Category: State Current Affairs

Yettinahole Drinking Water Project

News –

• The MoEFCC has granted approval to divert 111.02 hectares of forest land in Hassan and Tumakuru districts for the Yettinahole Drinking Water Project.

Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Supply Project

• Project Purpose: The project aims to supply drinking water to over 75 lakh people in Kolar, Chickballapur, Ramanagara, Tumakuru, Bengaluru Rural, and Chikkamagaluru
• Capacity: Originally intended to divert 24.01 TMC of water, though concerns exist over actual yields.
• Components: Involves constructing weirs, pump houses (including at Sakleshapur), and a 260 km gravity main canal.

Karnataka secured the second-highest GST collection

News –

• Karnataka secured the second-highest GST collection among Indian states for the 2025-2026 period

Goods and Service Tax (GST)

• Goods and Services Tax is an indirect tax used in India on the supply of goods and services.
• It is a value-added tax levied on most goods and services sold for domestic consumption.
• It was launched in India in 2017 as a comprehensive indirect tax for the entire country.

It is of three types i.e.

1. CGST to be levied by the Centre,
2. SGST to be levied by the States and
3. IGST a tax levied on all Inter-State supplies of goods and/or services. 

GST Council

• Legal status – It is a Constitutional body under Article 279A, introduced by the Constitution (One Hundred and First Amendment) Act, 2016.
• Mandate – It is empowered to modify, reconcile or to procure any law or regulation based on the context of GST in India.
• Federal body – It is also considered as a federal body where both the centre and the states get due representation.
• Functions: It makes recommendations to the Union and State Government on issues related to GST.
• Composition
  • Chairperson: Union Finance Minister.
  • Members: Union State Minister of Revenue or Finance and Ministers in-charge of Finance or Taxation of all the States.

World HRD Congress Award 2026

News –

• The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has been awarded the prestigious World HRD Congress Award 2026 for “Best in Training and Organisation Development”.
• Recognized for enhancing operational safety and efficiency, KSRTC has trained over 12,000 employees in six months using simulation and fuel-efficiency modules.

Key Details of KSRTC’s Training Initiatives:

• Recognition: KSRTC won the award for excellence in training, demonstrating a commitment to upgrading workforce skills.
• Key Training Modules: Programs focus on simulator-based training, accident-free driving, road safety, and fuel efficiency.
• Staff Development: Over 12,000 staff members have received training in the past six months.

Karnataka Sets Up Panel to Strengthen Palliative Care

News –

• The Karnataka government has established a State-level Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to plan and monitor palliative care services, focusing on improving the quality of life for patients with serious illnesses.

Key details of the initiative:

• Objectives: The TAC will advise on policy, treatment protocols, infrastructure, and ensure the availability of essential narcotics.
• Structure: The panel includes members from health departments, experts from leading Bengaluru medical institutions, and NGOs.
• Goal: The initiative focuses on integrating palliative care into the existing health system (consistent with the National Programme for Palliative Care) to enhance access and quality.
• Best Practices: The initiative is looking to implement models that incorporate home-based and community-based care.

UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme

News – 

• The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has utilized ₹146.89 crore to operationalize seven regional airports in Karnataka under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme.
• These airports, which include Bidar, Mysuru, Vidyanagar, Hubballi, Kalaburagi, Belagavi, and Shivamogga, have 118 routes.

UDAN Scheme

• It is a regional connectivity scheme launched in 2016.
• The first UDAN flight operated between Shimla and Delhi in 2017.
• Ministry: Ministry of Civil Aviation.
• Aim: To make air travel affordable and accessible to the common citizen by connecting Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities to major hubs.

Implementation:

• Viability Gap Funding (VGF): Financial support to airlines to ensure affordable fares.
• Airfare Cap to ensure affordability.

KSRTC honored with the 2025 SKOCH National Award

News –

• The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) was honored with the 2025 SKOCH National Award in New Delhi for its “Transparent Recruitment and Training Programme”.
• The award recognizes technology-driven, transparent hiring practices, including automated driving tests and online exams, along with extensive employee training initiatives.

Key details regarding the award include:

• Award Ceremony: The SKOCH National Award 2025 was presented on March 28, 2026, in New Delhi.
• Recruitment Methodologies: KSRTC implemented automated driving tests, online examinations, digital document verification, and webcasting to minimize human intervention and ensure transparency.
• Achievements: The initiative facilitated the recruitment of 2,000 drivers/conductors, 300 technical staff, and 441 candidates under compassionate grounds, while training over 12,000 employees in six months.
• Award Recipient: The award was received by KSRTC Managing Director Akram Pasha.
• Significance: The SKOCH Group, a New Delhi-based think tank, presents these awards to recognize excellence in governance and technology adoption

CALM-Brain initiative

News – 

• Launched in Bengaluru, CALM-Brain is India’s first digital repository for major psychiatric disorders, including addiction, bipolar disorder, dementia, OCD, and schizophrenia. 
• It compiles multi-modal data (clinical, imaging, behavioral, and genetic) from over 2,000 participants to improve diagnostic accuracy and personalize treatments.

CALM-Brain initiative:

• Developers: The project was developed by the Rohini Nilekani Centre for Brain and Mind (CBM), a partnership between NIMHANS and the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS).
• Objectives: The repository aims to identify biomarkers, understand disease progression, and aid in personalized, data-driven treatment strategies.

Additional Information  –

• Bipolar Disorder: Characterized by alternating periods of depression and mania (elevated mood, high energy, reckless behavior).
• Dementia: A neurodegenerative condition leading to cognitive decline, including memory loss and impaired thinking, with Alzheimer’s being the most common type. Studies show bipolar disorder and schizophrenia increase the risk of developing dementia.
• OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder): Involves persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). It is often comorbid (occurring together) with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
• Schizophrenia: A severe, chronic mental disorder characterized by distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, language, and sense of self (hallucinations, delusions)

Karnataka’s First Spring Census

News –

• The Karnataka Minor Irrigation and Groundwater Development Department, supported by the Directorate of Groundwater, has completed the state’s first-ever digital census, identifying 274 natural springs across 31 districts to enhance water conservation.

Key Findings of the Spring Census:

• Total Count: 274 springs documented, with the majority located in hilly districts like Belagavi, Uttara Kannada, Chamarajanagar, and Kodagu.
• Unique Feature: The census identified one hot spring, “Bendru Theertha,” in the Dakshina Kannada district.
• Data Usage: The data will be used to protect and manage spring-fed water sources, which are critical for water security in rural areas.
• Top Districts: Belagavi reported the highest number of springs with 59, followed by Uttara Kannada (31), Chamarajanagar (23), and Kodagu (23).
• Ecological Health: Of the 274 springs, 144 are perennial (year-round flow), 114 are seasonal, and 16 have dried up.
• River Origins: The report specifically mapped springs that serve as the birthplaces of major rivers, including the Cauvery at Talakaveri, the Hemavati at Javali, and the Sharavati at Ambutheertha.

Connect with the basics – Springs

• They are natural outflows of groundwater onto the Earth’s surface, common in fractured, karst, or faulted terrains.
• They are crucial for water security in the Himalayas, though they are drying due to climate change.

Key Aspects

• Types & Formation: Formed when the water table hits the surface or through fractures. They occur in permeable layers restricted by impermeable rocks (contact springs).
• Hot Springs in India: Found along deep faults, such as in the Himalayan region (Manikaran, Puga Valley, Yumthang).
• Significance: Provide water for irrigation, drinking, and are vital for biodiversity.
• 1000 Springs Initiative: A Tribal Affairs Ministry project using GIS-based spring mapping to provide sustainable water and livelihoods in rural areas.
• Threats: Climate change and over-extraction are leading to the reduction of perennial springs, particularly in the Himalayan belt.

Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP)

News –

• Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) is constructing a 25-meter-high, eco-friendly public observation tower on Mirza Hill in collaboration with Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies

Key Features of the New Observation Tower:

• Location: Situated on Mirza Hill within the BBP premises.
• Structure: A 25-meter-high tower designed to accommodate 50–70 visitors
• Sustainability: The project will incorporate eco-conscious design elements, including solar energy systems and rainwater harvesting.
• Views: It offers a panoramic view of the Bannerghatta National Park, the surrounding forests, and the Bengaluru city skyline.
• Objective: To improve safety in wildlife observation and boost conservation awareness.

Additional Information – Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP)

• It is a major wildlife conservation and eco-tourism hub located about 22 km south of Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• It was carved out of the larger Bannerghatta National Park (BNP), which was declared a national park in 1974.

Key Facts

• Administration: BBP is governed by the Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) and follows the guidelines of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) of India.

Unique Features:

• India’s first Butterfly Park: Inaugurated in 2006, it features a conservatory with a polycarbonate roof, a museum, and a research laboratory.
• Fenced Elephant Sanctuary: It was the first biological park in India to have a dedicated, solar-fenced, forested elephant sanctuary.

Geography & Ecology:

• Location: Situated in the hills of the Anekal range.
• Vegetation: Includes Dry Deciduous Scrub Forests, Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests, and Southern Tropical Moist Mixed Forests.
• Hydrology: The Suvarnamukhi stream runs through the center of the park and serves as the primary water source for wildlife.
• Wildlife Corridor: BNP forms a vital corridor for elephants, connecting the Biligirirangan (BR) Hills and the Sathyamangalam forests.
• Key Fauna: Home to the endangered Asian Elephant, Bengal Tiger, Indian Gaur, Leopard, Sloth Bear, and the Southern Birdwing (Karnataka’s state butterfly).

Karnataka Cybersecurity Policy 2024

News – 

• The Centre of Excellence for Cybersecurity – Karnataka (CySecK) annual compendium report confirmed that Karnataka accounted for nearly 9% of India’s total ransomware cases during 2025–26.

Karnataka Cybersecurity Policy 2024

• Objective – to create a secure, resilient digital ecosystem for government services (G2G, G2B, G2C). 
• The policy, aimed at strengthening data protection, fostering startup innovation, and creating 35,000+ jobs, earmarks over ₹100 crore for implementation over five years. 

Key pillars of the policy: 

• • Skill Development & Awareness: Partners with CISCO to train 40,000 individuals in cybersecurity, with a 50% focus on women.
  • Startup Incentives: Offers up to ₹50 lakh in matching grants for R&D projects and up to ₹1 lakh reimbursement for cybersecurity audits.
  • Infrastructure Protection: Focuses on strengthening cyber resilience of state IT assets and protecting critical infrastructure.
  • Collaboration: Engages with industry, academia, and organizations like Meta for public awareness

• Centre of Excellence for Cybersecurity (CySecK) is a flagship initiative by the Government of Karnataka established in 2017 to strengthen the state’s digital ecosystem.

Connect with the basics – Types of Cyber Attacks

• Malware – It is short for malicious software, refers to any kind of software that is designed to cause damage to a single computer, server, or computer network. 

Example – Ransomware, Spy ware, Worms, viruses, and Trojans are all varieties of malware.

• Phishing – It is the method of trying to gather personal information using deceptive e-mails and websites.

Types of Malware

• Spyware – Spyware is software that spies on you, tracking your internet activities in order to send advertising (Adware) back to your system.
• Virus – A virus is a contagious program or code that attaches itself to another piece of software, and then reproduces itself when that software is run. Most often this is spread by sharing software or files between computers.
• Worm – A program that replicates itself and destroys data and files on the computer. Worms work to “eat” the system operating files and data files until the drive is empty.

Recent Steps Taken in India regarding Cyber Security

• Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative – It was launched in 2018 with an aim to spread awareness about cybercrime and building capacity for safety measures for IT staff across all government departments. 
• National Cyber security Coordination Centre (NCCC) – In 2017, the NCCC was developed to scan internet traffic and communication metadata coming into the country to detect real-time cyber threats.
• Cyber Swachhta Kendra – In 2017, this platform was introduced for internet users to clean their computers and devices by wiping out viruses and malware.
• Computer Emergency Response Team – India (CERT-IN) – It is the nodal agency which deals with cybersecurity threats like hacking and phishing.

Legislation

• Information Technology Act, 2000.

• Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019.

International Mechanisms

• International Telecommunication Union (ITU) – It is a specialised agency within the United Nations which plays a leading role in the standardisation and development of telecommunications and cyber security issues.

Budapest Convention on Cybercrime 

• It is an international treaty that seeks to address Internet and computer crime (cybercrime) by harmonizing national laws, improving investigative techniques, and increasing cooperation among nations. 
• It came into force on 1st July 2004.
• India is not a signatory to this convention.