The Karnataka government has raised the fees for issuing birth and death certificates by ten times, effective from Tuesday, February 4. A birth certificate, which previously cost Rs 5, now costs Rs 50, and a death certificate, which was once priced at Rs 2, now costs Rs 20.

What led to the fee hike?

The fee for birth and death certificates has gone up, as revealed by documents seen by India Today. Now, birth and death certificates are free for the first 21 days after a birth or death. But if you need a certificate between 21 and 30 days, the cost is now Rs 20, which used to be Rs 5.

If you want five copies of a birth certificate after 30 days, the cost has increased to Rs 250, which was previously Rs 25. These new prices were entered into the government's systems two days ago.

Political reaction and other hikes in Karnataka

Senior BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal criticised the Karnataka government for raising the fees. He posted on X, saying that the government’s actions were wrong and reminded people to think about this when voting. He also mentioned that the Congress government had promised freebies, but now they are raising costs.

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The fee increase for birth and death certificates is part of a series of price hikes by the Karnataka government. On January 26, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the government would raise water prices to help cover the large financial losses of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB). He explained that the BWSSB was losing Rs 1,000 crore every year, with Rs 85 crore lost each month. The price hike is needed to cover rising costs, including electricity bills.

Also, the Karnataka government raised bus fares by 15 percent for all road transport buses, which started on January 5, 2025. 

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