Category: State Current Affairs

‘Mobile Bidi Pustaka Hidi’ Campaign

News –

• The Karnataka State government is launching the ‘Mobile bidi pustaka hidi’ (Put down your mobile and pick up a book) campaign to reduce children’s screen time and systematically develop a habit of reading.

‘Mobile Bidi Pustaka Hidi’ (Drop the Mobile, Pick up a Book)

• It is a statewide campaign launched by the Government of Karnataka in February 2026
• Objective – to combat mobile phone addiction and revive reading habits among schoolchildren.

Key Details of the Campaign

• Primary Objective: To reduce excessive screen time for children under 16 and encourage them to cultivate a love for physical books and libraries.
• Target Audience: Approximately 50 lakh students across government, aided, and private schools in Karnataka.
• Implementation: Overseen by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL) and the Department of State Education Research and Training (DSERT).

Core Strategies & Initiatives

• Digital Detox for Parents: The campaign urges parents to lead by example by putting away their own phones when children are at home and reading books instead.
• School Integration: Teachers are instructed to organize regular parent-teacher meetings to discuss the negative effects of gadget addiction and set healthy limits on mobile use.
• Holistic Development: Beyond reading, the campaign promotes physical activities, sports, and hobbies to distract children from digital devices.
• Inter-Departmental Support: The education department plans to collaborate with the Library, Health, Police, and Women and Child Welfare departments to raise awareness about cybercrimes and online safety.
• Note – The campaign was inspired by a grassroots movement led by a government school teacher, T.N. Chikkaveeraiah, from Ramanagara, who initially started the “Mobile Bidi Pustaka Hidi” effort to pull his students away from screens

Free Bicycle Scheme in Karnataka (2026)

News –

• The Karnataka State Policy and Planning Commission, headed by Deputy Chairman B.R. Patil has submitted a 210-page report to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recommending major educational reforms to be included in the 2026–27 State Budget.
• Reviving the Free Bicycle Scheme: The panel strongly advises restarting the free bicycle distribution program for girl students in government high schools to provide safe, last-mile transportation where bus connectivity is poor.

Free Bicycle Distribution Scheme in Karnataka

• Objective– It was originally launched to improve school attendance and reduce dropout rates among students in rural and hilly areas.

Current Status

• Discontinued: The scheme was officially paused after the 2019–20 academic year.
• Alternative: The government currently provides free bus passes to rural students to facilitate their travel to school.

Karnataka Introduces 10% Women’s Quota in Fire Services

News –

• The Karnataka government has proposed changing the official designation from “Fireman” to “Firefighter” and introducing a 10% reservation for women to promote gender inclusivity in the state’s fire department.
• Union Government Directive: This decision follows instructions from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to encourage greater participation of women in fire services across India.
• New 10% Women’s Quota: Under the new policy, women will receive a 10% reservation in direct recruitment for the posts of firefighter and station officer.
• Legal Framework: These historic changes will be officially implemented by amending the Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services Rules, 2013.
• Department Background: Established in 1964, the state fire department handles fire accidents, natural disasters, floods, and animal rescues.

Bhoo Guarantee

News- 

• The Chief Minister of Karnataka launched the “Bhoo Guarantee” scheme during a mega convention in Haveri, marking the state government’s 1,000 days in office.

Bhoo Guarantee

• Ownership Rights: The scheme grants legal ownership (title deeds or hakku patra) to marginalized communities, including Dalits, Adivasis, and agricultural laborers who have lived on government or private land for years without legal documentation.
• Mass Distribution: At the launch event in Haveri, title deeds were distributed to over 1.06 lakh (106,000) beneficiary families.
• Doorstep Delivery: Updated land records are being delivered directly to farmers’ doorsteps through a streamlined process managed by the Revenue Department.
• Digital Integration: The initiative includes scanning millions of pages of land records and Aadhaar-seeding land parcels to ensure a clean, modern database.

Context of the “Sixth Guarantee”

• This scheme joins the five original guarantees launched by the Congress government in 2023:

1. Shakti: Free bus travel for women.
2. Gruha Jyoti: Up to 200 units of free electricity per household.
3. Anna Bhagya: 10 kg of free food grains for BPL families.
4. Gruha Lakshmi: ₹2,000 monthly allowance for female heads of families.
5. Yuva Nidhi: Unemployment stipends for graduates and diploma holders.

ARAI Research Centre in Mandya

News –

• Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy announced that a world-class Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) centre will be set up in Mandya.
• Investment: The project will be established at a total cost of ₹500 crore,

Key details regarding the project include:

• Location: The Karnataka government has identified 105 acres of land in Muddanaghatta and Heggadithihalli villages, located in Basaralu Hobli.
• This site is roughly 30 km from Mandya and 500 metres from the Mandya–Nagamangala State Highway.
• Specialisation: While it serves the broader automotive sector, it is proposed as India’s first dedicated Construction and Infrastructure Equipment Testing facility.
• Regional Impact: Announced by Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, the centre is expected to boost the automobile industry across Karnataka, specifically benefiting the Mandya and Mysuru regions.

Sustainable Tourism Development in Udupi

News –

• The Union Tourism Ministry has identified four destinations in Udupi district to be developed under the National Mission for Developing Globally Competitive Tourism Destinations.
• Identified Destinations: The four locations under consideration are Kodi-Kanyana, Kodi-Kundapur, Barkur Port area, and Trasi-Maravanthe.
• Final Selection: One of these four destinations will be selected for comprehensive development to meet international standards.
• Objective: The project aims to develop more than 50 global-level tourist spots across India, focusing on sustainable and responsible tourism that protects natural and cultural resources.

Key Features: The chosen site will feature:

1. Use of renewable energy.
2. Infrastructure developed to global standards.
3. Environmentally friendly facilities.
4. Global marketing campaigns to attract international tourists.
5. Funding & Model: The Union government has allocated a ₹300 crore grant for this pan-India scheme.

Karnataka Cybercrime Coordination Centre (K4C)

News –

• The State government is set to establish the Karnataka Cybercrime Coordination Centre (K4C), modeled after the Union Home Ministry’s Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C).

Karnataka Cybercrime Coordination Centre (K4C)

• It is a state-level initiative designed to serve as the nodal agency for combating digital crimes in Karnataka.

K4C is planned to house four primary units:

1. Cybercrime Tackling Unit: For active investigation and detection.
2. Cyber Security & Capacity Building: Focused on training police, prosecutors, and judicial officers.
3. Information Disorder Tackling Unit (IDTU): Using AI to monitor and address misinformation.
4. Anti-CSAM Unit: Dedicated to tackling Child Sexual Abuse Material.
5. Predictive Policing: The centre aims to use Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to predict vulnerabilities and reduce incident response times by up to 40% by 2030.

17th Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) Awards

News –

• The 17th edition of BIFFes concluded in Bengaluru, celebrating global and local cinema with a focus on women’s empowerment.

17th edition of BIFF

• Best Indian Film: The Marathi film Sabar Bonda, directed by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade, won the top honor in the Indian Cinema competition.
• Best Kannada Film: Vanya, directed by Badiger Devendra, was adjudged the best film in the Kannada segment. The movie depicts a father and daughter’s struggle to protect their forest from corporate and political exploitation.
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Renowned music composer and lyricist Hamsalekha was honored for his massive contribution to the industry.

Other Notable Winners:

• Indian Cinema: Malayalam films Moham and Kaadu took second and third places, respectively.
• Kannada Cinema: Nam Saali (2nd place) and Ravana Rajyadalli Navadampatigalu (3rd place).
• Special Mentions: Gondhal (Marathi) won the FIPRESCI Award; The Republic of Pipolipinas (Philippines) received a Special Jury Mention.

Festival Statistics:

• Duration: 8 days (began January 29, 2026).
• Scale: Screened 300 films from 70 countries.
• Attendance: Witnessed a footfall of over 1 lakh people.
• Theme: “Stree Yendare Ashte Sake” (Is it enough to be a woman?), focusing on women’s empowerment.

AI-Powered Software to Combat Misinformation and Hate Speech

News –

• The Karnataka Cabinet has approved the deployment of advanced AI-based software to identify and track hate speech, deepfakes, and misinformation on digital platforms.
• Project Cost: The initiative will be implemented at an estimated cost of ₹67.26 crore.
• Primary Aim: To strengthen public safety—specifically for women and children—by detecting harmful narratives, disinformation, and Subject-Based Manipulations.

Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Karnataka) Rules, 2026

News  –

• The Karnataka government published the draft Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Karnataka) Rules, 2026 on January 23, 2026.
• These rules, along with the draft Code on Wages (Karnataka) Rules, 2021, aim to operationalise central labour codes within the state.

Key provisions and deadlines for the draft rules include:

• Public Consultation: The government has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders (employers, unions, and HR practitioners) within 45 days of publication.
• Working Hours: Daily working hours are capped at 10.5 hours, with a weekly limit of 48 hours. Certain sectors may be extended to 12-hour workdays if notified.
• Safety and Health: Mandates annual health examinations for eligible workers and the appointment of qualified Safety Officers in specified establishments.
• Digital Compliance: Introduces a common electronic registration and licensing system through portals like Karmika Spandana to promote ease of doing business.
• Worker Welfare: Includes special provisions for inter-state migrant workers, contract labour, and gig/platform workers.

Additional Information – Karmika Spandana

• It is the official online e-Services portal of the Department of Labour, Government of Karnataka.
• It serves as a centralized platform for employers and workers to access various labour-related services, including registrations, licensing, and grievance redressal.

Key Services and Features

• Mandatory Registration: Factories with more than 20 workers and commercial establishments with more than 10 workers must register through the Karmika Spandana Portal or the e-Suraksha portal.
• Licensing: The portal facilitates online registration and licensing for various sectors, including construction, plantations, and general manufacturing, under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Karnataka) Rules.
• Worker Welfare Schemes: It provides access to benefits managed by the Karnataka Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (KBOCWWB), such as:
• Educational Assistance (Kalike Bhagya): Financial aid for the children of registered workers, ranging from ₹2,000 for primary school to ₹30,000 for medical courses.
• Medical Assistance (Karmika Chikitsa Bhagya): Coverage up to ₹2,00,000 for major ailments like heart surgery, kidney transplants, and cance
• Marriage and Maternity Benefits: Financial aid of ₹50,000 for marriage and specific assistance for maternity (Thayi Lakshmi Bond).
• Compliance and Reporting: Employers use the portal to comply with the Karnataka Minimum Wages Rules, ensuring proper wage payments and working hour regulations.
• Grievance Redressal: While “e-Spandana” is a broader public grievance system for districts like Ballari, Karmika Spandana specifically addresses labour-related issues and maintains a dedicated helpdesk at 1902