Category: State Current Affairs

Karnataka space tech policy 2025-2030

News –

• The state government approved the Karnataka Space Technology policy 2025-2030

Karnataka’s Space Technology Policy 2025–2030

• It was unveiled in November 2025 at the Bengaluru Tech Summit.
• It is a strategic blueprint aimed at establishing the state as a global hub for space innovation and manufacturing.

Key Objectives

• The policy sets ambitious targets for the state’s space industry:
• Market Share: Capture 50% of the national space market (projected at USD 22 billion by 2033) and 5% of the global market.
• Investment: Attract a cumulative investment of USD 3 billion into the state’s space ecosystem.
• Talent: Train and upskill 50,000 students and professionals, including 15,000 women, in specialized space domains.
• Startups: Support 500 space startups and MSMEs, with a goal to facilitate the design, manufacture, and launch of 50 satellites from Karnataka.
• Significance – The policy aligns with the Indian Space Policy 2023 and the national goals of establishing a Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035 and landing an Indian astronaut on the Moon by 2040.

Mekedatu reservoir project

News –

• The Supreme Court termed Tamil Nadu’s application challenging the proposed construction of a reservoir by Karnataka at Mekedatu across the inter-state river Cauvery as “premature” and refused to entertain it.

Connect with the basics –  Cauvery River System

• Origin – Talakaveri
• Total length of the River – 805 km
• Flowing – Eastern
• Flows through – Karnataka, Kerala, Tamilnadu & Pondicherry.
• Tributaries – Arkavathy, Shimsha, Hemavati, Kapila, Honnuhole, Amravati, Lakshmana Tirtha, Kabini, Lokapavani, Bhavani and Noyyal.

Mekedatu Project

• The Mekedatu project is a balancing reservoir and drinking water project.
• Built across – It is to be built at the confluence of the Cauvery and Arkavathi rivers by the Karnataka Government.
• Objective – The project is aimed at solving the drinking water problems of the Bengaluru and Ramanagara district.
• Significance – It would also generate 400 MW of hydroelectric power.
• Concerns with the project – Almost 63% of the forest area of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary will be submerged because of the project.

Nadoja Baraguru award

News –

• For the year 2025, social activist, writer, and former Minister T. Lalitha Nayak has been selected for the award in the Literary field, while Shivarudraiah will be honored in the Cinema field

Baragur Awards

• Awarding Organisation – Nadoja Dr. Baragur Pratishtana foundation
• Objective -It presents awards annually to various individuals for their contributions to different fields.
• The award comprises a plaque and a cash prize of ₹25,000.

Awardees of 2025

• T. Lalitha Nayak (Field – Literature)
• Shivarudraiah (Field – Cinema)

Karnataka Information Technology Policy 2025-2030

News –

• Karnataka will be spending ₹967 crore towards varied incentives under the Karnataka Information Technology Policy 2025-2030

Karnataka Information Technology Policy 2025-2030

• Mandate – It is a strategic blueprint that transitions the state’s focus from traditional IT services to deep technology innovation.
• It aims to position Karnataka as a global leader in areas like AI, quantum computing, and cybersecurity.
• The policy, approved by the state cabinet in November 2025, emphasizes equitable growth through a ‘Beyond Bengaluru’ initiative and has a total outlay of ₹967.12 crore over five years.

Key Vision and Targets

• The policy is designed around the “FRAME” architecture (Frontier & Emerging Technologies, Regional Development, Alignment, Market Creation, Enterprise Facilitation)

‘Promoting HEALTH in Agumbe’

News –

• A team from NITK Surathkal have completed the deployment of 100 internet connections in Agumbe on November 8, under the project ‘Promoting HEALTH in Agumbe’

Promoting HEALTH in Agumbe

• It is an initiative led by Dr. Mohit P. Tahiliani from NITK Surathkal
• HEALTH stands for- Healthcare, Education, Agriculture, Livelihood, Technology, and Heritage.
• Objective – The project’s recent major achievement was providing reliable internet connectivity to 100 locations in Agumbe by enabling digital access for local institutions, businesses, and homes in this remote and ecologically sensitive region.

Initiative pillars

• Healthcare: Facilitating access to online health information and services.
• Education: Allowing students and educators to utilize online resources and learning platforms.
• Agriculture: Enabling better communication and access to information for the agricultural community.
• Livelihood: Improving local commerce through online visibility, booking systems, and support for local businesses like homestays.
• Technology: Delivering reliable internet to a region with frequent power outages and challenging terrain.
• Heritage: Supporting research and preservation efforts, such as those related to the King Cobras.

KSRTC launches Flybus service between KIA and Davangere

News –

• The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) launched a new direct Flybus (Volvo multi-axle) service between Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru and Davangere.

Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC)

• Ownership: Wholly owned by the Government of Karnataka.
• Services: KSRTC operates various types of services, from non-AC “Karnataka Sarige” and “Gramantara Sarige” buses to luxury AC classes like “Airavat Club Class,” “Ambaari Dream Class,” and electric “EV- Power Plus+” buses.
• Coverage: It serves 17 districts in southern Karnataka and connects them to other states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Goa.
• Bifurcation: Over the years, KSRTC has been bifurcated to create other regional transport corporations to better manage services in different parts of the state, including:

1. Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) for the Bangalore metropolitan region.
2. North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) for the north-western districts.
3. Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) for the north-eastern districts.

Ekya Vana

News –

• Ekya Vana is India’s first nature-inspired K-12 school, based in Bangalore.

Ekya Vana

• It is a new, purpose-driven K-12 school in Bengaluru, India,
• It is dedicated to conservation, sustainability, and environmental innovation.
• It is designed as a “living, breathing ecosystem” where students learn from and with nature.

Key Features

• Nature-Based Learning: The curriculum goes beyond traditional classroom education, using outdoor classrooms, butterfly and herb gardens, composting units, and eco-labs as core learning environments.
• Curriculum Pathways: The academic framework is built around four key pathways connecting global sustainability themes to real-world learning:

1. People & Planet
2. Earth Care
3. Living Systems
4. Energy & Innovation

• Mission: The school’s vision is to empower learners as innovators, advocates, and leaders in sustainability, preparing them to address modern challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss.
• Location: Ekya Vana is located in the Bannerghatta area of Bangalore.
• Advisory Panel: The initiative is guided by a distinguished advisory panel including notable environmentalists and industry leaders

Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act, 2007

News –

• The Karnataka government has amended the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act, 2007,

Amendments –

• Objective – to strengthen legal provisions ensuring timely and lifesaving treatment for dog, animal, and snake bite victims.
• The amendment follows the Supreme Court’s November 7, 2025, directions in a suo motu writ petition seeking uniform access to Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV), immunoglobulin and emergency care across all hospitals.
• The newly inserted clause mandates that every private medical establishment must administer necessary first aid to all snake-bite or dog/animal bite victims without insisting on advance payment.

Mentoring Summit India 2025

News –

• Mentor Together will host the Mentoring Summit India 2025 on November 19 and 20, at the Bangalore International Centre, Domlur.

Mentoring Summit India 2025

• Dates: November 19-20, 2025
• Location: Bangalore International Centre, Bengaluru, Karnataka
• Host: Mentor Together
• Focus: The summit aimed to bring together mentoring practitioners, researchers, and changemakers to advance a shared vision for mentoring as a “public good” and strengthen collaboration to support young people across India.

28 blackbucks die at Belagavi zoo; infection suspected

News-

• 28 blackbucks have died at the Rani Channamma Zoo at Bhutaramanahatti in Belagavi district.
• According to preliminary information, the animals died due to a bacterial infection and samples of internal organs have been sent for tests.

Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra)

• Appearance: Males have striking spiral horns that can reach up to 75 cm (30 inches) in length and their coat is a dark brown to black color. Females are smaller and have a reddish-brown coat without horns.
• Habitat: They are typically found in grasslands, savannas, and open forests. They prefer areas with short grass for grazing.
• Threats: Earlier extensively hunted in the princely states of India, Habitat destruction, Illegal Hunting for economic consumption
• Conservation Status: IUCN Status: Least Concern
  • CITES: Appendix III
  • Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
• State animal – Declared as state animal of Punjab, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Cultural Importance: In Hinduism, the Blackbuck is considered a symbol of purity, with its skin and horns revered as sacred objects. In Buddhism, it represents good luck.

KEO (Knowledge-driven, Economical, Open-source) Computer

News –

• The Department of Electronics, IT & BT, Government of Karnataka, in collaboration with KEONICS, on Monday launched KEO, a compact, affordable, AI-ready personal computer.

KEO (Knowledge-driven, Economical, Open-source) Computer

• It is a new, ultra-affordable, compact personal computer developed by the Department of Electronics, IT & BT in collaboration with KEONICS.
• It was launched in November 2025 at the Bengaluru Tech Summit
• Objective – to bridging the digital divide and providing affordable, AI-ready computing access to students, households, and small businesses.

Digital Nagarik programme

News –

• Digital Nagarik programme launched by the government schools.

Digital Nagarik programme

• Objective – To create awareness about cybersecurity and digital safety among students in all government primary and high schools of the State.
• Around 1 lakh teachers and 10 lakh students from classes 6 to 10 will benefit from the programme.
• They will be made aware of safe Internet use, cyber safety rules, online etiquette, digital rights, responsibilities and data privacy.
• Implementation – The programme is taken up in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Education and the social media giant Meta.
• A successful pilot was conducted in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Belagavi and Dakshina Kannada districts in 2024-25.
• As part of the initiative, the Department of State Educational Research and Training (DSERT) will initially train 1,00,000 teachers using the DISHA portal, who will subsequently raise awareness among students. The training for teachers commenced on November 15.
• Digital Nagrik Toolkit– It will be shared to help schools plan initiatives that promote safe and responsible online behaviour.

Bengaluru Safe City Project

News –

• Bengaluru Safe City Project helps in detection of inter-State crimes

Bengaluru Safe City Project

• It is a technology-driven initiative aimed at enhancing urban safety, especially for women and vulnerable groups, by deploying advanced surveillance and emergency response systems.
• It is implemented under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) initiative using the Nirbhaya Fund, shared funding between the central and state governments.
• The project features more than 7,000 video cameras installed citywide, complemented by drone cameras and body-worn cameras for police personnel.

National Joint Counter-IED Competition

News –

• The Internal Security Division (ISD) Counter-IED Team of the Karnataka State Police won the 9th National Joint Counter-IED Competition, Visfot Kavach IX, conducted by the National Security Guard (NSG) in New Delhi.

National Joint Counter-IED Competition

• It is also known by names such as ‘Visfot Kavach’ and ‘Agnishaman’.
• It is an annual national-level exercise held in India
• Objective – to enhance and evaluate the counter-Improvised Explosive Device (IED) capabilities of various security forces.
• Conducted by – It is conducted by the National Security Guard (NSG) at their training center in Manesar, Haryana

CM inaugurates Kalaloka store at KIA

News –

• The Kalaloka store, which will showcase and sell Karnataka’s traditional and GI-certified products to both domestic and international travellers at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).
• The Kalaloka store, which has been aesthetically designed to reflect the State’s culture and heritage, has been set up by the Department of Industries at Terminal 2.
• It features Karnataka’s traditional products such as Mysore Sandal Soap, sandalwood oil, incense sticks, Mysuru Silk, Channapatna toys, LIDKAR leather goods, aromatic coffee powders and beverages, handloom products, Ilkal sarees, Lambani garments, sandalwood artefacts, Bidriware, and Mysore-style paintings.
• “In total, 45 GI-certified products from Karnataka will be showcased and sold here,”

State ranks fourth in country in terms of adoption numbers

News –

• Maharashtra tops the list; despite growing interest, Karnataka faces a shortage of adoptable children
• Karnataka ranks fourth in the country in terms of adoption numbers, following Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, according to data shared by officials from the Directorate of Child Protection.

Additional Information – Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA)

• Legal status – It has been set up as a statutory body of the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• It functions as a nodal body for the adoption of Indian children and is mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoption.
• Following convention – It is designated as the Central Authority to deal with Hague Conventions on Inter-Country Adoptions, 1993, ratified by the Government of India in 2003.

CARINGS (Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System) Portal

• Launched in – 2011.
• It serves as the sole platform for adoption, complying with the Hague Convention, international protocols, and national laws.

Karnataka records 24% drop in maternal deaths

News –

• Karnataka has recorded a 24% reduction in maternal deaths this year — from January to October —compared to the corresponding period in 2024.
• The Health Department had launched the “Mission Zero Preventable Maternal Deaths”

Mission Zero Preventable Maternal Deaths

• It is an initiative launched by the state of Karnataka, India
• Objective – to reduce its maternal mortality rate (MMR).
• Maternal mortality ratio (MMR) for Karnataka is 68 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, as per the Sample Registration System (SRS) Special Bulletin for 2021-2023.
• The mission aims to eliminate all preventable maternal deaths by enhancing healthcare infrastructure, services, and monitoring.

Key Components of the Initiative

• The initiative, also integrated into India’s national Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) program, focuses on a multi-pronged strategy to ensure quality and accessible care.
• Infrastructure and Resource Rationalization: The plan involves strengthening all 147 taluk hospitals and 42 well-performing community health centers (CHCs) to provide 24/7 comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care (CEmONC) services.
• Targeting High-Risk Pregnancies: A significant portion of maternal deaths (an estimated 70% in Karnataka) are considered preventable. The mission emphasizes the identification and rigorous tracking of high-risk pregnancies, ensuring timely intervention for complications like hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, and anemia.
• Financial and Nutritional Support: The initiative includes provisions for nutritional kits and cash incentives for pregnant and lactating women from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

“Koti Vruksha Abhiyan”

• “Koti Vruksha Abhiyan” has pushed up the forest cover of Vijayapura district.
• “Koti Vruksha Abhiyan” (One Crore Tree Campaign)
• It is a large-scale tree plantation initiative primarily associated with Vijayapura, Karnataka, aimed at transforming the district’s arid landscape.
• Launched in 2015 by Minister M. B. Patil.
• The program has successfully planted over 15 million trees by encouraging community participation through subsidized saplings
• This effort has significantly increased the district’s forest cover, revived ecosystems, brought back wildlife, and inspired other regions.

Domestic Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2025

News –

• The Karnataka Domestic Workers’ Rights Union has urged the State government to strengthen the proposed Domestic Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2025,

The Domestic Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2025

• Aim – It is aimed at formalizing the domestic work sector and providing social security and welfare benefits to an estimated 15 lakh (1.5 million) domestic workers.

Key Provisions of the Draft Bill

• Mandatory Registration: Both domestic workers and their employers (including households, agencies, and digital platforms) are required to register on a government portal.
• Written Employment Agreements: Employers must provide a written contract specifying wages, working hours, benefits, and conditions of work. Unregistered employment is considered illegal.
• Minimum Wages and Working Hours: Workers are entitled to a minimum wage, with a cap of 48 working hours per week, overtime pay, rest periods, and weekly holidays.
• Social Security and Welfare Board: The bill provides for the creation of a Karnataka State Domestic Workers Social Security and Welfare Board to manage a dedicated fund. This fund would provide benefits such as health insurance, maternity/paternity benefits, pension, accident compensation, and education support for children.
• Penalties: Non-compliance can result in fines and imprisonment for employers or agencies. Severe offenses like child labor or human trafficking carry stricter penalties (up to 7 years imprisonment and a ₹50,000 fine).
• Grievance Redressal: District-level committees are proposed to resolve disputes between workers and employers.

High-powered committee formed to review functioning of prisons in State

News-

• A high-powered committee has been constituted to review the functioning, administration, and security of prisons across Karnataka, following reports of illegal activities and preferential treatment at the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison.
• A high-powered committee would be led by Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) Hitendra, with Inspector-General of Police Sandeep Patil, Superintendents of Police Amarnath Reddy and Rishyanth, as members.