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Transport Dept. rolls out AI-powered ‘Smart Lock’ to curb LLR fraud

News-

•  the Karnataka Transport Department has rolled out an AI-powered ‘Smart Lock’ system

About  ‘Smart Lock’

• It uses artificial intelligence, facial recognition, and behavioural monitoring to ensure that only genuine applicants take the test
• Aim : to end malpractice and improve transparency in the licensing process.
• Developed by : the new mechanism developed by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
• It has been integrated into the Sarathi Parivahan Seva por tal as an additional security layer.
• It uses artificial intelligence, facial recognition, and behavioural monitoring to ensure that only genuine applicants take the test.

Karnataka Non-major Ports Iron Ore Handling Policy, 2025

News-

• State government approves policy for iron ore exports from non-major ports in Karnataka

Background

• Amid large-scale violation of rules in extraction of iron ore and large quantities of iron ore export illegally, the State government had banned export of iron ore from 10 non-major ports in 2010 under the Karnataka Ports (Landing and Shipping Fees) Act, 1961.
• However, in 2022, the Supreme Court allowed export of iron ore from these ports strictly under the policy of Indian government.
• It permitted export of iron ore through ports in Karnataka as is being done in the rest of the country.

About new policy

• To clear the export of iron ore from minor ports in Karnataka, the State government approved Karnataka Non-major Ports Iron Ore Handling Policy, 2025/
• Objective : handling of iron ore through non-major ports under the Karnataka Maritime Board.
• “The policy is a standard operating procedure for the export of iron ore from these ports.

List of Karnataka’s 13 Non-Major Ports:

1. Karwar (All-weather, deepwater)
2. Belekeri
3. Tadri (Tadadi)
4. Pavinakuruva (Pavinakurve)
5. Honnavar
6. Manki
7. Bhatkal
8. Kundapur (Kundapura)
9. Hangarakatta
10. Malpe
11. Padubidri
12. Old Mangalore

Baindur (Byndoor) (Udupi district)

Panel formed to implement SEP recommendations

• Headed by : The State government has appointed a five-member expert committee headed by the Principal Secretary of the Higher Education Department
• Aim : to examine and implement the recommendations related to higher education in the State Education Policy (SEP) final report, submitted to the government by the SEP Commission.
• composition : The vice-president of the Karnataka State Higher Education Council, the Commissioner of the Department of Collegiate and Technical Education and the Director of the Department of Technical Education are members of the committee, and the Special Officer of the Higher Education Department is the member-secretary.
• timeline : The committee has been given two weeks’ time to submit its report to the government.

Note :

• The SEP Commission, headed by educationist Sukhdeo Thorat, submitted the final report of the State Education Policy consisting of 2,197 pages to the government on August 9, 2025.
• The report made a total of 26 major recommendations related to primary education, 52 to higher education, and 20 recommendations to professional education.

Digital Mobile Planetarium programme

• Launch Date: The upgraded programme was flagged off on November 27, 2025.
• Implementing Authority: Department of Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka and executed by KSTePS ( karnataka science and technology promotion society).
• Objective: To bridge the rural-urban gap in science education and ignite scientific curiosity among students in remote areas who cannot access city planetariums.
• Target Audience: Students of Government schools in rural Karnataka.
• Key Features:
• The initiative uses custom-built vehicles equipped with a 5-meter inflatable dome.
• It features 360-degree fish-eye projection systems for an immersive experience.
• The vehicles are air-conditioned and equipped with advanced audio systems.

Kuvempu national award, 2025

News –

Konkani writer Mahabaleshwar Sail chosen for Kuvempu national award, 2025

Award: Kuvempu National Award 2025 (Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar)

Awardee: Mahabaleshwar Sail (Noted Konkani writer)

Issuing Authority: Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Pratishtana (Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Trust)

About Award:

• It is a national-level literary award conferred annually to a writer who has made significant contributions to any of the languages recognized by the Constitution of India.
• Instituted in memory of the late Kannada Poet Laureate Kuvempu, it is presented on his birth anniversary (December 29), which is observed as ‘Vishwa Manava Dina’ (Universal Brotherhood Day).
• The award carries a cash prize of ₹5 lakh, a silver medal, and a citation.

About mr.sail

• Sail served in the Indian Army and participated in the Indo-Pak War in 1965. He also served in the United Nations Peacekeeping Force on the Israel-Egypt border in 1964-65. After his military service, he worked in the postal department.
• Sail’s first novel, Kaali Ganga, was published in 1996 and it was based on the lives of farmers along Kali river in Karwar.
• Some of his well-known works include Hawthan, Paltadcho Munis, Yug Sanvar and Vikhar Vilkho

Gruha Arogya scheme

News-

Over 40 lakh people screened for cancers under Gruha Arogya scheme

• Since the State Health Department extended its Gruha Arogya scheme across Karnataka in August, over 40 lakh people in rural areas have been screened for oral, breast, and cervical cancers.

The Gruha Arogya Scheme

• Launch Date: The scheme was officially launched on October 24, 2024.
• Initiative By: It is a flagship program of the Government of Karnataka (Department of Health and Family Welfare).
• Motto: The initiative operates under the slogan “Healthcare at Your Doorstep”.
• Objective: The main goal is the early detection and management of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) to prevent complications and premature mortality.
• Target Population: The scheme specifically targets individuals aged 30 years and above targets 1.67 crore people.
• Operational Mode: It involves door-to-door health screenings conducted by health workers (including ASHAs and Community Health Officers) on designated days (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday).
• Diseases Covered: The screening focuses on Hypertension (Blood Pressure), Diabetes, and three common types of cancer: Oral, Breast, and Cervical cancer.
• Benefits: Patients diagnosed with chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension receive free medicines delivered to their doorsteps (supply for up to 3 months).
• Pilot Project: The scheme was initially rolled out as a pilot in the Kolar district before the planned statewide expansion.

Siddaramaiah flags off KMF’s ghee consignments to U.S., UAE, and Australia

News-

Expanding its overseas market, the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) formally began exports of Nandini ghee to the U.S., Australia and the UAE.

• The KMF has got orders for supplying its ghee to the tune of 8 tonnes from the UAE, 5 tonnes from the U.S., and one tonne from Australia.
• KMF was presently exporting its premium products like UHT tetra pack milk, ghee, butter, cheese, dairy whitener, ice cream, flavoured milk, sweets, and savouries to Dubai, Qatar, Brunei, Maldives, and Singapore, which have a sizeable concentration of Kannadigas

Additional information

About KMF

• KMF is the Apex Body representing Dairy Farmers Co-operatives in Karnataka and is owned and managed by milk producers.
• It is the largest cooperative dairy federation in South India and the second largest in the country in terms of procurement and sales.
• Establishment: The organization of Village Level Dairy Co-operatives began in 1974 as part of the country’s first World Bank-funded Dairy Development
• Mission: The core mission is to usher in rural prosperity through dairy development.
• Motto: The federation operates on the motto “Quality Excellence from Cow to Consumer,” aiming to spread the “wealth of health.”
• Network: The federation comprises 13 District Cooperative Milk Unions, over 10,500 Dairy Cooperative Societies, and more than 2 million milk producers.