Karnataka Shakti Scheme gives completely free bus travel to all women in KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC buses. No registration, no pass needed. 50 lakh+ women travel free every day. ಶಕ್ತಿ ಯೋಜನೆ ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾಹಿತಿ.
📢 Latest Update — June 2026:
The Shakti Scheme continues to run across Karnataka with no registration and no pass required. All women can simply board a government bus and ask the conductor for a free Shakti ticket. The scheme covers KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, NEKRTC and KKRTC services. Volvo, AC and private buses remain outside the scheme. Always confirm the latest rules on the official transport corporation website before a long journey.
⚡ Key Facts at a Glance
Shakti Scheme Karnataka 2026 — Free Bus Travel for All Women
The Shakti Scheme is the Karnataka government's landmark women's welfare guarantee, launched in June 2023. It is one of the state's five guarantee schemes and lets women travel completely free in all Karnataka government buses. There is no ticket to pay, no pass to carry and no registration form to fill. Every woman — regardless of age, income, or state of origin — is covered.
The idea is simple: make public transport free for women so they can travel for work, study, healthcare and family needs without worrying about fare. You can read more about this and other state benefits on the Shakti Scheme Karnataka page, and compare it with other women-focused programmes in our central schemes section.
For example, suppose Lakshmi (a hypothetical commuter) travels daily from her village to a town college on a KSRTC bus. Earlier she paid a daily fare; now she simply boards the bus and asks the conductor for a free Shakti ticket. This illustrative case is for explanation only — your actual route and bus type decide whether the free ticket applies.
Who is Eligible — Complete Criteria 2026
- ✅ All women travelling within Karnataka in eligible government buses
- ✅ Women of any age — there is no age limit
- ✅ Women of any income level — there is no income limit
- ✅ Women from any state, not only Karnataka residents
- ✅ Travel on KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, NEKRTC and KKRTC services
- ❌ Volvo, AC and luxury buses are not included
- ❌ Private (non-government) buses are not included
How to Apply — Step-by-Step 2026
There is no application process. The "steps" below are simply how to use the scheme on any journey.
- Board the bus: Get on any eligible KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, NEKRTC or KKRTC bus.
- Ask the conductor: Tell the conductor you want a free Shakti Scheme ticket.
- Collect your zero-fare ticket: The conductor issues a ₹0 ticket for your destination.
- Travel free: Keep the ticket for the journey. No ID, pass or form is required.
Documents Required
| Situation | What You Need |
|---|---|
| Boarding an eligible government bus | No document — just ask for the free ticket |
| During a ticket check | The zero-fare Shakti ticket given by the conductor |
| Registration / pass | Not required at all |
Myth vs Reality
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| I must register online before travelling | No registration is needed — just board and ask for the ticket |
| Only Karnataka residents can use it | Women from any state can travel free in eligible buses |
| It works on all buses | Volvo, AC and private buses are not covered |
| There is an age or income limit | There is no age limit and no income limit |
Important Dates & Deadlines 2026
- ✅ Scheme launched in June 2023 and is ongoing
- ✅ Available year-round — there is no fixed last date
- ✅ No application window because no registration is required
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need to register or get a pass?
No. There is no registration and no pass. You simply board an eligible government bus and ask the conductor for a free Shakti ticket.
Q: Which buses are covered under the scheme?
KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, NEKRTC and KKRTC government buses are covered. Volvo, AC and private buses are not included.
Q: The conductor charged me a fare — what should I do?
First confirm the bus is an eligible government service and not a Volvo, AC or private bus. If it is eligible, clearly ask for the free Shakti ticket. If the issue continues, note the bus and route details and raise a complaint with the transport corporation or on the central grievance portal at pgportal.gov.in.
Q: Can women from other states use the scheme?
Yes. The scheme covers all women travelling in eligible Karnataka government buses, regardless of which state they are from.
Q: Is there an age or income limit?
No. There is no age limit and no income limit. Every woman is eligible in eligible government buses.
Q: Do I need Aadhaar or any ID to travel free?
No ID is required to receive the free ticket. Carrying a personal ID is always sensible while travelling, but it is not needed to use the Shakti Scheme.
Q: How much can I save with this scheme?
Per the scheme data, each woman saves an estimated ₹1,500–₹3,000 per month in commuting costs, depending on how far and how often she travels.
Q: How do I complain if the scheme is denied?
Note the bus number, route and date, then approach the relevant transport corporation. You can also file a grievance on the central public grievance portal at pgportal.gov.in.
Helpline Numbers & Grievance Portal
- ✅ Transport corporation helpline: Check official portal of the relevant corporation (KSRTC / BMTC / NWKRTC / NEKRTC / KKRTC)
- ✅ Central grievance portal: pgportal.gov.in
- ✅ Keep your zero-fare ticket and bus details ready before raising any complaint
📋 ಶಕ್ತಿ ಯೋಜನೆ — ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಕ್ಷಿಪ್ತ ಮಾಹಿತಿ
ಶಕ್ತಿ ಯೋಜನೆ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ 5 ಗ್ಯಾರಂಟಿ ಯೋಜನೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು. ಜೂನ್ 2023 ರಿಂದ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಎಲ್ಲ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರಿಗೆ KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, NEKRTC, KKRTC ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ಬಸ್ಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಉಚಿತ ಪ್ರಯಾಣ ಸಿಗುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಯಾವುದೇ ನೋಂದಣಿ ಅಗತ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ — ಬಸ್ಗೆ ಹತ್ತಿ, ಕಂಡಕ್ಟರ್ಗೆ ಉಚಿತ ಟಿಕೆಟ್ ಕೇಳಿ. ವಯಸ್ಸಿನ ಮಿತಿ ಇಲ್ಲ, ಆದಾಯ ಮಿತಿ ಇಲ್ಲ. Volvo / AC / ಖಾಸಗಿ ಬಸ್ಗಳಿಗೆ ಅನ್ವಯಿಸುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಪ್ರತಿ ದಿನ 50 ಲಕ್ಷ+ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರು ಉಚಿತ ಪ್ರಯಾಣ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಪ್ರತಿ ಮಹಿಳೆ ತಿಂಗಳಿಗೆ ಅಂದಾಜು ₹1,500–₹3,000 ಪ್ರಯಾಣ ವೆಚ್ಚ ಉಳಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ.
🇮🇳 हिंदी में पढ़ें (Read in Hindi)
शक्ति योजना कर्नाटक — सभी महिलाओं को मुफ्त बस यात्रा
शक्ति योजना जून 2023 से कर्नाटक सरकार की गारंटी योजना है जो सभी महिलाओं को KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, NEKRTC और KKRTC सरकारी बसों में पूरी तरह मुफ्त यात्रा देती है। कोई रजिस्ट्रेशन नहीं, कोई पास नहीं, कोई टिकट नहीं।
कौन सी बसें शामिल हैं?
- ✅ KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, NEKRTC, KKRTC — सभी सामान्य बसें
- ❌ Volvo / AC / Private buses — शामिल नहीं
कैसे उपयोग करें?
- किसी भी KSRTC / BMTC बस में बैठ जाएं
- कंडक्टर से शक्ति योजना का टिकट मांगें
- ₹0 का टिकट मिलेगा — मुफ्त यात्रा करें
- कोई ID, कोई पास, कोई form नहीं चाहिए
रोजाना 50 लाख+ महिलाएं शक्ति योजना का लाभ लेती हैं।
Topics