Ban

• Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah presented a Rs 4.48 lakh crore budget for 2026-27, focusing on tech growth and urban challenges despite a significant GST revenue shortfall.
• Plans for a second Bengaluru airport announced to ease congestion at Kempegowda International Airport, with a feasibility report to follow.
• Major AI push includes a Rs 16 crore AI Centre of Excellence and a "Bangalore Robotics and AI innovation zone" in collaboration with IISc, ISRO.
• Proposed ban on social media for children under 16 to counter negative impacts of mobile usage on young minds.
• A Rs 5,000 crore project under World Bank-funded Karnataka Water Security and Resilience Programme (KWSRP) will mitigate Bengaluru's recurrent flooding over five years.