Category: State Current Affairs

HPV vaccination drive to prevent cervical cancer

News – 

• The Karnataka government, in alignment with a nationwide initiative, officially launched a major Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination drive on February 28, 2026, to prevent cervical cancer among adolescent girls. 

 Key Details of the Vaccination Drive

• Target Group: The campaign primarily targets girls who have completed 14 years of age but are below 15 years.
• Scale of the Initiative: Approximately 6 lakh girls in Karnataka have been identified as eligible beneficiaries, contributing to a national target of nearly 1.15 crore girls.
• Vaccine Type & Dosage: The drive uses the quadrivalent Gardasil-4 vaccine, which protects against four common HPV strains (6, 11, 16, and 18). Under the current national guidelines, it is administered as a single-dose intramuscular injection.
• Cost: The vaccine is provided free of cost at government health facilities.
• Duration: The initial intensive campaign is set for three months (90 days) in mission mode, after which the vaccine will be integrated into routine immunization days

Karnataka launches State Action Plan on snakebite and rabies

News – 

• Karnataka has launched the State Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (SAPSE) and the State Action Plan for Rabies Elimination (SAPRE). 

• • It is the first state in India to implement a comprehensive action plan specifically for snakebites, aiming to drastically reduce fatalities. 

• Both plans aim for zero rabies deaths and reduced snakebite incidents by 2030. 

Key Aspects of the Action Plans

SAPSE (Snakebite Action Plan):

• • Notifiable Disease: Snakebite cases are now notifiable in Karnataka, ensuring mandatory reporting.

• Treatment: Ensures availability of anti-snake venom (ASV) and free, immediate, no-advance-payment treatment at all health facilities.

• Measures: Focuses on strengthening surveillance, training medical staff, and strengthening public awareness.

SAPRE (Rabies Action Plan):

• Target: Eliminate dog-mediated human rabies by 2030.

• • Rabies-Free Cities: Initiating the “Rabies-Free Cities” project in 11 major urban centres focusing on mass dog vaccinations and population management.

• Health Initiatives: Free anti-rabies vaccines and immunoglobulin are provided at government hospitals.

• Notifiable Disease: Rabies was declared a notifiable disease in 2022 to strengthen surveillance.
• Significance – These initiatives are guided by a “One Health” approach, integrating human health, animal health, and environmental departments.

Kusuma Sanjeevini programme

News – 

• In a significant step toward improving the quality of life for those with rare genetic blood disorders, the Karnataka government launched the ‘Kusuma Sanjeevini’ programme. 

Kusuma Sanjeevini programme

• Uniqueness – It is India’s first statewide prophylaxis programme dedicated to providing free, advanced treatment for patients living with haemophilia. 

Key Objectives and Benefits

• The scheme aims to shift haemophilia care from reactive (treating bleeds after they occur) to preventive (prophylactic), ensuring a better quality of life and a “Zero Bleeds” state for patients. 
• Free Advanced Medication: Eligible patients receive Emicizumab, a high-end monoclonal antibody injection, entirely free of cost.
• Ease of Treatment: Unlike traditional factor replacements that require frequent painful infusions, this breakthrough drug is administered just once a month as a subcutaneous (under-the-skin) injection.
• Financial Relief: The treatment typically costs around ₹5 lakh per patient annually, a burden now fully covered by the state government.
• Emergency Support: The programme includes a dedicated, free 108 ambulance service for the rapid emergency transport of haemophilia patients across the state.
• Infrastructure: Treatment is available at 36 Integrated Treatment Centres for Haemoglobinopathies and Haemophilia (ICHH) located in district and taluk hospitals

Additional Information – Haemophilia

• It is a rare genetic bleeding disorder where the blood does not clot properly due to a deficiency in specific clotting factors. 

Core Characteristics

• Inheritance Pattern: It is an X-linked recessive disorder. The defective gene is located on the X chromosome, making males much more vulnerable.
• Prevalence: It affects approximately 1 in 10,000 people globally.
• India Scenario: India has the highest number of patients in the world (~19,000–20,000 registered).

Types of Haemophilia

Treatment & Innovations

• • Replacement Therapy: The standard treatment involving regular intravenous infusions of the missing clotting factor.
  • Gene Therapy Breakthrough: India recently conducted its first human clinical trial for Haemophilia A gene therapy using a lentiviral vector to insert a functional gene into a patient’s stem cells.

• Prophylaxis: A shift from “on-demand” treatment (after bleeding starts) to preventive care to avoid long-term joint damage. 

Key Observances

• World Haemophilia Day: Observed on April 17th annually.
• 2025 Theme: “Access for All – Women and Girls Bleed Too”

Asha Kirana: Karnataka State Eye Care Programme

News – 

• Asha Kirana initiative reaches 1.4 cr. people across Karnataka

• 393 permanent vision centres have been established across district hospitals, taluk hospitals, and community health centres

Asha Kirana: Karnataka State Eye Care Programme

• • It refers to a major eye-care initiative by the Government of Karnataka, 

• Launched by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, 

• Objective – this is a comprehensive vision care programme aimed at eradicating avoidable blindness across the state. 
• Key Services – It Provides free eye screenings, spectacles for vision correction, and free cataract surgeries.

Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0

News – 

• Centre allocates ₹2,245.30 crore to Karnataka under SwachhBharat Mission-Urban 2.0.

• Significance of the move – The funds aim to strengthen urban infrastructure, focusing on making cities garbage-free and improving waste treatment processes across Karnataka.

Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0.

• Launched on – October 1, 2021. 

• It is aimed at making all Indian cities “Garbage Free” by 2026. 
• It is implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)

Key Objectives & Vision

• Garbage-Free Cities: Achieving 100% scientific processing of municipal solid waste in all statutory towns.
• Sustaining ODF Status: Moving beyond Open Defecation Free (ODF) to ODF+ (functional/hygienic public toilets) and ODF++ (complete faecal sludge management).
• Water+ Certification: Ensuring no untreated wastewater is discharged into open environments or water bodies.
• Remediation of Legacy Waste: Processing waste at all legacy dumpsites (landfills) to reclaim land and prevent environmental hazards.

Circular Economy: Promoting the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) to treat waste as a resource.

Karnataka Information Commission (KIC)

News –

• The Karnataka Information Commission (KIC) has claimed to be the fastest in India for disposing of second appeal petitions under the RTI Act.

Karnataka Information Commission (KIC)

• It is an autonomous statutory body established on March 2, 2006, under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.
• It serves as the final appellate authority for citizens seeking information from public authorities within the state of Karnataka.

Key Leadership & Structure

• State Chief Information Commissioner (In-Charge): Dr. H.C. Sathyan.
• Information Commissioners: The commission includes several State Information Commissioners (SICs), such as Shri. Raman K., Dr. Harish Kumar, Sri. Rudranna Harthikote, and Sri. Rajashekara S..
• Benches: In addition to its main headquarters in Bengaluru, the KIC operates regional benches in Belagavi and Kalaburagi to improve accessibility.

Core Functions & Powers

• Adjudication: The KIC hears Second Appeals and Complaints regarding the refusal of information or delays by Public Information Officers (PIOs).
• Penalties: The commission has the authority to impose financial penalties—up to ₹25,000—on officials who delay information.
• Judicial Authority: It possesses the powers of a Civil Court, including the ability to summon witnesses, require oral or written evidence under oath, and inspect public records.

Tulu language

News –

• The Karnataka government has expressed support for declaring Tulu as the State’s second additional official language.

Tulu language

• Historical Roots and Geography: Boasting a recorded history of over 3,000 years, Tulu is predominantly spoken in the coastal Karnataka districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada.
• Linguistic Heritage: Featuring its own distinct script, Tulu holds the distinction of being one of only five literary Dravidian languages, alongside Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam.
• Constitutional Recommendation: A state-constituted committee in 2023, headed by educationist Mohan Alva, officially recommended declaring Tulu as the State’s second official language under Article 345 of the Indian Constitution.

New ‘Sahyadri Sindhura’ Red Rice Variety

News – 

• The Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences in Shivamogga recently launched a highly popular, nutrient-rich red rice variety named “Sahyadri Sindhura.”

‘Sahyadri Sindhura’ Red Rice Variety

• The Cross-Breed: This new rice is a hybrid created by crossing two popular traditional rice varieties: Jyothi and Biliya.
• Nutritional Benefits: This fine-grain red rice is packed with high protein, iron, and zinc.It also has a low glycaemic index, making it a much healthier dietary option.
• High Crop Yield: It gives an impressive yield of 53 to 54 quintals per hectare in irrigated lands, easily outperforming traditional varieties that only yield 40 to 45 quintals.
• Fast Maturation: The crop grows relatively fast and is ready to harvest in just 120 days.
• Disease and Pest Resistance: Farmers benefit greatly because the crop is naturally resistant to blast disease and can tolerate common agricultural pests like leaf folders and stem borers.
• Extra Benefits for Farmers: Along with fetching a strong market price (₹70 to ₹80 per kg), the crop produces high-quality straw that serves as excellent fodder for cattle.
• Official Recognition: Developed after five years of rigorous research by a team led by Dr. B.M. Dushyantha Kumar, the variety is officially registered with the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources in New Delhi.

Karez Water System

News – 

• Recent unauthorized digging has damaged the centuries-old Naubad–Aliyabad karez in Bidar, causing the district administration to halt activities to protect this ancient water system.

Karez (Qanat):

• It is an ancient underground water-harvesting system.
• It uses a gently sloping horizontal tunnel to bring groundwater from higher areas to the surface using gravity.
• Key Design Features: The system includes vertical shafts at regular intervals for air and maintenance. Because the water flows underground, it highly minimizes water evaporation and contamination.
• Historical Background: It was built in the 15th century during the Bahmani Sultanate. It is one of India’s earliest adaptations of Persian-Central Asian water technology.
• Unique Geology: The Bidar karez is extremely rare because it is carved entirely through laterite rock, unlike most others globally that are built in limestone or soft soil.
• Ecological Importance: It is not just a monument, but a living groundwater recharge system that can help solve Bidar’s chronic water shortage. If properly conserved, it has the potential to become a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Export of Karnataka’s GI-Tagged Produce to the Maldives

News –

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently highlighted the first-ever air-shipment of three Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged agricultural products from Karnataka to the Maldives during his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio broadcast.
• Export Statistics: The successful trial shipment included 500 kg of Nanjangud Rasabale (bananas), 250 kg of Mysuru betel leaves, and 500 kg of Indi lemons.

Nanjangud Rasabale (Banana):

• GI Status: Awarded in 2006.
• Region: Grown in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts of Karnataka.
• Unique Features: Known for its unique aroma, thick pulp, and medicinal properties (believed to cure neurological ailments).
• Soil Requirement: Thrives specifically in black clay alluvial saline soil found on the banks of the Kapila River.
• Threat: Susceptible to Panama Wilt disease.

Mysuru Betel Leaves (Veelyadele):

• Region: Primarily grown in and around Mysuru.
• Characteristics: Locally known as Chigurele, they are prized for their smooth texture, taste, and quality.

Indi Limons (Lime):

• Region: Cultivated in the Indi region of Vijayapura (Bijapur) district, Karnataka.
• Export Value: Hailed as “superfoods” in international markets like the Maldives due to their high quality