The Karnataka government is planning to introduce a new cess on movie tickets and OTT subscription fees to support the welfare of cinema and cultural artists.
This proposed cess, ranging from 1 to 2 percent, will be reviewed and potentially revised by the state government every three years. It will apply to cinema tickets, subscription fees, and the revenue generated from related establishments within Karnataka.
The Karnataka Cine and Cultural Activists (Welfare) Bill, 2024, was introduced in the Assembly on Friday. This bill aims to establish a seven-member welfare board and create a fund dedicated to financing schemes that provide social security and welfare benefits for artists.
According to the bill, a cine and cultural activist includes any individual working in the film industry as an artist—such as actors, musicians, dancers—or in any manual, supervisory, technical, artistic, or unskilled capacity. It also encompasses individuals involved in activities declared by the government under this Act.
Additionally, officials mentioned that the state government plans to extend this cess to theatrical plays performed within Karnataka.