School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa addressed the Karnataka State Council meeting at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru today. | Photo credit: TH
The issue of extending pension benefits to employees of aided educational institutions in the state will be placed before a committee to recommend measures for effective implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa informed the Legislative Council.
BJP member SV Sankanur raised the issue in the Council on Monday (March 16) and urged the government to consider pension benefits for the employees of aided educational institutions who were appointed before 2006 and later included in the grant scheme as well as for employees appointed after 2006.
In his written reply, Mr. Bangarappa referred to a meeting held on December 10, 2025, during the winter session of the Legislature in Belagavi, where the issue was discussed. He said the government would examine the proposal to carry the National Pension Scheme (NPS) contribution of teachers of aided schools and hold further consultations with the finance ministry.
Manifest assurance
However, the MPs expressed strong objections to the answer. Mr. Sankanur said the Congress party had given an assurance on the matter in its election manifesto. He pointed out that Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had also made a statement in the House during the Belagavi session and claimed that the minister’s reply appeared to contradict that assurance.
BJP member Shashil Namoshi noted that the Supreme Court has declared pension as a constitutional right. Another member, Puttanna, drew attention to the fact that a similar problem exists in aided institutions under the Ministry of Higher Education.
Mr. Bangarappa said he was the vice-chairman of the 2023 Congress manifesto committee and was fully aware of the assurances given.
The minister said the government would refer the issue of pensions related to employees of aided educational institutions in both the school education department and the higher education department to a committee set up to review the implementation of the old pension system.
Published – 16 March 2026 21:06 IST
