Karnataka is governed as a state within the **Republic of India** under the Constitution of India. It has a **Governor** as the constitutional head of state and a **Chief Minister** as the head of the elected government. The state follows the parliamentary model used across Indian states.
### Structure - **Executive:** Governor, Chief Minister, Council of Ministers - **Legislature:** Bicameral legislature consisting of the **Karnataka Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha)** and the **Karnataka Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad)** - **Judiciary:** The **High Court of Karnataka**, headquartered in Bengaluru, is the state’s highest judicial authority
### Administrative divisions - The state is divided into **districts**, each headed administratively by a deputy commissioner or district magistrate-type official under the Indian administrative framework. - Below the district level are subdivisions such as taluks, municipalities, city corporations, town panchayats, and gram panchayats. - Urban governance includes large city corporations such as the **Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)** for Bengaluru.
### Representation - Karnataka elects members to both houses of the Indian Parliament: - **Lok Sabha** seats from parliamentary constituencies across the state - **Rajya Sabha** members elected by the state legislature - It also has elected representatives in the state assembly from territorial constituencies.
### Public services The state government is responsible for or shares responsibility for: - Public schooling and state higher education institutions - State roads and transport undertakings - Policing and public order through the Karnataka Police - Public health systems and hospitals - Agriculture extension and irrigation - Water supply and local infrastructure in coordination with urban and rural local bodies - Welfare programs, food distribution, and social protection implementation
Because elections and officeholders change, current names for the Governor, Chief Minister, ministers, or party control should be verified on official government portals for the most up-to-date information.