Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara announced that the state government will soon issue an executive order to restore the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for public servants, fulfilling a key Congress party manifesto commitment from the 2023 Assembly elections. Finance department officials are drafting the framework, eligibility parameters, and timelines for the order, which the state cabinet is expected to formally approve during its next executive session. Employee associations welcomed the move, while economists have raised concerns about long-term pension liabilities.
In addition to the pension rollout, Parameshwara highlighted steps to recruit 15,000 public school teachers and fill university vacancies, and warned district administrators that negligence regarding public grievances under the Praja Seva initiative will lead to disciplinary action. Addressing regional environmental challenges, he noted that the state is deploying water tankers and hiring private borewells in drought-affected areas.