The Karnataka Cine and Cultural Activists (Welfare) Act, 2024

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KARNATAKA ACT NO. 46 OF 2024

THE KARNATAKA CINE AND CULTURAL ACTIVISTS (WELFARE) ACT, 2024
Arrangement of Section
Sections:

1. Short title and commencement
2. Definitions

3. Constitution of the Board
4. Meeting of the Board
5. Functions of the Board
6. Officers and Employees of the Board
7. Registration of Cine and Cultural Activists
8. Fund for Cine and Cultural Activists
9. Cine and Cultural Activists Welfare Cess
10. Rights of registered Cine and Cultural Activists
11. Duties of the establishment owner
12. Grievance Redressal Mechanism for Cine and Cultural Activist
13. Recovery of welfare cess
14. Accounts and Audit
15. Annual Report
16. Penalties for contravention of provisions of this Act
17. Cognizance of Offences
18. XXX
19. Act to be in addition to any other law
20. Protection of action taken in good faith
21. Power to make rules
22. Power to make regulations
23. Power to remove difficulty

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS
I
Act 46 of 2024:- It is considered necessary to,-
(i) Constitute a welfare Board; and
(ii) establish a fund for financing schemes to provide social security and welfare
of Cine and Cultural activists in the State.
Hence, the Bill.
[L.A. Bill No.28 of 2024, File No. SAMVYASHAE 38 SHASANA 2024]
[Entry 23 and 24 of List III of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India.]
[Published in Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary No. 450 in part-IVA dated: 24.09.2024]

II
Amendment Act 13 of 2026.- It is considered necessary to amend the
Karnataka Cine and Cultural Activists (Welfare) Act, 2024 (Karnataka Act 46 of
2024) to,-
(i) use the word establishment owner instead of employer; and
(ii) omit the provisions relating to compounding of offences.
Hence, the Bill.
[L.A. Bill No. 72 of 2025, File No. SAMVYASHAE 88 SHASANA 2025]
[Entries 23 and 24 of List III of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of
India]
[Published in Karnataka Gazette Extra -ordinary No.26 in part -IVA
dated:08.01.2026]

KARNATAKA ACT NO. 46 OF 2024
(First Published in the Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary on the 24th day of September,
2024)

THE KARNATAKA CINE AND CULTURAL ACTIVISTS (WELFARE) ACT, 2024
(Received the assent of the Governor on the 23rd day of September, 2024)
(As amended by Act 13 of 2026)

An Act to provide social security to Cine and Cultural Activists by constituting a
Welfare Board and thereby promote their welfare in the State.
Whereas it is expedient to provide social security to Cine and Cultural Activists
by constituting a Welfare Board and there by promote their welfare in the State and to
provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Be it enacted by the Karnataka State Legislature in the seventy fifth year of the
Republic of India, as follows:-
1. Short title and commencement.-(1) This Act may be called the Karnataka
Cine and Cultural Activists (Welfare) Act, 2024.
(2) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
2. Definitions.-In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) "Academy" means the Karnataka Chalanachithra Academy, Karnataka
Nataka Academy, Karnataka SangeethaNruthy a Academy, Karnataka
Janapada Academy, Karnataka Lalithakala Academy, Karnataka
Yakshagana Academy and Karnataka Bayal ata Academy established by
the Government;
(b) “Appellate Authority” means the Member-Secretary of the Board;
(c) "Board" means the Karnataka Cine and Cultural Activists' Welfare Board
constituted under section 3;
(d) "Contribution" means the amount payable to the Fun d under section 8 of
this Act;
(e) "Cine and Cultural activist" means any person who is employed in relation
to the field of cinema to work as an artist (including actor, musician or
dancer) or to do any work, skilled, unskilled, manual supervisory,
technical, artistic or otherwise or any person who is being engaged in such
other activities as declared by the Government, by notification in the
official Gazette, for the purpose of this Act;
(f) "Cine and Cultural activity " means an activity performed by a Cine and
Cultural activist and recognized as such by the respective Academy or
Organisations or such other Body or Association approved by the
Government for the purposes of this Act, in which the activist is a member;
(g) “Cess” means cess levied and collected under section 9;
(h) "family" means wife or husband, minor sons and unmarried daughters of a
cine and cultural activist and includes in it his father, mother and
mentally retarded or physically challenged or widowed daughters who are
solely dependent upon him;

(i) "Fund" means the Karnataka Cine and Cultural Activists' Welfare Fund
constituted under section 8;
(j) "Government" means the Government of Karnataka;
(k) "Notification" means a notification published in the Official Gazette of
Karnataka;
(l) "Prescribed" means prescribed by rules under this Act;
(m) “Registered Workers” means the workers registered under sub -section (1)
of section 7 of this Act;
(n) “Regulations” means the regulations made by the Board under this Act;
(o) “Related establishment” means stand alone cinema theaters, Multiplex
halls, over -the-top (OTT), Television channels and such other
establishments as notified by the Government from time to time;
(p) “Rules” means the rules made under this Act;
(q) "Scheme" means the Karnataka Cine and Cultural Activists' Welfare Fund
Scheme framed under clause (c) of section 5; and
(r) “Unique ID” means the unique identification number issued to Cine and
Cultural Activists registered under section 7.

3. Constitution of the Board.-(1) The State Government shall, constitute a Board
to be known as the Karnataka Cine and Cultural Activists' Welfare Board, it shall come
into force from such date as the Government may, by Notification, to exercise the
powers conferred on and perform the functions assigned to it, under this Act.
(2) The head quarter of the Board shall be at Bengaluru.
(3) The Board shall be a body corporate with the name aforesaid, having
perpetual succession and a common seal, with power to acquire, hold and dispose of
property, and to make contract, and shall by the said name, sue or be sued.
(4) The Board shall consist of the following members, namely;-
(a) the Minister in -charge of the Department of
Labour, Government of Karnataka
Ex-officio chairperson.
(b) the Additional Chief Secretary/Principal
Secretary/Secretary to Government, Department
of Labour, Government of Karnataka.
Ex-officio vice -
chairperson.
(c) the Commissioner, Department of Labour Ex-officio member
secretary
(d) Seventeen members to be nominated by the
Government out of them,-

(i) five members representing the workers
engaged in Cine and Cultural Activity works of
whom two shall be women.
(ii) seven members representing academies of
Cine and Cultural Activity constituted by the
Government.
Members

Members

(iii) five members representing the State
Government Departments out of whom the
Additional Chief Secretary or Principal
Secretary or Secretary or his nominee not
below the rank of the Joint Secretary,
Department of Kannada and Culture and
Department of Information and Public
Relation shall be the permanent members.

Ex-officio members

Provided that, the Government shall ensure that the nominated members of the
Board includes at least one-third women.
(5) The nominated members of the Board shall have a term of three years:
Provided that, the Government may extend their tenure for another one year if it
deems appropriate.
(6) In the event of any vacancy occurring on account of death, resignation,
disqualification or removal under sub -section (8), such vacancy shall be filled by the
Government by a fresh nomination for the remaining term.
(7) Any nominated member of the Board may at any time resign from his office by
writing under his hand addressed to the Chairperson, and his office shall, on
acceptance of resignation, become vacant.
(8) No person shall be chosen as, or continue to be, a nominated member of the
Board who,-
(i) is a salaried officer or an employee of the Board; or
(ii) is or at any time has been adjudged insolvent; or
(iii) is found to be a lunatic or becomes of unsound mind and
stands so declared by a competent Court; or
(iv) is or has been convicted of any offence involving moralturpitude; or
(v) is absent without leave of the Board for more than three consecutive
meetings of the Board.
(9) The nominated members of the Board shall be entitled for allowances for
attending the meetings of the Board, at such rates as may be prescribed.
4. Meeting of the Board. - (1) The Board shall meet at such time and place and
observe such rules of procedure for transaction of bu siness at its meetings as may be
prescribed:
Provided that, the Board shall meet at least four times in a year.
Provided further that, the Chairperson may convene additional meeting of the
Board.
(2) The Chairperson, or, if for any reason he is unable to atten d any meeting of
the Board, any other member authorised by him, shall preside over the meeting.
(3) All questions which come up before any meeting of the Board shall be
decided by a majority of votes of the members present and voting, and in the event of
equality of votes, the Chairperson, or in his absence, the person presiding, shall have a
second or a casting vote.

(4) The Quorum for the meeting of the Board shall be fifty percent of the total
members.
5. Functions of the Board. - The Board shall perform the foll owing functions,
namely:-
(a) ensure registration of Cine and Cultural Activists as per section 7;
(b) set up a monitoring mechanism to review compliance of provisions of this Act
and to certify that welfare cess is being duly collected;
(c) formulate and notify Schemes for social security and welfare of registered Cine
and Cultural Activists and take such measures as it may deem fit for
administering such Schemes;
(d) ensure that workers have access to the benefits as per the Schemes
formulated by the Boar d and to provide pro -active facilitation to workers in
their engagement with concerned employer;
(e) ensure rights of Cine and Cultural Activists under section 10 are protected;
(f) engage with registered unions working with Cine and Cultural Activists and
hold regular open consultations with them;
(g) nominate persons or officers who shall be competent to act on behalf of any
registered Cine and Cultural Activists to initiate action for making any claim
under any law or rules made there under or award or settlement ma de under
any such law and appear on behalf of the registered Cine and Cultural
Activists in such proceedings;
(h) call special invitees for suggestions, consultation or any such advice as the
need may be;
(i) formulate general Schemes for benefit of all Cine and C ultural Activists
registered under this Act; and
(j) transfer all monetary benefits accrued to the Cine and Cultural Activists
through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

6. Officers and Employees of the Board. - The officers and employees working
with Karnataka State Unorganised Workers Social Security Board considers to be
officers and employees of this Board for the efficient discharge of its functions under
this Act.
7. Registration of Cine and Cultural Activ ists.- (1) All Cine and Cultural
Activists shall be registered with the Board.
(2) The Board shall maintain a database of Cine and Cultural Activists in the
State along with the details of their employment.
(3) The Board shall register and generate an unique ID to every Cine and
Cultural Activist who is registered with the Board.
(4) The registration of Cine and Cultural Activists shall be valid for a period of
three years and the same shall be renewed within three months from the date of its
expiry.
(5) The Cine and Cultu ral Activist who is engaged in more than one cine and
cultural activity as defined in this Act shall opt any one of the academy or such other

body or association approved by the Government for membership in the Board and once
such option is exercised it shall be final.
8. Fund for Cine and Cultural Activists. - (1) The Government shall establish a
fund to be called “The Karnataka Cine and Cultural Activists Social Security and
Welfare Fund” for the benefit of registered Cine and Cultural Activists and the f ollowing
money shall form part of, and be paid into, namely:-
(i) All sums received from welfare cess levied under section 9;
(ii) All contributions made by registered Cine and Cultural Activists;
(iii) All sums received as grant -in-aid from the Government or the Central
Government or Local authorities;
(iv) all sums received by way of grants, gifts, donations,
benefactions, bequests or transfers from any NGO’s, or Institutions or
Individuals.;
(v) The Profit, interest, dividend on any investment or share made by the
board; and
(vi) All sums received from any other sources as may be prescribed.
(2) The Fund shall be utilized and managed by the Board in such manner as may
be prescribed.
9. Cine and Cultural Activists Welfare Cess.- (1) There shall be levied, a cess on
the Cinema ticket s, subscription fees and all revenue generated from the Related
Establishments in the State, a welfare cess known as “the Cine and Cultural Activists
Welfare Cess”.
(2) The Cess levied under sub-section (1) shall be at such rates as may be notified
by the Government, and it shall not exceed two percent but shall not be less than one
percent on cinema tickets, subscription fees and all revenue generated from the Related
Establishments.
(3) The proceeds of the cess levied under sub-section (1) shall be collected by the
Government and be transferred to the Board within such period as may be prescribed.
(4) The Government may, by notification revise the rate of contribution specified
in sub-sections (1) once in three years taking into account the amount needed for the
implementation of the Scheme.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this section, ‘the fare of cinema ticket’ shall
not include any tax paid or payable.
10. Rights of registered Cine and Cultural Activists. - A Cine and Cultural
Activist shall have the right to,-
(a) be registered with the Board on being and be provided an Unique ID
applicable across all platforms;
(b) have access to general and specific welfare and social security Schemes
based on contribution made as may be notified by the Board;
(c) have an opportunity to be heard for any grievances regarding registration
and claims under this Act and appropriate grievance redressal mechanism
as specified in section 12; and

(d) participate in all decisions taken for their welfare through representation in
the Board:
Provided that, nothing in this Act shall affect any benefit or protection accorded
to Cine and Cultural Activists under any other law for the time being inforce.

11. 1[Duties of the establishment owner.-]1 1[Every establishment owner] 1
shall be required to,-
(a) deposit the amount of Cine and Cultural Activists welfare cess levied as per
section 9 by tenth day of each calendar month; and
(b) submit half yearly return in such form as may be prescribed , by 1[tenth day
of the succeeding month] 1 including all information as may be prescribed,
through online or web portal designed for this purpose.
1. Substituted by Act 13 of 2026 w.e.f. 08.01.2026
12. Grievance Redressal Mechanism for Cine and Cultural Activist .- (1)A
Cine and Cultural Activist registered under this Act may file a petition in person, before
an officer, to be designated by the Government or make a petition through web portal,
in relation to any grievance a rising out of entitlements, payments, and o ther benefits
provided under this Act.
(2) The procedure, for the disposal of petition filed under sub-section (1), shall be
such, as may be prescribed.
(3) The officer so authorized under sub -section (1),upon inquiries, dispose the
said petition by pass ing an order of redressal and may also issue a direction to the
employer, as the case may be, for payment of appropriate compensation.
(4) An appeal against the order under sub -section (3) shall lie within ninety days
from the date of order before the Appellate Authority:
Provided that, the Appellate Authority may admit the appeal after the expiry of the
said period of ninety days if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient
cause from filing the appeal in time.
(5) The Appellate Autho rity shall dispose of the appeal in accordance with the
procedure as may be prescribed.
13. Recovery of welfare cess. - Any amount of welfare cess due under this Act
from an employer shall be recoverable in the same manner as an arrears of land
revenue.

14. Accounts and Audit. - (1) The Board shall maintain proper accounts and
other relevant records and prepare an annual statement of accounts, incl uding a
balance-sheet in such form as may be prescribed.
(2) The accounts of the Board shall be audited annually by the State Audit and
Account Department or by such auditor certified or qualified under any law for the time
being in force as the Government may appoint.

(3) The audit officer or auditor shall for the purpose of the audit have access to
all the accounts and other records of the Board.
(4) The Board shall pay out of the grant such charges for the audit as may be
prescribed.
(5) As soon as may be after the receipt of the report of the auditor, the Board
shall send a copy of the annual statement of accounts, together with a copy of the
report of the audit officer or auditor to the State Government and shall cause to be
published the annual statement of accounts in such manner as may be prescribed.
(6) The State Government may, after perusal of the report of the audit officer or
auditor, give such directions, as it thinks fit, to the Board and the Board shall comply
with such directions.
15. Annual Report. - (1) The Board shall prepare every year a report of its
activities under this Act during the year and submit the report to the State Government
in such form and within such time as may be prescribed.
(2) The State Government shall, as soon a s may be after the receipt of report
under sub -section (1), cause the same to be laid before the House of the State
Legislature.

16. Penalties for contravention of provisions of this Act. - (1) Any employer
who contravenes the provisions of this Act or ru les made there under or who fails to
comply with the provisions of this Act or the rules made there under, the Board or the
officers authorised by the Board in this behalf may, impose a penalty upon him which
may extend up to ten thousand rupees for the fi rst contravention and up to one lakh
rupees for subsequent contravention.
(2) In case of non -payment of the penalty imposed under sub -section (1) the
same shall be recoverable as an arrears of land revenue.

17. Cognizance of Offences. - (1) No court shall take cognizance of any offence
punishable under this Act, save on a complaint made by or under the authority of the
appropriate Government.
(2) No court inferior to that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate
of the First Class shall try any offence punishable under this Act.

1[18. XXX]1
1. Omitted by Act 13 of 2026 w.e.f. 08.01.2026
19. Act to be in addition to any other law. - The provisions of this Act shall be
in addition to, and not in derogation of, any other law for the time being in force.

20. Protection of action taken in good faith. - No suit, prosecution or other
legal proceeding shall lie against the Government or any officer or official for anything

which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act or any rule
or order made there under.
21. Power to make rules. - (1) The State Government may, subject to the
condition of previous publication, by notification make rules for carrying out the
purposes of this Act.

(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing powers,
such rules may provide for all or any of the matters which under any provision of this
Act are required to be prescribed, or to be provided for, by rules.

(3) Every rule made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be, after it is
made, before each House of the State Legislature, while it is in session for a total period
of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or mor e successive
sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session in which it is so laid or the session or
sessions immediately following, both Houses agree in making any modification in the
rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rul e shall thereafter
have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so,
however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the
validity of anything previously done or omitted to be done under that rule.
22. Power to make regulations.- The Board shall with the previous approval of
the State Government by notification make regulations not inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act and the rules made there under in respect of matters which are
required to be provided for by regulations under the Act.

23. Power to remove difficulty.- (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the
provisions of this Act, the State Government may, by order published in the Official
Gazette, make such provisions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as may
appear to it to be necessary for removing the difficulty.

Provided that, no such order shall be made under this section after the expiry of
a period of two years from the date of commencement of this Act.

(2) Every order made under sub-section (1), shall be laid, as soon as may be after
it is made, before each house of the State Legislature.

The above translation of ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸಿನಿ ಮತ್ತ ು ಸಾಂಸ್ ಕ ೃತಿಕ ಕಾರ್ಾಕರ್ಾರ
(ಕ್ ಷ ೇಮಾಭಿವೃದ್ಧ ಿ) ಅಧಿನಿರ್ಮ, 2024 (2024ರ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಅಧಿನಿರ್ಮ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ : 46) into English
language be published in the official Gazette under clause (3) of Article 348 of the
Constitution of India.

THAAWARCHAND GEHLOT
GOVERNOR OF KARANATAKA

By Order and in the name of
the Governor of Karnataka,

G. SRIDHAR
Secretary to Government
Department of Parliamentary
Affairs and Legislation

KARNATAKA ACT NO. 13 OF 2026
(First Published in the Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary on the 8th day of January,
2026)

THE KARNATAKA CINE AND CULTURAL ACTIVISTS (WELFARE)
(AMENDMENT) ACT, 2025
(Received the assent of the Governor on the 7th day of January, 2026)

An Act to amend the Karnataka Cine and Cultural Activists (Welfare) Act,
2024.

Whereas it is expedient to amend the Karnataka Cine and Cultural
Activists (Welfare) Act, 2024 (Karnataka Act 46 of 2024) for the purposes
hereinafter appearing;

Be it enacted by the Karnataka State Legislature in the seventy sixth year
of the Republic of India, as follows:-

1. Short title and commencement. - (1) This Act may be called the
Karnataka Cine and Cultural Activists (Welfare) (Amendment) Act, 2025.
(2) It shall come into force at once.

2. Amendment of section 11. - In the Karnataka Cine and Cultural
Activists (Welfare) Act, 2024 (Karnataka Act 46 of 2024) (hereinafter referred to
as the Principal Act), in section 11,-

(i) for the heading “Duties of employer. -”, the heading “Duties of the
establishment owner.-” shall be substituted;

(ii) under the heading “Duties of the establishment owner”, as so
substituted, for the words “every employer”, the words “every establishment
owner”, shall be substituted; and

(iii) in clause (b), for the words “tenth day of the month”, the words “tenth
day of the succeeding month”, shall be substituted.

3. Omission of section 18. - In the Principal Act, section 18 shall be
omitted.

The above translation of ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸಿನಿ ಮತ್ತ ು ಸಾಂಸ್ ಕ ೃತಿಕ ಕಾರ್ಾಕರ್ಾರ
(ಕ್ ಷ ೇಮಾಭಿವೃದ್ಧ ಿ) (ತಿದ್ದ ು ಪಡಿ) ಅಧಿನಿರ್ಮ, 2025 (2026ರ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಅಧಿನಿರ್ಮ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ : 13) into
English language be published in the official Gazette under clause (3) of Article 348 of
the Constitution of India.

THAAWARCHAND GEHLOT
GOVERNOR OF KARANATAKA

By Order and in the name of
the Governor of Karnataka,

G. SRIDHAR
Secretary to Government
Department of Parliamentary
Affairs and Legislation

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