Published Jun 12, 2026 | 6:44 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 12, 2026 | 6:44 PM
Existing norms, including eligibility criteria for academic courses, distance limits and pass validity, will remain unchanged.
Synopsis: KSRTC has begun issuing free bus passes to students across Karnataka for the 2026–27 academic year, following a State government directive extending free bus travel from school to postgraduate level. Existing passes will remain valid, and students who have already paid for their passes will receive refunds within 15 days. The scheme will also cover eligible students studying in Karnataka’s border regions and those from neighbouring States.
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) began issuing free bus passes to students across the State on 12 June for the 2026–27 academic year. Passes already issued for the current academic year will remain valid.
Students who have already paid for their passes will receive refunds within 15 days, the corporation said. Separate guidelines governing the refund process will be issued later.
The move follows a directive from the State government extending free bus travel benefits to students from school through postgraduate level, alongside the existing Shakti scheme, which provides free bus travel to all women and transgender persons.
It is one of the first initiatives announced by Chief Minister DK Shivakumar soon after he took oath of office earlier this month.
The initiative covers services operated by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC).
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Passes will be issued through the EDCS SevaSindhu portal, where students can submit their applications, KSRTC said. Applications for student bus passes have been accepted through the portal since 29 May.
The existing guidelines governing the issuance of student bus passes, including eligibility criteria for academic courses, distance limits and pass validity, will remain unchanged.
To facilitate the process, details of KSRTC’s 123 pass-issuing counters have been made available on the corporation’s website for students seeking information and assistance.
Students residing in Karnataka and studying in educational institutions in neighbouring States will also be eligible for free bus passes.
The benefit will likewise be extended to students residing in neighbouring States in border areas who are enrolled in educational institutions in Karnataka.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
