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he pilot project, launched jointly with Bosan Whitewater, is the first in India where a government water board has allowed a private startup to demonstrate water-recycling technology inside an STP.

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) will invite startup firms to collaborate on wastewater treatment initiatives, BWSSB Chairman Ram Prasat Manohar said on Saturday.

Speaking after inaugurating purification machinery installed by Bosan Whitewater, he said, “We are thinking of making Bengaluru a water startup capital. The first startup has already been given permission. In the coming days, we are ready to offer free opportunities to water-related startups in management, recycling and new technologies at BWSSB units.”

The pilot project, launched jointly with Bosan Whitewater, is the first in India where a government water board has allowed a private startup to demonstrate water-recycling technology inside an STP. The pilot plant will receive treated water from the BWSSB STP and purify it through an 11-stage system, producing 70,000 litres of near-drinking-quality water daily.

The water will be supplied to industries and commercial establishments along the Outer Ring Road, reducing the city’s dependence on freshwater and preventing unnecessary discharge into lakes. Bosan will install the purification equipment at its own cost, while the water board will supply wastewater and help with market linkages.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

 In a remarkable achievement, Mangaluru based entrepreneur Suhail Kandak, founder & chairman of Urban Biz Ventures Pvt Ltd and Big Deal Property, was honored with two major awards at the Design & Vision Architecture & Interior Design Excellence Awards & Conference 2025, Global Edition, organized by Beginup Ventures India.

Suhail Kandak received the prestigious title of Futuristic & Innovative Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 Karnataka, recognizing his outstanding contributions to urban development, real estate innovation, and community focused business leadership. In addition, his companies Urban Biz Ventures Pvt Ltd & Big Deal Property were awarded Trusted & Outstanding Construction & Property Consultancy Company of the Year 2025 Karnataka.

These dual recognitions highlight Suhail’s growing influence as a transformative young entrepreneur shaping Karnataka’s evolving real estate sector through modern infrastructure solutions, transparent consultancy practices, ethical development models, and a strong customer first approach.

Speaking at the ceremony, Suhail Kandak expressed gratitude to his team and supporters.

This award is a motivation to keep innovating for Karnataka’s urban future. Our mission is to build solutions that are modern, ethical, and people first.

The awards ceremony brought together leading professionals from architecture, interior design, urban planning, and real estate across India and abroad. Suhail’s recognition among top innovators further strengthens his reputation for visionary leadership, business excellence, and impactful social engagement.

Beyond business, Suhail Kandak plays an active role in social welfare through the MakeAChange Foundation. His entrepreneurial ventures including UrbanBiz, Big Deal Property, Bizmine, Airobiz, and other initiatives continue to expand under his dynamic leadership, building a strong legacy of innovation, trust, and reliability in Karnataka’s development ecosystem.

About Suhail Kandak

Suhail Kandak is an Indian entrepreneur, political figure, and social activist known for integrating business excellence with community upliftment. He is the founder of UrbanBiz Ventures Pvt Ltd, Big Deal Property, the MakeAChange Foundation, and multiple emerging ventures. He has previously been honored with the District Rajyotsava Award for his significant contributions to society and also recognised as oxygen man of Mangaluru.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

A two-day conference on dementia and Alzheimer’s kicked off in the city on November 28.

The conference is being conducted by Department of Geriatrics, JSS Hospital, in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India (ARDSI), Mysuru Chapter, and Sarada Vilas College of Pharmacy.

The international conference, titled ‘Dementia: Policy, Practice and Progress (DPPP)’, is being held at Sri Rajendra Centenary Auditorium, JSS Hospital. The organisers said it aims to address the rising burden of dementia, which accounts for over 60% of global cases from developing regions and is projected to rise further by 2040.

Experts highlighted the psychological and financial strain on caregivers, most of whom are women providing home-based care.

The event was inaugurated by Dr. Yogesh Shah, medical director, Broadlawns Memory Center, U.S.A. Dr. B. Suresh, pro-chancellor, JSS Academy Of Higher Education And Research (JSSAHER), Mysuru, Dr. Basavana Gowdappa, Vice-Chancellor, JSSAHER, Meera Pattabiraman, vice-chairperson, Alzheimer’s Disease International, U.K., Renu Vohra, chairperson, ARDSI, New Delhi,  Dr. Prathibha Pereira, head of geriatrics, JSS Medical College, and Dr. Hanumanthachar Joshi, chairman and principal, Sarada Vilas College of Pharmacy, were among those present.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Hackerspace Mangaluru’s event, HMNOV25, scheduled on November 29, has been officially recognised as an accredited pre-summit event for the India – AI Impact Summit – 2026, the Union government’s flagship global platform on artificial intelligence, scheduled for February 2026, according to Capt. Brijesh Chowta, MP for Dakshina Kannada.

The India – AI Impact Summit – 2026, which will be held in Delhi on February 18, 2026, is expected to convene leading global voices, researchers, and innovators in AI. With HMNOV25 now part of its official pre-summit ecosystem, Mangaluru joins a select network of cities contributing to India’s AI-focused engagements on the global stage, Capt. Chowta said in a release on Friday.

“I congratulate the Hackerspace Mangaluru team on this wonderful milestone. Proud to see #HMNOV25 recognised as a pre-summit event for the India – AI Impact Summit 2026,” the MP posted on X.

The India AI Impact Summit is a global platform that will bring together leading innovators and policymakers in AI next year, and it is a matter of pride that one of its pre-events is happening in Mangaluru.

Glad we could help bring this recognition to our region. Delighted that we could do our bit too, and I hope this inspires many more young minds from our coast to step forward and build the future.

We will also be hosting another event on similar lines in Mangaluru soon as we work to make our region a hub for ideas, innovation and the tech vision of tomorrow.”

The MP expressed his gratitude to S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, for his support in securing the recognition for Mangaluru city.

Meanwhile, Hackerspace Mangaluru expressed gratitude to Capt. Chowta for his continued support and reaffirmed their commitment to nurturing a vibrant community of AI learners, builders, and enthusiasts in the region.

“This recognition comes with the support and facilitation of Capt. Chowta, whose coordination with the IndiaAI Mission helped bring this national-level visibility to the local tech initiative from the coast,” it said.

For details log on to hackersmang.org/hmnov25 and impact.indiaai.gov.in.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Karnataka Milk Federation has already been targeting markets in neighbouring countries with large Indian diaspora, especially Kannadiga populations—such as the UAE, Qatar, Brunei, the Maldives, and Singapore.

The Nandini brand ghee produced by the state-run Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) will now be available in the United States, Australia, and Saudi Arabia. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah flagged off a consignment of the ghee heading to these countries on Tuesday.

According to a note issued from the chief minister’s office, there was demand for around eight metric tonnes of ghee from Saudi Arabia, five tonnes from the US, and one tonne from Australia. This is for the first time that Nandini ghee will be exported to these countries.

The note said KMF had already been targeting markets in neighbouring countries with large Indian diaspora, especially Kannadiga populations—such as the UAE, Qatar, Brunei, the Maldives, and Singapore, by exporting Nandini Tetra Pak milk, ghee, cheese, dairy whitener, butter, ice cream, flavoured milk, sweets, and savouries. “Steps are being taken to further develop the global market for Nandini milk and milk products,” it said.

In September 2023, the KMF launched its first international Nandini Café Moo in Dubai, UAE, through franchisees and expanded the exports and sales of its products. Subsequently, at the NAVIKA World Kannada Conference 2025 held in Lakeland, Florida, US, in August this year, the KMF managing director unveiled newly designed packs of Nandini ghee and sweets. During the event, it was announced that Nandini products would henceforth be available in America as well. “Starting from September 2025, merchant exporters will export Karnataka’s pride products—Nandini peda, Mysore pak, burfi, and savouries—to the USA,” a note issued then said

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

The biodiversity of the Western Ghats has received a significant addition with the discovery of a new balsam (Impatiens) species in Kudremukh National Park.

Researchers from Madurai College, Tamil Nadu, have identified what is believed to be the smallest-flowered species of Impatiens ever recorded in the region. The newly discovered plant has been scientifically named Impatiens selvasinghii.

The species was found in the shola grassland zone near the trekking trail atop the Botanists said it is an entirely new species that does not match any previously recorded variant. A detailed scientific paper on the discovery has been published in the Taiwania International Journal of Biodiversity.

The plant has been named selvasinghii in honour of Dr P Selvasingh Richard of Madras Christian College, Chennai, for his notable contributions to the study of Western Ghats flora.

Researchers warned that the species is vulnerable to damage as it was found close to a trekking route. Increased tourist movement could pose a threat to its survival, and they stressed the need for immediate conservation measures.

Due to insufficient scientific data, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has placed the species under the “Data Deficient (DD)” category on the Red List — meaning there is not enough information to assess whether the plant is threatened or secure. range, at an elevation of around 1,630 metres above sea level.

Botanists said it is an entirely new species that does not match any previously recorded variant. A detailed scientific paper on the discovery has been published in the Taiwania International Journal of Biodiversity.

The plant has been named selvasinghii in honour of Dr P Selvasingh Richard of Madras Christian College, Chennai, for his notable contributions to the study of Western Ghats flora.

Researchers warned that the species is vulnerable to damage as it was found close to a trekking route. Increased tourist movement could pose a threat to its survival, and they stressed the need for immediate conservation measures.

Due to insufficient scientific data, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has placed the species under the “Data Deficient (DD)” category on the Red List — meaning there is not enough information to assess whether the plant is threatened or secure.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

Scholars from across India discussed the relevance of traditional knowledge in modern education and society.

A two-day national seminar on “The Importance of Indian Knowledge Systems in the Contemporary Context” was held at St. Paul’s College in Bengaluru. The event was inaugurated by Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on November 17.  

The Central Hindi Directorate and the Karnataka Hindi Professors’ Association jointly organized the event, which was attended by Bangalore University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Jayakar Shetty, and other dignitaries. 

Scholars from across India discussed the relevance of traditional knowledge in modern education and society.

The new college logo, marking St. Paul’s College’s 10-year milestone, was unveiled during the event.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Arun Kumar, a second-year commerce student of Kombettu Government Pre-University College in Puttur, has received the Chief Minister’s special award for inventing a new technology that records student attendance through facial recognition.

The award was presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the state-level Children’s Day programme organised by the Department of School Education and Literacy in Bengaluru. He congratulated Arun for his innovation. During the programme held at Vidhana Soudha, the chief minister presented Arun with a cash prize of Rs 15,000.

Education minister Madhu Bangarappa, chief secretary Shalini Rajneesh, principal secretary of the education department Rashmi, and directors of the pre-university education department were present.

How it works

• The college has set the entry time between 9 am and 10 am. During this period, the device records attendance by recognising the faces of students as they arrive.
• When a student stands before the device, it displays the student’s details along with parent information, and sends a Telegram message to the parents confirming that their ward has reached the college.
• If a student arrives late or is absent, a notification is sent as well. Similarly, when students leave between 3.30 pm and 4.30 pm, exit information is recorded and notified to their homes.
• This system also helps the school determine the exact number of students present each day, aiding in mid-day meal preparation.

Arun’s face-recognition attendance device has already drawn statewide attention. The pre-university education department has implemented the technology on a trial basis in selected districts.

Principal secretary Rashmi, impressed by Arun’s innovation, invited him to Bengaluru for a demonstration and personally congratulated him.

The project was guided by lecturer Ashlesh Kumar. Arun is the son of Vinod Kumar and Rajeshwari of Boluwara.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

Anika C. Jayade of Sanskaar English Medium School, Hubballi emerged as the winner of The Hindu In School (THIS) Speed Reading Contest 2025 organised in association with Swarnaa Group in Hubballi on Friday.

In the contest held at Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Ameera Mulla of Chetan Public School, Hubballi, and Arjun Gali of Chinmaya Vidyalaya bagged the second and third prizes respectively.

Akshara Homkar of Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Jayden Nathan Robert of Sanskaar English Medium School and Amna Halwoor of Convent School, Hubballi were awarded consolation prizes in the annual event organised by The Hindu Group of Publications.

In an event held at The Hindu office in Hubballi on Saturday, V.S.V. Prasad, managing director of Swarnaa Group of Companies and philanthropist, honoured the prize-winning students. Congratulating the winners, he said participating in such competitions would help the students in understanding their strengths and weaknesses thereby enabling them to further hone their skills.

On Friday, senior journalist Arunkumar Habbu, lecturer Savitha Hiremath, and teacher Kamaljeet Suraj, who were the judges of the competition, had a difficult time finalising as the competition was intense.

Addressing the students, Arunkumar Habbu emphasised the need for the students to develop the skills of listening, reading, and speaking. He briefed about the important aspects one should keep in mind while participating in competitions and also while speaking in public.

Savitha Hiremath spoke on the importance of pronunciation, clarity and intonation while participating in a speed reading competition.

62 students from twelve different schools of Hubballi Dharwad participated in the event. While the winners received tropies and merit certificates, all the participants received participation certificates.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Elected unopposed, Ms Varalakshmi is the first woman general secretary of CITU.

Senior trade union leaders Meenakshi Sundaram and S. Varalakshmi have been elected as president and general secretary of the Karnataka State committee of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), one of the largest trade unions in the country associated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

Elected unopposed, Ms Varalakshmi is the first woman general secretary of CITU. She is also the national vice-president of the CITU.

A new 39-member state committee was elected at the three-day CITU State conference held at Ambedkar Bhavan in Hassan on November 13, 14 and 15. P.K. Parameshwar was elected treasurer. The committee comprises 14 vice-chairpersons and 20 secretaries, with two positions remaining vacant. Seven women are part of the committee.

The conference saw demands such as a minimum wage of ₹36,000, scientific support for farmers, proper implementation of The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act and withdrawal of the new labour codes.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)