Karnataka: State policy & planning panel member moots performance driven governance policy

The Karnataka State Policy and Planning Commission has pushed for a performance driven governance policy to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Commission’s member S Mohanadass Hegde has submitted a draft bill titled, The Karnataka Performance-Driven Governance and Civil Services Accountability Act, 2026, to the CM requesting the government to examine it.

This proposal addresses a critical structural challenge in governance: the gap between increased public expenditure on administrative systems and the relatively limited improvement in service delivery outcomes, he said in a letter to the CM.

“While Karnataka has been a leader in innovation and digital governance, there is a growing need to transform the administrative ecosystem into one that is performance-oriented, accountable, and citizen-centric,” the proposal said.

The proposal introduces key reforms, including annual performance contracts (APCs) with measurable KPIs, establishment of an independent Civil Services Accountability Authority, citizen feedback integration into performance evaluation, lateral entry for domain experts, outcome-based work systems and digital governance reforms and lastly, incentives and fast-track advancement for high-performing officers, Hegde said in his letter.

The draft proposal, according to the letter, also outlines a phased implementation strategy to ensure practical and scalable execution across departments.

Karnataka is uniquely positioned to lead the nation in next-generation governance reforms. This initiative aims to build a bureaucracy that is not only efficient and transparent but also responsive to the aspirations of citizens and the demands of a rapidly evolving economy, Hegde said.