Karnataka’s CM Siddaramaiah approved the 27.5% salary hike recommended by the Seventh Pay Commission, led by K Sudhakar Rao. Effective August 1, 2024, it raises minimum salaries to Rs 27,000 for 12 lakh employees, costing Rs 20,000 crore annually. The decision, before Lok Sabha elections, follows BJP’s interim hike and preempted a planned strike.