Category: Records, Bengaluru (Bangalore)

INDIA RECORDS: KARNATAKA: Bengaluru is Key Driver in GST Backend Operations Contributing to its Nationwide Operation Driven by NIC.

E-way bill and e-invoice is driven from the city by a small team from National Informatics Centre.

As the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime is set to complete five years in a few days, Bengaluru has contributed to its nationwide operation. The backend operations for the crucial e-way bill, mandatory to move goods across the country, and the e-invoice that helps in input credit, is driven from the city by a small team from the National Informatics Centre (NIC).

In the four years since its inception, the country has seen over 273 crore e-way bills being generated to move goods and over 163 crore e-invoices having been generated. While the transition from the Value Added Tax (VAT) regime to GST regime took place on July 1, 2017, the e-way bill was introduced on April 1, 2018, while the e-invoice was introduced in October 2020. In fact, the e-Sugam launched by the Karnataka Commercial Tax in 2010 morphed into the e-way bill under the nation-wide GST regime. In the VAT regime, Karnataka was generating 1.2 lakh e-way bills a day.

36% increase

Since its introduction in 2018 April, the number of e-way bills generated daily has seen a 36% increase from about 22 lakh a day to 30 lakh a day. If 55.8 crore e-way bills were generated in 2018-2019, it has shot up to 77.4 crore in 2021-2022.

In case of e-invoice, the numbers have shot up by 92% since October 2020 when 26 lakh invoices were generated daily to about 50 lakh invoices daily now. If 4.95 crore e-invoices were generated in October 2020, it has reached 12.18 crore in April 2022. The numbers have also increased as the e-invoice mandate has been extended to those reporting above ₹500 crore turnover annually when the e-invoice was introduced in October 2020 to include those reporting turnover of over ₹20 crore in April 2022.

The NIC, sources in Commercial Tax Department said, has been managing the entire operations from Bengaluru with a staff of around 50. Sources also said, “It is heartening that the 24/7 software and hardware support from Bengaluru has been such that there has been no incident of the software glitch where an e-way bill generation has been delayed over the past four years.”

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INDIAN RECORDS: KARNATAKA: HEALTH & MEDICAL SCIENCES / SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: Researchers at Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Develop Algorithm called (ReAl – LiFE) to Study Connectivity in Brain

Researchers at Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) have developed a new graphic processing unit (GPU) based machine learning algorithm called Regularised, Accelerated, Linear Fascicle Evaluation (ReAl – LiFE), which will help to obtain a better understanding and in the prediction of connectivity between different regions of human brain.

This algorithm can help analyse extensive data generated from diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (dMRI) scans which helps scientists study the connectivity in the brain at a speed, which is 150 times higher than a regular desktop computer or existing state-of-the-art algorithms. The study has been published in the journal Nature Computational Science.

“Even though it is difficult to pinpoint the connectomes, we are trying to infer information highway network by looking at traffic flow patterns (if molecules are like cars). We look at the movement of water molecules in the brain and we try to infer where the wires are. The water molecules have to travel along the length of the cables (axons), which have connected various parts of the brain. By measuring these lengths of water molecules, we are able to infer which areas are connected,” explained Devarajan Sridharan, Associate Professor at the Centre for Neuroscience (CNS), IISc., and corresponding author of the study. 

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

GLOBAL BRAND: INDIA RECORDS: KARNATAKA : IKEA the Swedish Home Furnishing Brand Opens its 3rd Store in Bengaluru, India. Making it a Record as India’s Largest IKEA Store currently at Nagasandra. 22.06.2022

The 4,60,000 sqft store that will sell over 7,500 products is expected to attract close to 5 million visitors this year

IKEA, the Swedish home furnishing brand, will open its largest store in India at Nagasandra, next to the metro station, on June 22, said the company on Tuesday.

The store that would display over 7,500 items would employ over 1,000 people to start with and is expected to attract close to 5 million visitors this year.

The company also said it would invest ₹3,000 crore in Karnataka and a part of it has already been deployed in setting up a 4,60,000 sqft store, it said.

Speaking at a media conference, former IKEA India CEO Peter Betzel said that at the time of the groundbreaking ceremony four years ago, the then Chief Minister himself was keen to see the store up and running at the earliest if possible in a few months. Although the pandemic had delayed it a bit, the outlet was worth the wait as it was IKEA’s flagship store in the country, he added.

Addressing the media, current CEO Susanne Pulverer said India was an omni-channel country for Ikea like no other.

IKEA Nagasandra, set up on a patch of 12.2 acres of land, is the brand’s third large store in the country after Hyderabad and Mumbai. The fourth store, in Delhi-NCR, is currently under construction. The store also features a 1,000-seater restaurant that serves both Indian and Swedish cuisines.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

SOUTH ASIA RECORDS: KARNATAKA, AVIATION & AIRPORTS: Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport Bags’ 2022 Best Regional Airport in India & South Asia Award’ by Skytrax World Airport Awards, Paris, France

Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR Airport), on Friday said it has bagged the best regional airport in India and South Asia title in the 2022 Skytrax World Airport Awards.

The awards ceremony was held at Passenger Terminal EXPO in Paris, France, on June 16.

“The event is one of the most prestigious quality awards for the airport sector, with CEOs, Presidents, and senior management from airports across the world in attendance,” according to the statement.

source/content: deccanherald.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL RECORDS: KARNATAKA, WOMEN’S RIGHTS: German City Bremen Honours Bengaluru’s Women’s Rights Activist Rukmini V P with the 17th Bremen Solidariy Award

The senate of Bremen, a city in Germany, has awarded the 17th Bremen Solidarity Award to Garment Labourer Union president Rukmini V P in recognition of her activism and contribution to the women’s rights movement.

The award, which carried a purse of 10,000 euros and a sculpture by Bremen artist Bernd Altenstein, was presented by Andreas Bovenschulte, Mayor of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen.

The winner of the 17th prize was chosen for the “commitment to combat violence against women and girls” and Rukmini Vaderapura Puttaswamy, co-founder of Munnade and GLU was chosen for her work in the sector.

Previous winners of the award include Nelson and Winnie Mandela (1988), Aung San Suu Kyi (1994), Sumaya Farhat-Naser (Palestine) and Gila Svirsky (Isreal) in 2003.

source/content: deccanherald.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA RECORDS: HEALTH & MEDICAL SCIENCES: Free Life-Saving Heart Surgeries for 125 children with Heart Issues at Narayana Health City

In India, over 2.4 lakh children are born with a hole in the heart and Congenital Heart Disease is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among children, said Devi Shetty.

Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, Founder and Chairman, Narayana Health City, said, “In India, over 2.4 lakh children are born with a hole in the heart and Congenital Heart Disease is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among children. Though these ailments are treatable, 20% of the children die before celebrating their first birthday owing to economic constraints.”

He thanked Centum Electronic Limited whose donation of Rs 50 lakh made the surgeries possible. “We are confident initiatives like this will encourage greater participation and will help in addressing the situation better,” Dr Shetty said.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

WORLD RECORDS: INDIA – KARNATAKA RECORDS: Bengaluru Ranks 5th on the Global Stage for Tech Venture Capital Investment

Tech firms have attracted VC funds worth $7.5 billion in the first half of 2022.

Bengaluru has emerged as the top fifth city on the global stage for venture capital investment in tech startups in 2022, behind Bay Area (San Francisco), New York, London and Greater Boston, as per Global Startup Genome Report.

Tech firms in Bengaluru have attracted VC funds worth $7.5 billion in the first half of 2022, considerably higher than the previous record of$5.2 billion in the corresponding period last year, the report said.

C.N. Ashwath Narayan, Minister for IT/BT, told The Hindu that “Our city is a hub of the world’s top talent and our startups are very promising and growth-centric. This gives global investors confidence to invest in our companies in Bengaluru. Therefore VC and PE investment to city ventures are on the rise.’’

“Silicon Valley of India now attracts more investment than other global hubs like Singapore, Paris and Berlin and is trailing closer behind Greater Boston and New York,’‘ the report further said.

The Bay Area attracted $44.5 billion, New York $15.4 billion, London $ 11.3 billion and Greater Boston $8.9 billion.

The report highlighted Bengaluru’s formidable status with an ecosystem value of $105 billion, higher than Singapore ($89 billion) and Tokyo ($62 billion). Bengaluru’s massive growth in 2022 was largely attributed to greater access to funding with major funding rounds in 2022 forscale-up tech companies, including $55.7 million Series D for Ather Energy and Swiggy’s $700 million round in January.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA RECORDS: AIRPORTS, TRAVEL & TOURISM: New World-Class Luxurious ‘080 Lounges’ Inaugurated to bring Luxury Back to Flying at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA)

Domestic and international flyers at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) can now relax at the luxurious ‘080 Lounges’, recently unveiled by Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL).

All the aspects in the domestic and the international lounges, including art, artisans, and heritage, revolve around Bengaluru and even the name, 080 is attributed to the city’s trunk dial code.

While the first phase of the project is now open, once the second phase is also inaugurated, each lounge will occupy a space of over 2,000 square feet. 

VIDEO | THE NEW 080 LOUNGES AT BENGALURU AIRPORT IN JUNE 2022

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA RECORDS: HEALTH & MEDICAL SCIENCES: Free Medicated Stents for 150 poor Cardiac Patients by Bengaluru’s Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research

Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, in collaboration with Medtronic, the U.S., and Govindaraju Subramani, Heart Foundation, Illinois, the U.S., will organise a free three-day angioplasty workshop for 150 patients from June 24 on its premises on Bannerghatta Road in the city.

According to hospital director C.N. Manjunath, the workshop has been planned for 150 poor patients and financially constrained senior citizens across the State.

High-quality medicated imported stents will be given for free to all these patients. Those who have already undergone coronary angiogram and have been advised angioplasty can avail this benefit.

Patients have to produce either the BPL card or the low-income certificate at the time of admission. Registration must be done before June 20. 

For registration, contact office of the Director Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research on 080-22977422/ 22977433 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA RECORDS : Bengaluru’s First Airport-like Railway Station modelled on the lines of an International Airport,the Sir. M. Visvesvaraya Terminal, Baiyappanahalli (SMVB Terminal) opens at Baiyappanahalli

Inaugural train chugs off from the Baiyappanahalli terminal to Ernakulam.

The railway terminal, modelled after the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, have seven platforms, apart from eight stabling lines and three pit lines.

Commuters who boarded the first train from the Sir. M. Visvesvaraya Terminal, Baiyappanahalli (SMVB Terminal), on Monday evening were pleasantly surprised to finally use the swanky airport-like air-conditioned railway station. 

“It looks like an airport and it was hard to believe. I reached here using Google Maps, but was taken aback after I reached here. I asked the auto driver twice whether this was indeed the railway station I was supposed to be dropped at,” said Amal, a commuter who travelled to Ernakulam on the first train from the terminal. 

Most commuters were appreciative of the facilities and the state-of-the-art interiors of the railway station, one of its kind in the country.

“The facilities at the station are very good — escalators, air-conditioning, food court, the lounges — definitely much better than any station.

The terminal is definitely a great addition to a global city like Bengaluru,” said Sri Priya, another commuter. 

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)