Category: State Current Affairs

Resource Mobilisation Committee (RMC) report

News –

• The Resource Mobilisation Committee (RMC) of Karnataka submitted its report in November 2025 recommending comprehensive reforms to boost the state’s revenue.

The Resource Mobilisation Committee (RMC) of Karnataka,

• Formed in – August- 2024
• Headed by – The committee headed by retired IAS officer K.P. Krishnan
• Mandate – It is a government-appointed body recommending comprehensive reforms to boost the state’s revenue.

Key recommendations

• Increase and rationalize user charges: Rationalize and increase user charges for government services and utilities, transitioning to volumetric billing with automatic inflation indexation.
• Tax reforms: Restructure the tax regime to broaden the tax base and reduce the state’s dependence on a few sources like commercial taxes and excise duties.
• Modernize the excise system: Introduce auction-based digital licensing to enhance transparency and efficiency in the excise sector.
• Asset monetization: Unlock the value of government assets through scientific valuation and leasing under public-private partnerships.
• Strengthen asset management: Improve asset data management and conduct systematic surveys of government properties.
• Create an economic policy wing: Establish a new wing within the finance department to monitor non-tax revenues and oversee asset monetization initiatives.
• Urban land monetisation among steps to shore up revenues

Krishi Mela 2025

News –

• Krishi Mela 2025 was conducted by the University of Agricultural Sciences-Bangalore from November 13 to 16 on the GKVK campus in Bengaluru.
• 2025 theme ‘Prosperous Agriculture – Viksit Bharat: Soil, Water, and Crop’,

Tenth-century inscription dating to Ganga dynasty reign found on outskirts of Mysuru

News –

• A 10th-century inscription from the Ganga dynasty reign has been found inside the ​Mahalingeshwara Temple at Nadanahalli on the outskirts of Mysuru.
• It is a Kannada inscription dating back to the time of Butuga II, a ruler from the ganga dynasty in 948 A.D.
• It is believed that during the reign of Butuga II, his bodyguard, Maremma, may have donated the garden to the temple tax-free and entrusted its management to the village chief Vijaketa Gavunda.

Karnataka Startup Policy 2025-30

News –

• Cabinet approves policy to help set up 25,000 start-ups in five years

Karnataka Startup Policy 2025-30

• Policy aims to ensure that at least 10,000 of the targeted 25,000 start-ups are set up outside Bengaluru.

Vision

• To position the state as a global innovation hub, fostering a vibrant and supportive ecosystem for nurturing startups throughout their lifecycle.
• To provide resources, mentorship, and infrastructure desired to drive sustainable growth and technological advancements.

 Mission

• Through this policy Karnataka seeks to establish up to 25,000 additional startups, out of which up to 10,000 startups emerging from clusters Beyond Bengaluru. By expanding the entrepreneurial footprints, the initiative helps the state to enhance its role as a leading innovation hub.
• Expand innovation hubs, incubation centers, and co-working spaces to support entrepreneurs across different regions.
• Strengthen international collaborations, trade partnerships, and global networking opportunities for startups to expand their reach.

Bengaluru Skill Summit 2025

News-

• The Bengaluru Skill Summit 2025 was held from November 4 to 6, 2025.
• Theme : “Workforce 2030: Scale, Systems, and Synergy.”

Organizers and Partners

• The summit was organized by the Government of Karnataka through the Skill Development Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Department, along with the Karnataka Skill Development Corporation, Department of Agriculture, and Karnataka Digital Economy Mission.

Objectives and Vision

• to strengthen institutions, build a robust ecosystem for traditional and emerging skills, improve the quality and inclusivity of skilling, and foster innovation and global workforce mobility.
• Karnataka aims to be the “Skill Gateway to the World” by aligning with international certification standards and vocational education frameworks.

Fair and Remunerative Price

News –

• CM writes to PM seeking meet to address FRP concerns

Sugar Production in India

• India became the world’s top sugar producer in 2021-2022, surpassing Brazil.
• Location of Sugar Industry in India: Sugar industry is broadly distributed over two major areas of production:

1. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana and Punjab in the north and
2. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in the south.

Sugarcane – Uses

• It belongs to the bamboo family of plants and is indigenous to India.
• About two-third of the total sugarcane produced in India is consumed for making gur and khandsari and only one-third of it goes to sugar factories.
• It also provides raw material for manufacturing alcohol.
• Bagasse, the crushed cane residue, can be more beneficially used for manufacturing paper.
• Ethanol production – It is also an efficient substitute for petroleum products and a host of other chemical products.
• India has become the 3rd largest country in the world in ethanol production after the USA and Brazil.

Conditions for growth

• Crop duration: 10-15 months, and even 18 months to mature, depending upon geographical conditions.
• Soil: Sugarcane can tolerate any kind of soil that can retain moisture. Examples – loams, clayey, black cotton soil, brown or reddish loam and laterites.
• It should be rich in nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus.
• Climate: Hot and Humid (21-27 °C of temperature and 75-150 cm of rainfall).

Government steps

Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane

• Recommended by – Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)
• Objective – to assure margins on account of profit and risk to farmers, irrespective of the fact whether sugar mills generate profit or not.

Cobra Beat

News –

• In a bid to tackle micro-level issues contributing to traffic congestion, the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) has launched a Cobra Beat system.

Cobra Beat system

• It is a traffic management initiative by the Bengaluru Traffic Police
• Overview – to address congestion by having designated officers, known as “Cobras,” patrol specific routes during peak hours to tackle issues like illegal parking, bottlenecks, and wrong-way driving.
• These officers act as first responders to proactively resolve minor traffic problems that cause major jams, improving real-time traffic flow.

Chief Minister’s Kaushalya Karnataka Yojane (CMKKY)

News –

• Chief Minister’s Kaushalya Karnataka Yojane (CMKKY) shall be targeted under schemes implemented directly by SDEL
• 50 lakh youth shall be targeted under schemes implemented by other Government departments and government bodies.

Chief Minister’s Kaushalya Karnataka Yojane (CMKKY)

• Aim- It is the flagship skill development scheme by the Government of Karnataka, providing free, short-term vocational training to the state’s youth to enhance their employability and promote entrepreneurship.

Key Features and Objectives

• Goal: The scheme aims to skill 5 lakh youth annually across various government departments to meet industry demands.
• Target Audience: It is designed for youth, especially school drop-outs and existing workers in the informal sector, within an general age group of 15 to 35 years (with some exceptions for specific categories).
• Training Areas: Training is offered in nearly 3,000 job roles across over 35 sectors, including IT & ITeS, healthcare, automotive, electronics, and agriculture. Recent updates for 2025-26 prioritize emerging areas like Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain.
• Placement Assistance: The Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC), which oversees the program, also facilitates placement opportunities for at least 70% of the trainees after successful completion of the course.
• Integration with other schemes: CMKKY works in convergence with central government schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and the state’s recent “Yuvanidhi Plus” initiative for beneficiaries receiving unemployment allowances.

SWR launches ‘MUTS Sahayak’ ticketing scheme

News

• In a bid to streamline the ticketing process, South Western Railway (SWR) has launched the Mobile Unreserved Ticketing System (MUTS) Sahayak Scheme at the KSR Bengaluru Station.
• This makes SWR the first railway zone in the country to introduce the initiative.

Mobile Unreserved Ticketing System (MUTS) Sahayak Scheme

• Under the scheme, trained MUTS Sahayaks will use MUTS handheld devices to issue unreserved tickets to passengers.

 The move is aimed at easing congestion at ticket counters and providing commuters with a quicker, hassle-free option for purchasing tickets.

Honnavar Port Project

News –

• Fact-finding report asks State to revoke environmental clearance

Honnavar Port Project

• Location: Honnavara (Honnavar), Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka, at the mouth of the Sharavathi River.
• Project type: Major deep-water port development under public-private partnership; managed by Honnavar Port Private Limited (HPPL) in collaboration with Karnataka Maritime Board.
• Project cost: Approximately ₹607 crore.
• Cargo handling: Initial capacity of 4.9 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), expected to boost regional maritime trade and economic growth.
• Opposition: Strong resistance from local fishing communities across five villages due to threats to livelihoods and ecological concerns related to the Sharavathi estuary.

State water commission

News –

• State govt. planning to set up permanent water commission

State water commission

• Karnataka is planning to establish a permanent water commission comprising technical experts on the lines of the Central Water Commission,
• Purpose- to recommend to the State government measures on water security and on matters of water dispute It will also assess demand and availability of water in the State, and fix responsibility on farmers for its usage.

Composition –

• The commission will have 10 to 15 technical experts.
• It will have representatives from the Irrigation and the Finance Departments, experts from the field of environmental science and water resources, and progressive farmers, among others.

Karnataka bags award for highest under-construction wind capacity

News –

• Karnataka has won the national award for having the highest under-construction wind capacity in 2024–25.
• The recognition was presented during the seventh edition of Windergy India 2025, the country’s flagship wind energy event held in Chennai.

Additional information – Wind Energy Sector in India: Status

• Wind Power Capacity: India has the 4th largest installed wind power capacity in the world.
• Installed Capacity: As of 51.67 GW as of August 12, 2025.
• Highest wind energy producing states – Gujarat followed by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka & Rajasthan.

Government Initiatives for the Wind Sector

• National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy (2018): Encourages combining wind and solar in one project to ensure continuous power supply and efficient land use.
• Offshore Wind Policy (2015): Provides framework for developing offshore wind farms in Indian waters, including permissions and grid planning.

Rajyotsava award

News –

• On the occasion of the Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations on November 1, the State government on Thursday announced its annual Rajyotsava awards for 70 personalities for their contributions in different fields.

Kannada Rajyotsava Award

• It is also known as the Rajyotsava Prashasti.
• It is the second-highest civilian honor presented by the Government of Karnataka.
• It is awarded annually on November 1st, which marks Kannada Rajyotsava—the anniversary of the formation of Karnataka state in 1956 through the unification of Kannada-speaking regions
• The award carries an amount of ₹5 lakh, a 25-gram gold medal, and a citation.

List of 2025 recipients

State Film Lifetime Achievement Awards and literary awards  (2019)

News – The Karnataka State Film Lifetime Achievement Awards recognize individuals for their outstanding contributions to Kannada cinema over their lifetime

• Award: Dr. Rajkumar Award

Awardee: Umashree

Category: Lifetime Achievement in Cinema

Issuing Authority: Government of Karnataka (Department of Information and Public Relations)

• Award: Puttanna Kanagal Award

Awardee: N. R. Nanjunde Gowda

Category: Lifetime Achievement in Direction

• Issuing Authority: Government of Karnataka (Department of Information and Public Relations)
• Award: Dr. Vishnuvardhan Award

Awardee: Richard Castelino

Category: Lifetime Achievement in Film Production/Direction

Issuing Authority: Government of Karnataka (Department of Information and Public Relations)

• In the literary category, the State Film Literature Award for 2019 has been conferred on senior journalist Raghunath Ch.Ha. for his book “Belli Tore – Cinema Essays,” published by Ankita Prakashana.
• Both the author and the publisher will receive ₹20,000 in cash and a silver medal each.

ASTraM app

News –

• Traffic police introduce e-accident report feature on its ASTraM app

ASTraM app

• Abbreviation – Actionable Intelligence for Sustainable Traffic Management
• Launched by – Bengaluru Traffic Police in January 2024

Objectives

• To equip Bengaluru Traffic Police with real-time, data-driven situational awareness for better traffic management.
• To provide congestion alerts every 15 minutes to traffic officials and stakeholders for proactive traffic planning.
• To enable citizens to actively participate by reporting accidents, violations, and making online traffic fine payments.

Devadasi survey extended

News –

• The ongoing resurvey of Devadasis in Karnataka has been extended till December 31. The Karnataka State Women’s Development Corporation (KSWDC), the nodal agency for conducting the survey,.
• The Karnataka Cabinet has approved the Karnataka Devadasi (Prevention, Prohibition, Relief and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2025, aiming to strengthen efforts against the Devadasi system

Devadasi rehabilitation Bill

• It will replace the 1982 Act
• Mandate – to protect the dignity of Devadasis and their children.

Devadasi system

• It is an ancient practice dating back to the Chola, Chera, and Pandya dynasties, involving dedicating young lower-caste girls to temple deities.
• Though termed “servants of God,” these girls often end up providing sexual services to temple patrons and powerful men.
• The system persists under different regional names across India, such as Natis (Assam), Maharis (Kerala), Basavi/Jogati (Karnataka), Jogin (Andhra Pradesh), and Aradhini (Maharashtra).

Akkai on panel to draft transgender equal opportunity policy

News –

• Trans rights activist Akkai Padmashali from Karnataka has been named as a member of a Supreme Court-appointed committee that was formed to formulate an equal opportunity policy for the protection of the rights of transgender persons.
• The Supreme Court set up a committee under former Justice Asha Menon to formulate an equal opportunity policy for transgender individuals.

Challenges Transgender are Facing

1. Institutional gaps in implementing the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and Rules.
2. Lack of data and representation in policymaking.
3. Healthcare discrimination.
4. Workplace barriers.
5. Social stigma.

Steps Taken To Improve the Lives of Transgender Persons

• Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 – It is aimed at protecting the rights of transgender individuals and their welfare. The act prohibits discrimination against transgender people in areas like education, employment, healthcare, and public services.
• NALSA (2014): Recognized transgender persons as a third gender.
• National Portal for Transgender Persons: Enables online applications for identity certificates.
• SMILE scheme: It is aimed at rehabilitation and support for transgender persons, including livelihood and social security components.

Facial recognition attendance (FRA)

News-

• Facial recognition attendance (FRA) has already been implemented as a pilot project for three months in schools and PU colleges in Mandya, Haveri, and Bengaluru South districts
• Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had announced the implementation of the FRA in the State Budget for 2025-26.

Facial recognition attendance (FRA)

• It is a contactless biometric system that detects a face, creates a numerical template (embedding), matches it to an enrolled profile, and auto-logs time, date, and location.
• Workflow: Capture → Detect → Normalize → Feature extraction (embedding) → Match (threshold) → Liveness check → Attendance log → Sync to server/HRMS.
• Core components: Camera/mobile app; face detection/recognition model (CNN-based); liveness/anti-spoofing; secure template database; admin dashboard; integrations (HR/payroll, access control).