Page 2 - Karnataka

New AI city to come up in Bidadi, B'luru infra to get ₹1 trn: Shivakumar

Karnataka will build a 9,000-acre AI-driven IT city in Bidadi, creating a major new tech hub with strong connectivity and green spaces, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has announced

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah meets PM, insists on sugarcane price, AIIMS

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and insisted on demands pertaining to the state, including on Fair Recovery Price of sugarcane, AIIMS for Raichur, the release of flood relief among others. His demand on sugarcane price came in the wake of farmers' protest in the north Karnataka demanding an increase in the cane procurement price. The chief minister highlighted several long-standing demands of the state, including the release of over Rs 2,100 crore in flood relief, and the clearance of crucial irrigation projects in his memorandum to Modi. "The meeting, which comes amid ongoing state concerns over central fiscal devolution and disaster funding, covered five critical areas outlined in the document submitted to the PM," a statement issued by the chief minister's office said on Monday. In his memorandum to the prime minister, Siddaramaiah sought a sustainable solution to the sugarcane pricing crisis. "Following recent farmer agitations, the state

Karnataka launches KEO, a low-cost AI-ready PC to bridge the digital divide

Karnataka has introduced KEO, a RISC-V-based, AI-ready personal computer designed to offer affordable, locally built computing to students, households and small businesses, aiming to narrow the state'

X Corp challenges legality of 'Sahyog' portal takedown in Karnataka HC

Social media giant 'X' Corp has informed the Karnataka High Court that it received 29,118 government requests to remove content between January and June 2025, complying with 26,641 of them, a 91.49 per cent compliance rate. The company argued that these figures contradict a single judge's September 24 finding that the platform intends to defy Indian law. The data was furnished as part of X's writ appeal against the order upholding the Union government's 'Sahyog' portal, the online system used to issue takedown directions to intermediaries. In its recent appeal, X Corp contended that government agencies are unlawfully using Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, along with Rule 3(1)(d) of the 2021 IT Rules, to issue content removal orders. This, the company said, creates a parallel and unconstitutional mechanism that bypasses Section 69A of the IT Act, the only statutory process for blocking online content in India. The Supreme Court, in Shreya Singhal versus Unio

Karnataka to set up 5 world-class aerospace, defence parks: Dy CM Shivkumar

Shivkumar said the initiative aims to strengthen Karnataka's leadership in aerospace and defence manufacturing while creating new opportunities for skilled talent

Karnataka bets on quantum push to build a deep-tech hub beyond Bengaluru

New Centres of Excellence at IIIT and IIT Dharwad aim to expand high-end research, talent pipelines and industry partnerships beyond Bengaluru

Tractors carrying sugarcane set on fire in Karnataka amid farmers' protest

Tension prevailed in parts of Bagalkote district on Thursday as several tractors and trolleys carrying sugarcane to a factory in Rabkavi Banhatti taluk were set on fire, allegedly by miscreants. The incident occurred amid ongoing protests by sugarcane farmers demanding Rs 3,500 per tonne for their produce, police officials said. Firefighting personnel rushed to the spot to bring the blaze under control. Farmer leaders, however, claimed the protesters had no role in the incident and suggested it may have been orchestrated by miscreants to tarnish their agitation. Reports also indicated some stone-pelting during the incident, injuring several people, including police personnel, sources said. Following the incident, Bagalkote Deputy Commissioner, exercising powers under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, issued prohibitory orders banning protests, strikes, and assemblies in Jamkhandi, Mudhol, and Rabkavi-Banhatti taluks from 8 pm on November 13 to 8 am

Priyank Kharge: Govt-industry ties vital for India's deeptech growth

Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge said the State aims to lead globally in deeptech innovation, emphasising collaboration between government and industry to boost entrepreneurship and talent

EC has not done justice to Bihar over vote deletions in SIR: D K Shivakumar

Congress leader and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar Monday alleged the Election Commission has not done justice to the Bihar electorate as it has deleted a large number of poor voters and those seeking jobs outside the state from the electoral rolls. He claimed the EC was conducting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls after admitting that "something wrong" was committed by "misusing its office". Shivakumar was here to present the 1.12 crore signatures collected from across Karnataka as part of the Congress' "Vote chor, gaddi chhod" campaign. "The Election Commission has not given justice to Bihar voters," he claimed, alleging that the votes of the poor and those migrating outside Bihar in search of jobs were deleted on a large scale during the SIR exercise. Shivakumar, however, did not answer any queries on whether he raised the issue of the change of chief ministership in Karnataka with the party high command. "I am not here to speak on politics.

Panel to probe lapses after videos show special treatment in Bengaluru jail

The BJP in Karnataka on Monday staged a demonstration here demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after videos purportedly showing inmates, including a terror accused, getting "special treatment" at the Bengaluru central jail, surfaced. The party has also sought a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the incident, calling it a "serious security lapse". The party leaders, including BJP state president B Y Vijayendra, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly and Council R Ashoka and N Chaluvaraya Swamy were later taken into preventive custody at Shivananda Circle during their march towards the Chief Minister's office residence in the city. Holding placards and posters, the party members took out a march to Siddaramaiah's office-residence 'Krishna'. Speaking to reporters, Vijayendra claimed that the royal treatment given to the prisoners indicates rampant corruption in the prison department and the nexus between jail officials and criminals. Allegin

Belagavi farmers end protest after state fixes Rs 3,300/tonne for sugarcane

Sugarcane farmers, who have been protesting in Belagavi for the last ten days demanding a higher price for their produce, on Saturday withdrew their protest, following the Karnataka government fixing procurement price of sugarcane, yielding 11.25 per cent recovery, at Rs 3,300 per ton. With Sugar Minister Shivanand Patil handing over the government's order copy on the price fixation to farmers' leaders at Gurlapur Cross in Mudalagi taluk of Belagavi, farmers celebrated and withdrew the protest, officials said. However, sugarcane farmers in Bagalkote, Mudhol, and a few other places have decided to continue with the protest, dissatisfied with the government's decision, calling it "confusing". Sugarcane farmers' had staged a protest at Gurlapur Cross demanding a procurement price of Rs 3,500 per ton of sugarcane, excluding harvesting and transport charges (H&T) for the last ten days. It had also spread across various parts of north Karnataka districts like Belagavi, Bagalkote, ...

Karnataka sugarcane price fixed at ₹3,300 per tonne, says CM Siddaramaiah

With farmers' protesting in the northern districts of Karnataka, demanding a fair price for their produce, the Karnataka government has decided to fix the price Rs 3,300 per tonne of sugarcane, yielding a recovery of 11.25 per cent, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Friday. The CM also appealed to protesting sugarcane farmers to cooperate accepting the new price, and withdraw the agitation. Sugarcane farmers' protest at Gurlapur Cross in Mudalagi taluk of Belagavi district demanding a procurement price of Rs 3,500 per tonne of sugarcane entered ninth day on Friday. It has also spread across various parts of north Karnataka districts like Belagavi, Bagalkote, Vijayapura, Haveri among others. With the protest intensifying, CM Siddaramaiah called for a meeting with farmer leaders and representatives of sugar factories on Friday. "The Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Superintendent of Police (SP) of Belagavi district had offered Rs 3,100 per tonne of sugarcane yielding a recovery of 10.2

Sugarcane growers intensify protest in Belagavi, demand higher MSP

The sugarcane growers' protest in Belagavi district demanding a minimum support price of Rs 3,500 per ton for their produce has gathered momentum. Farmers, under the banner of the Hasiru Sene Farmers Association, have rejected the Rs 3,200 per ton offer from sugar mills. The agitation has brought operations to a halt at 26 sugar factories across the region, with protesters vowing not to settle for anything less than their demand. All the business establishments in Mudalagi remained shut as farmers gathered in huge numbers. The protests, which initially began with the demands for State Advisory Price (SAP) for sugarcane, have now spread to Athani, Chikkodi, Hukkeri, Bailhongal, Mudalagi, Gokak and neighbouring areas. In Gokak town, the agitation took a new turn as students joined farmers in staging roadblocks at key intersections, throwing traffic out of gear on major routes connecting Belagavi, Savadatti, Mudalagi and Yaragatti. Protesting farmers have urged the state government t

Mild tremor in Karnataka's Vijayapura, some districts of Andhra Pradesh

A mild earthquake measuring magnitude 2.9 on Richter scale was recorded in Vijayapura district on Tuesday morning, according to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC). The tremor occurred at 7.49 am with its epicentre located about 3.6 kilometres northwest of Bhutnal Tanda in Vijayapura taluk. Officials said the seismic event was minor and caused no damage. The recorded coordinates were 16.91 degree North latitude and 75.75 degree East longitude, with the earthquake originating at a shallow depth of five kilometres beneath the surface, KSNDMC said in a statement. The earthquake of magnitude 2.9 is recorded by the KSNDMC network in Vijayapura district with the epicentre located 3.6 km northwest of Bhutnal Tanda, Vijayapura taluk, the statement said. According to the centre's analysis, the epicentre was situated 4.3 km west-southwest of Inganal village, 4.6 km northeast of Hanchinal village, 9.3 km north-northeast of Vijayapura city, and about 65 km north of

Supreme Court stays Karnataka HC order on multiplex movie ticket records

The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Karnataka High Court's order asking multiplexes to maintain a comprehensive and auditable record for every movie ticket sold. The high court's division bench had passed the direction on September 30 while hearing a plea against an order of its single judge that had granted an interim stay on the Karnataka Cinemas (Regulation) (Amendment) Rules, 2025, which sought to cap cinema ticket prices at Rs 200. A plea challenging the division bench order came up for hearing on Monday before a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta. "This should be fixed," the bench said, while observing that multiplexes were charging Rs 100 for a water bottle. "As it is, the cinema is declining. Make it more reasonable for people to come and enjoy. Otherwise, the halls are empty," the bench said, adding, "We are with the division bench that it should be Rs 200." The bench agreed to hear the plea filed by Multiplex Association of India and others. It issued no

Centre neglects Kannada, imposes Hindi, says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday accused the Centre of neglecting Kannada and imposing Hindi. He also called upon people of the state to oppose those who are 'anti-Kannada'. "The federal government is meting out step-motherly treatment to Karnataka," Siddaramaiah said during his address on the occasion of the state foundation day (Rajyotsava Day) here in the state capital. He charged that the state provides Rs 4.5 lakh crore revenue to the Centre, but it is denied its rightful share and is given a paltry amount in return. Stating that injustice is being done to Kannada language, the chief minister said, "There are continuous attempts to impose Hindi. Grants are given for the development of Hindi and Sanskrit while other languages of the country are being neglected." He also said that Karnataka is denied funds for the development of the state. "Injustice is being done to the classical language Kannada by denying adequate funds for its growth. We have to oppose all

K'taka 'caste survey' covers 61.4 mn people, projects population at 68.5 mn

The ongoing Social and Educational Survey, nicknamed as 'caste survey', has so far covered 6,13,83,908 people in the state, Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission said on Friday. The brief summary shared by the Commission said that the projected population of Karnataka is 6,85,38,000 whereas the surveyed population as on October 31 was 6,13,83,908. The Commission said 4,22,258 households refused to take part in the survey while 34,49,681 houses were either vacant or locked. The survey, started on September 22, was supposed to conclude on October 7. The government extended the survey duration for another 10 days till October 18 due to incomplete survey work. It was further extended till October 31. The Commission has also decided to extend the survey for self-participation through online' till November 10 using the link https://kscbcselfdeclaration.karnataka.gov.in The department said that those who refused to participate in the survey, and those who were not available when th

Engineer suicide: Karnataka HC asks Ola Electric CEO to cooperate in probe

The Karnataka High Court has directed Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO & MD of Ola Electric Technologies Private Limited, and Subrat Kumar DasHead of Homologation Engineering to actively cooperate in an ongoing criminal investigation into the suicide of engineer K Aravind, an employee of the company. Justice Mohammad Nawaz on Wednesday also extended the interim protection granted to them, directing police not to harass the petitioners in the guise of investigation, till November 17. The court was hearing the petition filed by the petitioners challenging the FIR registered against them. The case stems from an FIR filed by Aravind's brother Ashwin Kannan with the Subramanyapura police, alleging abetment to suicide under Section 108 of the BNS Act. The deceased had allegedly left behind a death note alleging workplace harassment and denial of his salary dues and other perks by the petitioners. During the hearing, the petitioners contested the authenticity of the note, arguing it might have been

BJP hits out at CM Siddaramaiah after KSTDC promotes Wayanad travel package

The Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation's (KSTDC) social media post promoting Wayanad in neighbouring Kerala as a tourist destination has drawn criticism from opposition BJP, which has hit out at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, calling it "high command appeasement" to save chair. Congress top leader Priyanka Gandhi is the Member of Parliament from Wayanad. The KSTDC's post on 'X' on October 28, promoting its two-night and three-day tour package to the hill station said, " Seeking thrill or tranquillity? Find both in Wayanad! Trek scenic trails, chase waterfalls & meet the wild with KSTDC. Your perfect nature escape awaits." Reacting to this, BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in Assembly, R Ashoka asked Siddaramaiah as to how long will Karnataka tolerate a Chief Minister who behaves like "Wayanad's District Collector and fund raiser"? "You (Siddaramaiah) signed off Rs 10 crore of Karnataka taxpayers' money to Wayanad at lightning speed. You gave away Rs 15 lakhs to the ..

Karnataka HC stays state order on govt lands seen as restricting RSS events

Justice M Nagaprasanna passed an interim order staying the directive and scheduled the next hearing for November 17