Karnataka government has started Shakti Scheme apply online 2025 process to provide free of cost bus travel service to women. Under this scheme, govt. will charge zero ticket cost from female beneficiaries travelling in govt. run buses. To avail this service, each women will have to make Shakti Smart Card registration.
The issued Karnataka Shakti Scheme Smart Card would provide free travel to lady beneficiaries in buses currently operating under KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC. The Shakti scheme aims to empower women financially by ensuring free bus travel for them. Read this article till the end to know how to fill application form to get a new Shakthi Smart Card, what is the eligibility criteria, list of documents required and other aspects regarding the scheme.
Karnataka Shakti Scheme in Budget 2025-26
On 7th March 2025, Finance Minister presented Karnataka Budget 2025-26. While delivering the Karnataka Budget Speech 2025-26, the hon’ble Finance Minister of Karnataka said “Under Shakthi, the very first scheme launched for women empowerment and capacity-building, a total of 226.53 crore women passengers have availed the benefits of this scheme. Rs. 5,015 crore expenditure has been incurred during 2024-25 for this scheme which has instilled strength for self-reliance and financial improvement of women. Rs. 5,300 crore has been earmarked for the year 2025-26.”
Read Full Karnataka Budget 2025-26 through the link – https://finance.karnataka.gov.in/uploads/media_to_upload1741332694.pdf
Short Brief on Karnataka Shakti Scheme 2025
| Name of Scheme | Shakti Scheme |
| State | Karnataka |
| Launch Date | 11 June 2023 |
| Launched by | CM Siddaramaiah |
| Objective | To provide free bus travel to women in non-luxury buses across the state and to increase their ridership |
| Major Beneficiaries | Women residing in the state including girl students, working women in either organised or unorganised sector |
| Number of Beneficiaries | Around 42 lakh women including 30 lakh working women, 8 lakh girl students |
| Ticket Type | Zero Ticket / Free Ticket |
| How to Avail Benefit | Through the Shakti Smart Cards. If not made, then women can show valid photo ID proof to bus conductors to get zero ticket |
| Where to Get Free Rides in Shakthi Scheme | Buses running under State Run Transport Corporations including KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC |
| Government Support | Providing reimbursement for cost of free rides to transport corporations |
| Who announced it | Smt. Priyanka Gandhi (before Karnataka state assembly elections) |
| Official Website | https://sevasindhugs.karnataka.gov.in/ |
Karnataka Shakti Scheme Launch Details
The Karnataka Shakti scheme was on 11 June 2023 by the honourable Chief Minister Sri Siddaramaiah. It is a flagship scheme offering free bus travel to women residing in the state which leads to a significant increase in public bus ridership. There is an average increase of 23 lakh+ passengers daily since the Shakthi Scheme launch.
Shakti Scheme in 5 Guarantee Schemes of Karnataka
Shakti scheme in Karnataka is one of the 5 flagship guarantee schemes rolled out by the Congress government after assuming office. The other 4 schemes are Yuva Nidhi Scheme, Gruha Lakshmi Scheme, Gruha Jyothi Scheme and Anna Bhagya Yojana.
What is Karnataka Shakti Smart Card?
Women can travel on general and express bus services (non-luxury) operated by any of the 4 state-run road transport corporations within the state. The four State-run transport corporations involved in the scheme are KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC. Women can simply show any identity card (ID Card) issued by the Central or State Government that carries the photograph and address of the beneficiary and get a ‘zero ticket’ (free ticket) from the conductor.
While the scheme initially envisioned the use of Shakti smart cards for easier access, the implementation of these Shakti Smart Cards has been delayed. Until women receive their Smart Card, they can show any of the following – aadhaar card, driving licence, voter ID card or any other photographed identity card in the bus to avail free of cost bus ride.
Shakthi Smart Cards Guidelines (New)
On 5 June 2023, Karnataka government issued detailed guidelines for the implementation of the Shakti scheme offering free travel to women in state-run transport corporations. Under this Scheme, the transport department will issue Shakthi Smart Cards for the beneficiaries allowing women to travel free on buses. Luxury buses such as Rajahamsa, non-AC sleepers, Airavat and Ambari, are exempt from the scheme.
In buses of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC), 50% of the seats will be reserved for women. The reservation is not applicable to Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses.
Benefits of Karnataka Shakti Smart Cards
- Free Travel from one place to another place is only applicable within the boundary of Karnataka State.
- Women Beneficiary can avail the free of cost ride under Shakti Scheme only in govt. run buses including ordinary, urban transport, express and regular transport buses.
- Free of Cost Bus Service will not be provided to women beneficiaries in AC, AC Sleeper, Non AC Sleeper or any luxury bus.
- Women Beneficiaries can travel anywhere from one place to another, there is no cap on kilometres.
- No Ticket Amount will be Charged from Women Beneficiaries travelling in Government of Karnataka Buses. Zero Tickets will be provided to women beneficiaries at the time of travelling.
- Women beneficiaries can travel free of cost in 6,308 City Buses, 5,958 Ordinary Buses, and 6,343 Express Buses.
- Smart Cards under Shakti Scheme will be obtained by applying Online on Seva Sindhu Portal.
- Shakti Smart Card is needed to avail the benefit of free of cost bus ride under Shakti Scheme.
- Since their is delay in the implementation of Shakti Smart Cards, so women can show any one of aadhaar card, driving licence, voter ID card or any other photographed identity card to the conductor in the bus to avail free travel facility.
Eligibility Criteria for Karnataka Shakti Scheme
- Beneficiary must be a permanent resident of the Karnataka state.
- Beneficiary must be woman including girls age from 6 to 12 years.
List of Required Documents for Karnataka Shakti Scheme
- Aadhar Card, Or
- Voter Identity Card, Or
- Driving License, Or
- Any Photo Identity Card.
Karnataka Shakti Scheme Apply Online
- Eligible women beneficiaries shall apply online for Karnataka Shakti Scheme at https://sevasindhugs.karnataka.gov.in/
- At the homepage, click at “ಶಕ್ತಿ (Shakti)” tab.
- Upon clicking the link, the Karnataka Shakti Smart Card online application form 2025 will open.
- Fill the Application Form of Shakti Scheme Smart Card and upload the required documents.
- Finally submit the completely filled in Shakthi Smart Card registration form to the concerned authorities for approval.
- After due verification, a smart card for free bus ride will be provided to every women beneficiary of Karnataka State.
Till the time smart card is not available, women beneficiaries can get free travel scheme benefit using either aadhar card or voter ID card or DL or any other photo identity proof.
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