Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah presented the state’s budget for 2026–27 in the Legislative Assembly and made a slew of announcements including proposing a social media ban on children below the age of 16 years, upgradation of schools, initiating and completing various water projects including the Mekedatu reservoir which neighbouring Tamil Nadu objects to.

Presenting the budget for 2026-27, Siddaramaiah said that the state government is pursuing a development strategy that balances welfare programmes with investments in infrastructure and long-term economic transformation, while urging the Union government to be more sensitive to the state’s demands. He also said Karnataka remains at the forefront of the nation’s development and is among the largest contributors of tax revenues to the country. CM said the government is developing a Karnataka-specific economic framework described as the ‘11G model’ to guide the state's growth.

Karnataka CM further said, by not adhering to the federal system of governance as per the constitution, the Centre is doing injustice to Karnataka. He also lashed out at the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, claiming that it systematically weakened the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Siddaramaiah said a weak rural employment scheme threatens the people's right to employment and increases the financial burden on states.

Siddaramaiah also added that rate restructuring resulted in reduced GST collections by Rs 10,000 crore for the current fiscal year in Karnataka, and there will be a reduction of Rs 15,000 crore next year.

This is the 17th budget that he presented in his political career. Siddaramaiah said that total expenditure for 2026-27 is estimated at Rs 4,48,004 crore.