Bengaluru Urban doubles state income, exposes Karnataka’s deep regional divide

With a per capita income of ₹7.39 lakh, Bengaluru Urban stands far ahead of all districts, while large parts of North Karnataka continue to lag far behind the state average.

Bengaluru Urban has firmly established itself as Karnataka’s economic powerhouse, recording a per capita income of ₹7.39 lakh in 2023-24, more than double the state average of ₹3.40 lakh. Data presented in the Legislative Assembly highlights how the city operates in a league of its own, underlining both its economic dominance and the widening regional imbalance within the state.

In simple terms, an average resident of Bengaluru Urban earns over 117 per cent more than the average Kannadiga. Even when compared with Dakshina Kannada, the second-richest district, Bengaluru Urban’s per capita income is higher by about 33 per cent, showcasing the sheer scale of its economic lead.

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Only a handful of districts in Karnataka have managed to cross the ₹5 lakh per capita income mark. Udupi and Dakshina Kannada come closest, but still trail Bengaluru Urban by a wide margin. Chikkamagaluru and Bengaluru Rural follow next, with incomes that are 40 to 45 per cent lower than Bengaluru Urban. Economists point out that the city alone significantly lifts Karnataka’s overall average, and without Bengaluru Urban, the state’s per capita income would drop sharply.

The contrast is most striking at the lower end of the income table. Kalaburagi, with a per capita income of ₹1.44 lakh, is nearly 80 per cent behind Bengaluru Urban. Districts such as Yadgir and Raichur report similar figures, highlighting deep-rooted regional disparities.

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Responding to a debate in the Assembly, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said district-wise data for 2023–24 reflects persistent inequality driven by uneven industrial and commercial growth. He noted that weak dairy development has played a major role in low incomes across Kalyana Karnataka. While the Bengaluru Milk Union collects around 17.13 lakh litres of milk daily, the Kalaburagi Milk Union, covering Bidar, Kalaburagi and Yadgir, collects just 67,000 litres.

Although 42 per cent of Karnataka’s population resides in 14 districts of North Karnataka, their per capita daily milk availability stands at only 3.52 litres, compared to 22.4 litres in South Karnataka and coastal regions. The government has prioritised dairy development in Kalyana Karnataka in the current Budget, stressing that balanced regional growth and social justice are crucial to narrowing these economic gaps.