Karnataka — how the MLA fund works
How the MLA constituency fund works in Karnataka — the yearly allotment per MLA, how works are approved and paid for, and what the rules allow — taken from official orders and shown with their sources. It does not show how each MLA spent it.
How each MLA actually spent the fund. No official, MLA-wise record of spending for the current Assembly is published for Karnataka in a form we can verify, so we do not show it, rank MLAs or estimate it. This page explains the scheme’s published rules and allotment only. The amount is the latest one we found in an official document and may have changed since — the date is shown above and each source is linked below.
How the fund works कैसे चलती है योजना
- 1
Proposal
Each legislator sends the Deputy Commissioner a prioritised list of works within the annual allocation, using the prescribed format, only after the financial year begins.[1, p.6]
- 2
Action plan
The Deputy Commissioner collects proposals from all legislators of the district and finalises an action plan with implementing agencies and legislators by the end of June each year.[1, p.6]
- 3
Administrative approval
The Deputy Commissioner checks the proposal against the guidelines and grants administrative approval, after the implementing agency supplies a technically sanctioned estimate within 30 days.[1, p.7]
- 4
Execution
The Deputy Commissioner picks the department or local body to execute the work, which must follow normal government procedures and the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act, 2000.[1, p.5]
- 5
Release to districts
The Planning Department releases funds to the nodal Deputy Commissioner in two instalments a year, the second subject to spending, utilisation-certificate and balance conditions.[1, p.9]
- 6
Payment for works
After approvals the Deputy Commissioner releases 75% of the estimated cost, and the remaining 25% within 15 days after completion once the work is checked.[1, p.9]
- 7
Completion check
Within 60 days of completion the Deputy Commissioner certifies the work against a checklist; all trust or society works and 10% of other works are inspected.[1, p.10]
- 8
Maintenance
The Deputy Commissioner must ensure the receiving local body or agency provides for operation and maintenance of the asset.[1, p.6]
- 9
Reporting
Deputy Commissioners submit monthly progress reports, enter work data on the web monitoring system, and progress is reviewed monthly in district Karnataka Development Programme meetings.[1, p.11]
The yearly allotment over time समय के साथ
What it can pay for क्या हो सकता है
- Classrooms, compound walls, libraries, labs and drinking water in government and aided schools and colleges[1]
- Sports facilities such as stadiums, play grounds and courts[1]
- Health buildings, equipment, ambulances and toilets in government hospitals[1]
- Anganwadi buildings and equipment for physically challenged persons[1]
- Hostel rooms, toilets and water supply for social welfare hostels[1]
- All-weather roads, bus shelters, foot bridges, crematoria and solid waste management[1]
- Parks and gardens in urban areas; godowns in market yards[1]
- Community or public-utility buildings of eligible registered trusts or societies (capped at 15% of a legislator's allocation)[1]
What it cannot pay for क्या नहीं हो सकता
- Office and residential buildings of central or state government bodies[1]
- Repair and maintenance (except special repairs that upgrade a durable asset)[1]
- Grants and loans[1]
- Memorials and places of religious worship[1]
- Purchase of inventory or stock[1]
- Land acquisition or compensation[1]
- Assets for individual or family benefit[1]
- Revenue and recurring expenses; use as public contribution to state or central schemes[1]
Oversight and disclosure निगरानी और पारदर्शिता
- Funds unspent can be carried forward only one year and lapse if still unspent at the end of the second financial year; unclaimed allocation lapses at year end.[1, p.9]
- The second instalment needs a utilisation certificate for the previous year and an audit certificate for the year before that.[1, p.9]
- Each district keeps a separate scheme account, submits annual accounts to the local auditor by 15 May, and normal financial and audit procedures apply.[1, p.9]
- Districts must keep a constituency-wise asset creation register and before-and-after photographs of assets created.[1, p.8]
- A web-based monitoring system with mandatory data entry by Deputy Commissioners, and monthly work-wise reports copied to legislators, track progress.[1, p.11]
- A name board showing legislator, constituency, work, cost, agency and dates must be displayed at the work site and permanently after completion.[1, p.12]
In the documents’ own words दस्तावेज़ों के शब्दों में
- Nodal department
“The Planning Department, Government of Karnataka, is the Nodal Department for this scheme at the State Level.”[1, p.4]
- Allotment
“Further this amount has been enhanced from Rs.100.00 lakh to Rs.200.00 lakh per constituency from 2013-14.”[1, p.4]
- Approval
“shall accord administrative approval to the works proposed by the Legislator.”[1, p.6]
- Payment
“Deputy Commissioner should release 75% of the estimated cost of the work. The remaining 25% should be released within 15 days after completion of work”[1, p.9]
- Prohibited
“Funds provided under the scheme should not be used for incurring revenue expenditure or for any recurring expenditure”[1, p.5]
- Lapse
“These amounts would lapse if the amount remains unspent at the end of the second financial year.”[1, p.9]
- Audit
“The annual accounts of each District should be submitted to District Local Auditor by 15th of May of succeeding year for taking up audit.”[1, p.9]
- Asset register
“District authorities should maintain a constituency wise Asset Creation Register for the works carried out with KLLADS funds.”[1, p.8]
- Inspection
“100% of the works of trusts/societies to be inspected and 10% of the other works to be inspected”[1, p.10]
- Assembly seats (last constituency number)
“224-GUNDLUPET”[3, p.7]
Reported, but not confirmed in an official document अपुष्ट
- Karnataka government sanctioned Rs 50 crore per MLA/constituency in development funds (budget 2025-26; a Government Order dated 15 July 2025 was mentioned). Unclear whether this is KLLADS or a separate grant. — reported by Deccan Herald (search result 'karnataka govt sanctions rs 50 crore per mla bjp cries foul'), 2025; The News Minute also reported Rs 50 crore per constituency; no official document found.
- Commonly reported KLLADS amount of Rs 2 crore per MLA per year (also the 224 MLAs / 75 MLCs figure). — reported by Citizen Matters and B.PAC reports (undated in search results); no official document newer than the May 2014 guidelines found (guidelines do state Rs 200 lakh).
- [1] Guidelines on Karnataka Legislator Local Area Development Scheme (KLLADS) - Revised Guidelines, May 2014, May 2014 — Planning, Programme Monitoring and Statistics Department, Government of Karnataka
- [2] Karnataka Legislators Local Area Development Scheme (KLLADS) - Notification and Govt Releases orders (index page) — Planning, Programme Monitoring and Statistics Department, Government of Karnataka
- [3] Final Service Voters Details AC wise (General Assembly Election 2023) — Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka