The Karnataka government has mandated term insurance for all doctors, officers, and staff within the Medical Education and Skill Development Department. This decision, announced on Sunday, January 4, 2026, aims to provide financial security to the families of employees in the event of an unfortunate incident.
The decision was prompted by a recent incident involving the family of late IAS officer Mahantesh Bilagi, who passed away in a road accident. Due to a technical oversight, the family received a significantly lower insurance payout than what they were entitled to, approximately ₹50 lakh less. The officer had not updated his service status with the insurance provider after being promoted from the Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). This lapse in updating his designation and salary details resulted in the reduced payout.
Medical Education and Skill Development Minister Dr. Sharanaprakash R. Patil took serious note of the incident during a governing council meeting of a medical college. He directed Additional Chief Secretary Mohammed Mohsin to issue a circular immediately, mandating term insurance enrollment for all employees in government medical colleges and hospitals, aligning with their current pay scale and designation.
Dr. Patil emphasized that unintentional oversights like these can have devastating financial consequences for bereaved families. He observed that many government employees either under-insure themselves or fail to revise insurance details following promotions, pay revisions, or cadre changes. The new mandate aims to prevent such situations from recurring and ensure that families receive their full and rightful insurance benefits upon an employee's death.
To facilitate this, Dr. Patil has instructed senior officials to engage with leading banks and insurance companies. The goal is to offer suitable and affordable term insurance schemes to department employees. The department will also explore the possibility of extending similar insurance protection to contract and outsourced staff, who are often vulnerable due to the lack of formal social security cover. This move indicates a broader effort to provide social security and financial protection to all employees within the department.
The mandatory term insurance is expected to provide a safety net for the families of doctors, officers, and staff, securing their financial future in unforeseen circumstances. It addresses the critical need for government employees to have adequate insurance coverage that reflects their current status and salary, preventing technicalities from depriving families of rightful benefits.
