Karnataka First

Bengaluru real estate update: The office space is spread across multiple floors situated in a building named RMZ Ecoworld, and measures almost 4 lakh sq ft .

Global technology major Honeywell Technology Solutions Lab Pvt Ltd has leased close to 4 lakh sq ft of office space in the Bellandur area of Bengaluru for a total rent of ₹429 crore for a period of seven years, according to property registration documents accessed by Propstack.

Global technology major Honeywell Technology Solutions Lab Pvt Ltd has leased close to 4 lakh sq ft of office space in the Bellandur area of Bengaluru for a total rent of ₹429 crore for a period of seven years, according to property registration documents accessed by Propstack.

According to the documents, the leased premises span multiple floors, covering the ground to the second floors and the fourth to the ninth floors of the building. Honeywell will pay a starting monthly rent of ₹4.39 crore, equivalent to a rental rate of ₹110 per square foot per month. The agreement is for a seven-year tenure (84 months), with a 5% annual escalation clause.

Over the full lease period, the total rental expenditure is estimated to be around ₹429 crore. The company has also paid a security deposit of ₹26.85 crore, as per the documents.

The documents indicate that the space was leased along with 499 parking spaces for cars. In addition to the committed space, the lease includes an expansion plan. Honeywell has the option to take additional space in a phased manner at RMZ Ecoworld Campus 5B, comprising 55,619 sq ft on the third floor and 80,541 sq ft on the fourth floor, on or before June 1, 2026.

An email query sent to Honeywell and Arliga Ecoworld Business Parks Private Limited did not get a response. The story will be updated if a response is received.

Office leasing scenario in India

Office leasing across major Indian cities reached 82.6 million sq ft in 2025, a marginal 1% year-on-year increase driven by improved demand from domestic and foreign companies. Bengaluru, Mumbai, and the Delhi-NCR region led the activity, together accounting for around 61% of total space absorption, according to a report by CBRE.

In the fourth quarter alone, leasing touched 22.2 million sq ft, with the same three markets driving demand. Technology, flexible spaces and BFSI corporates led absorption with a cumulative share of 60% in 2025.

GCCs continued to power India’s office market, capturing a 39% share in Oct-Dec 2025. Global firms are expected to expand their footprints in India through their Global Capability Centres (GCCs). These centres are projected to drive 35-40 per cent of total space absorption in 2026, the report titled ‘CBRE India Office Figures Q4 2025’ said.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

Honoured with the Ramnath Goenka Sahithya Samman in the Lifetime Achievement category, Kannada playwright, novelist and poet Dr Chandrashekhara Kambara looks back at his days rooted in folk wisdom and laurels.

Nestled in the quiet bylanes of one of Bengaluru’s oldest neighbourhoods is Dr Chandrashekhara Kambara’s home, ‘Siri Sampige’, named after the play for which he received the Sahitya Akademi Award (1991). In the two-storey house with a verandah shaded by plants and trees, students and young writers still drop by, bringing their books to him. He reads them all, with a stack of them placed carefully within easy reach in the living room. Just last week, on January 2 – his 89th birthday – he was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 3rd edition of the Ramnath Goenka Sahithya Samman by The New Indian Express Group. The honour came with a cash prize of `2 lakh, a citation and a trophy. The citation hailed him as, ‘a Kannada writer, thinker, playwright, folklorist and theatre activist whose life’s work has profoundly shaped the nation’s cultural imagination.’

For Kambara, his love for Karnataka’s folk literature or ‘janapada sahitya’ was an inevitable result of growing up steeped in the stories that filled every moment in Ghodageri, a village in Belgaum (now Belagavi). “In the 3,000 people in my village, there would’ve been 15 or 20 who were educated. At the time, people only had janapada, not schools. We used to herd cattle; it was a strange existence. Janapada is a culmination of what the people are, what they say, believe and follow. Nobody knew how to read or write, but they used to sing.”

Growing up through the 1940s and coming of age in the 1950s, Kambara is part of a shrinking tribe of people who lived through the freedom movement. He comments on how the zeal and uncertainty of it all reached the folk arts too, saying, “When we started seeing words like ‘swatantra’, ‘horata’ and ‘strike’ come up in the newspaper (the single one we would get for the whole village), the villagers were shocked. They would make conversation with questions like ‘Have any other problems started with independence?’, ‘Have the British done something now?’ This was when these words and topics entered ‘bayalatas’ (open-air folk theatre) and ‘natakas’.”

He began writing simply because he had learnt how to, he says, adding, “We didn’t have any scripts but plays were born there. There’s a difference between telling the story and writing it. When you write a story, you rewrite, make corrections and look for rhymes. It takes work.” He would go on to write more than 34 plays, including the popular Jokumaraswamy. He also directed film adaptations of some of his plays – Kaadu Kudure received a National Film Award and Sangeeta (adapted from the play Naayi Kathe), went on to win a State award.

A story the litterateur often shares is of his high school teacher and Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award-winning writer Krishnamoorthy Puranik, encouraging him to write and read out his plays in class. Even though his work drew from folk traditions when Navodaya (movement in Kannada literature) writers looked to Western romanticism, he credits many of them for their mentorship. “There were writers like Krishnamurthy Puranik, Kuvempu, Bendre – they were our seniors and we had them as support. Puranik was a great critic, writer and my teacher in high school – I saw him as all that at once and learnt from him,” he says. Another is AK Ramanujan, the pioneer who took Kannada folk tales to the world through his translations and scholarship. He was Kambara’s mentor at Lingaraj College, Belagavi, and later at Chicago University, encouraging him to follow his folk style. “A secret to writing is to always try writing, observe writers, ask questions and learn their works,” says the former Kendra Sahitya Akademi president.

For decades, the writer, poet, director and scholar has worked tirelessly, writing 13 poetry collections, six novels, numerous research papers, garnering widespread acclaim for them – from the Padma Bhushan (2021) and Padma Shri (2001) to the Jnanpith Award (2010) and prestigious fellowships. But the last few years have taken a toll, with his wife Satyabhama Kambara’s passing and his health declining. “There comes a situation when you don’t feel the urge to write,” he says, adding, “I write when I find myself wanting to narrate a moment to somebody, but I haven’t found that lately.”

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Karnataka has made a landmark advance in quantum technology with the installation of India’s first commercial quantum computer at the Indian Institute of Information Technology-Dharwad (IIIT-Dharwad).

Minister Priyank Kharge said the initiative aims to bolster the state’s position in the national landscape for advanced quantum technologies.

The announcement came after separate meetings between the minister and leaders of Bengaluru-based deeptech company QpiAI and Singapore’s water technology firm ZWEEC, focusing on new technology and infrastructure solutions.

“Karnataka is moving decisively in the quantum space. The deployment of India’s first commercial quantum computer at the Indian Institute of Information Technology – Dharwad marks a significant milestone in building a world-class quantum ecosystem,” Kharge said.

During discussions with QpiAI, the minister reviewed plans for deploying the country’s first indigenously built commercial quantum computer at IIIT-Dharwad.

The state has also announced the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Quantum AI and Computing at the institute. QpiAI presented its strategy to expand its quantum systems from 25 qubits to a 1,000-qubit quantum computer over the next two to three years, reflecting Karnataka’s focus on building local innovation hubs and strategic partnerships in advanced technology.

In a separate meeting, ZWEEC representatives showcased their biomonitoring technology for detecting contamination in drinking water and identifying algal blooms at an early stage.

Minister Priyank Kharge said the government would examine the feasibility of piloting the technology in partnership with the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Department, aiming to enhance water safety monitoring in rural areas.

Officials noted that these initiatives underline Karnataka’s ongoing efforts to collaborate with technology firms for both research and practical solutions. The steps align with the state’s vision of leveraging advanced technologies to address contemporary challenges and build capacity in emerging sectors.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

Directorate of Epigraphy in Hebbal to digitise 75,000 rare inscriptions under BharatSHRI.

Inscriptions of various kinds are vital sources for the creation and study of history. The Directorate of Epigraphy of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at Hebbal Second Stage in Mysuru houses a vast repository of estampages — inked impressions of inscriptions — which is now being given a digital makeover.

Under the Bharat Shared Repository of Inscriptions (BharatSHRI), a digital epigraphy museum project, the process of digitising estampages has commenced at the Mysuru ASI Epigraphy section.

The digitised estampages are scheduled to be uploaded to the ASI website by the last week of January. The BharatSHRI project was approved in the Union Government’s 2023-24 Budget.

Epigraphical documentation

The digitisation initiative underway at the Directorate of Epigraphy is also being considered for extension to the regional epigraphy branches in  Chennai and Lucknow.

Estampages, which are replicas of original inscriptions created using inked paper, form a crucial part of epigraphical documentation. The Mysuru ASI Directorate of Epigraphy, the main branch, houses around 75,000 estampages.

The collection includes stone inscriptions, copper plate inscriptions and others, sourced from different regions of the country and representing a variety of languages and scripts.

Among them are estampages of the famed Brahmagiri inscription of Emperor Ashoka found in Chitradurga district, the Jatinga Rameshwara inscription and the Siddapura inscription. The digitisation of estampages was formally launched on Dec. 17, 2025.

Easy access

According to Dr. K. Munirathnam Reddy, Director (Epigraphy), ASI, the BharatSHRI project aims to create a comprehensive digital repository of India’s inscriptions.

Once the material is digitised and uploaded, scholars, researchers and the general public will be able to access inscriptional data remotely, doing away with the need for physical visits to the Directorate of Epigraphy.

Highlighting the benefits of the project, Dr. Reddy said that digitisation would significantly enhance inscription-related research, reduce the need for visits to museums and heritage sites, and help preserve the original estampages.

He added that Tamil estampages, earlier housed at the Mysuru main branch, have already been shifted to the Chennai branch.

The digitisation work has been entrusted to Crystal Infosystems and Services Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru. The firm is using specialised high-resolution scanners to produce images at a 1:1 ratio, ensuring faithful reproduction of the original dimensions. Some estampages measure up to 20 feet in length. The project is targeted for completion within six months, with the uploading of digitised estampages to the ASI website set to begin by the last week of January.

ASI appeals to public…

Information derived from inscriptions forms the primary framework for the writing and rewriting of India’s history.

Therefore, whenever inscriptions, copper plates or coins are discovered, the public should inform the ASI Epigraphy Branch in Mysuru (Phone: 0821-2304211 or 2304367), said Dr. K. Munirathnam Reddy, Director (Epigraphy), ASI.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, he said that the process of digitising the 75,000 estampages — inked impressions of inscriptions — housed at the Mysuru branch has already begun under the BharatSHRI project.

The initiative, he added, will significantly ease the study of inscriptions for scholars and researchers, which is the primary objective of the project.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

 Pilikula Golf Club is set to script a new chapter in the city’s sporting history by hosting India’s first-ever floodlit Pro-Am Golf Tournament on January 31.

The landmark event will firmly place Pilikula on the national golf map and marks a proud moment for the local golfing fraternity as well as the city of Mangaluru. The unique Pro-Am tournament will be played entirely under floodlights in a night format, bringing professional golfers and amateur players together on a single competitive platform.

Backed by world-class course preparation and a state-of-the-art floodlighting system, Pilikula Golf Club is introducing a new dimension to Indian golf by blending innovation with competitive excellence. The tournament is expected to redefine night golf in the country and set new benchmarks for the sport.

As many as 12 leading professional golfers from across India have already confirmed their participation, underlining the significance of the event. The tournament will provide a rare and valuable opportunity for local amateur golfers to compete alongside top-ranked professionals and showcase their talent at a higher level.

Beyond the competition, the floodlit Pro-Am reflects Pilikula Golf Club’s commitment to the growth of golf in coastal Karnataka and its vision of promoting Mangaluru as a progressive sports destination. The event is expected to attract golfers, sponsors and spectators from across the state and region, enhancing local participation while providing increased visibility to the city.

The historic floodlit Pro-Am Golf Tournament is not only a celebration of the sport but also a symbol of innovation and progress, promising to set new standards for the future of Indian golf.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

Karnataka recorded 198 organ donations in 2025, securing the third position among states with the highest number of organ donations in the country. Officials said on Saturday that this achievement marks a new milestone in the state’s organ transplantation history.

In 2023, the state had reported 178 organ donations. With 198 donations in 2025, Karnataka has surpassed its previous record, officials said.

According to the health department, this achievement has placed Karnataka third at the national level in organ donation for 2025. With this, the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) has set a new benchmark in the state.

Among the states, Tamil Nadu topped the list with 267 organ donations, followed by Telangana in second place with 205 donations.

Official statistics show that Karnataka stood third with 198 donations, while Maharashtra and Gujarat reported 153 and 152 organ donations respectively.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

Inspired by the Edinburgh Fringe festival, the event anchored by UnboxingBLR, supported by the Government of Karnataka and will be held across Bengaluru between January 16 and 25.

Bengaluru, as a city, may be bursting at the seams and slowed down by traffic woes, but that does not stop the city from brimming with start-up ideas even when it comes to the performing arts. BLR Hubba is one such event that came into being in 2023.

Launched with an idea to make Bengaluru a cultural hub, BLR Hubba, is inspired by the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The festival, anchored by UnboxingBLR, and supported by the Government of Karnataka, is back with its third edition with an array of programmes to be held across Bengaluru from January 16 to 25. “The festival, curated as a citywide event, brings together music and dance performances, theatre, visual arts, heritage walks, talks, local cuisine, and folk arts, and is primarily aimed at Bengaluru residents. It will feature 800 artistes,” says V. Ravichandar, chief facilitator of BLR Hubba.

This year, the festival includes 12 thematic ‘hubbas’, he adds. “The origin of BLR Hubba can be traced to the Unboxing BLR Foundation, a non-profit initiative by Prashant Prakash and Malini Goyal. In their book, Unboxing Bangalore, they proposed the idea of a city-wide arts festival that would make Bengaluru an arts and culture hotspot. “We are known for start-ups, technology and for our civic problems. But can we also be known as a hub for arts and culture? Hence the name ‘Hub’ba,” shares Ravichandar, a Tamilian based in Bengaluru, who works pro-bono for the festival and many artistic projects in the city.

All the events at BLR Hubba are open to the public. “But, this year, we have introduced a voluntary donor pass system priced between ₹250 and ₹450. “This is to ensure a certain level of commitment from attendees to be present at the venue, and not to generate revenue,” reveals Ravichandar. “The funding for the Hubba comes through sponsorships and private donations. The government does not fund the event but acts as a facilitator, providing permissions and logistical support”, he adds.

BLR Hubba 2026 will be inaugurated with Namma Jatre, a showcase of folk traditions, by the Karnataka government. There will be a total of 144 events, including dance performances, theatre, food, street celebrations and activities for children. Events such as ‘Vishesha Hubba’ (celebrating Karnataka, its diversity, languages, communities and more), ‘Nataka Hubba’ (theatre), ‘Makkala Hubba’ (children’s festival), ‘Pi Thadoi’ by Kalakshetra Manipur, ‘Mrcchakatikam’ by Natanakairali and Bhoomija, ‘Anuraga’ by Rohini Banerjee, ‘Rang Birangi Lavani’ by B Spot Productions, Yakshagana puppetry ‘Choodamani Lankadaha’ by Bhaskar Kogga Kamath and troupe — form part of the line-up.

The earlier editions of the Hubba were held in December, but this year, the event is taking place in January. “just after Makar Sankrantri. It is a better time as there are lesser chances of rain and the cost logistics are better. BLR Hubba 2026 will also extend to Whitefield, Jayanagar, J.P. Nagar, and Kanakapura Road besides central Bengaluru,” shares Ravichandar. More details about the festival are available on BLR Hubba website.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Medical Education Minister Dr Sharan Prakash Patil said the Foundation will build a 300-bed hospital in three years, later expanding to 1,000 beds for all organ transplants, including liver, kidney, heart, and intestine.

Bengaluru :

In a major push to organ transplantation, the Karnataka Cabinet approved signing an MoU with Azim Premji Foundation to allot 10 acres of land on lease for 99 years on the premises of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases, to set up a 1,000-bed super-specialty hospital in five years, at an estimated cost of Rs 1,000 crore.

Briefing the press after the cabinet meeting, Medical Education Minister Dr Sharan Prakash Patil informed that the Foundation will set up a 300-bed hospital in three years, and expand it to 1,000 beds to facilitate all types of organ transplant, including liver, kidney, heart, intestine and others. The hospital coming up near Nimhans will help in harvesting organs from brain-dead donors.

“It will be implemented under public philanthropic partnership as the entire investment, except for the land, will be borne by the Foundation which will spend Rs 350 crore annually to run the hospital. The Foundation has okayed the government’s proposal. The new facility will not only be a great contribution to Karnataka but for the entire nation,” said Patil.

In Karnataka alone, over 5,000 patients are in queue for kidney transplant, and over 1,000 for liver transplant, he informed. About 70 per cent of beds will be free of cost for economically weaker sections, especially BPL families, and 30 per cent for others, who will however benefit from the Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka (ABArK) scheme, he elaborated.

The medical education minister, department secretary and finance secretary will be on the hospital board, which will be named after the Foundation, he said. The Institute of Gastroenterology Sciences & Organ Transplant (IGOT Hospital) will continue functioning and be taken over by the Foundation hospital in future, he said.

Basavanna Biodiversity Park

The Cabinet approved setting up of the Vishwaguru Basavanna Bruhat Biodiversity Park on 153.39 acres in Madappanahalli reserve forest in Yelahanka, at a cost of Rs 250 crore in three years, and will implement the first phase of work at a cost of Rs 50.29 crore by utilising CSR funds.

It will be a huge lung space after Lal Bagh and Cubbon Park, to be developed near Shivaram Karanth Layout in North Bengaluru. It will have medicinal plants, bird sanctuary, children’s play zone etc, Forests Minister Eshwar Khandre said.

Other decisions

To recruit Chaitanya Bilagi, daughter of IAS officer Mahantesh Bilagi, who died in a mishap, under compassionate grounds

Develop Karnataka GST analytics portal at Rs 19cr, in association with IIT Hyderabad.

Approval to The Karnataka Jnana Bhandar Manuscripts and Digitalisation Bill, 2026, to preserve all types of manuscripts collected from the public

Upgrade DIETs in six districts as DIET for Excellence at Rs 36.90cr

Bring in new Community Corporate Social Responsibility policy by framing guidelines for effective usage of funds.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Udupi witnessed a historic cultural moment on Friday as Vidushi Deeksha Ramakrishna successfully completed ‘Purandara Gaana Narthana’, a rare and innovative presentation involving the simultaneous rendering of classical singing and Bharatanatyam dancing to the compositions of Sri Purandara Dasaru, thereby securing her place in the Golden Book of World Records.

The record attempt was organised by Hejje Gejje Foundation, Udupi–Manipal, at Nutana Ravindra Mantapa, MGM College, Udupi, commencing at 8.30 am. A felicitation ceremony was held later in the evening at 5 pm in the presence of several dignitaries, artistes, and cultural patrons.

The programme featured accompaniment by noted musicians Vidwan Satish Bhat Hoggar and Vidwan Shashikiran (Manipal) on harmonium, Vidwan Madhava Acharya (Udupi) on tabla, and Vidushi Vijetha Hegde, a disciple of Vidwan Sheshadri Iyengar and Pandit Yogesh. The dance presentation was performed by Vidushi Deeksha Ramakrishna along with students of Hejje Gejje Foundation (R.).

The achievement was formally certified by Dr Manish Vishnoi, Asia Head of the Golden Book of World Records, who announced the successful completion of the record attempt and presented the official recognition.

Addressing the gathering, Udupi MLA Yashpal A Suvarna said, “This achievement brings great pride to Udupi and Karnataka. Vidushi Deeksha Ramakrishna has beautifully blended devotion, discipline, and art, taking our cultural heritage to a global platform. Dr Manish Vishnoi needs to come here often, because Udupi is a city of immense talent — known not only for its education but also for its rich and vibrant cultural performances.”

Former MLA Raghupathi Bhat remarked, “Hejje Gejje is a renowned organisation through which many students have gained name and fame. Purandara Dasaru’s compositions are the soul of Karnataka’s Bhakti movement, and presenting them through such a rare and demanding art form is truly commendable. This world record is a great inspiration for young artistes.”

Expressing her gratitude, Vidushi Deeksha Ramakrishna said, “This record is a humble offering to Sri Purandara Dasaru. I dedicate this achievement to my gurus, my students, Hejje Gejje Foundation, and everyone who believed in this vision of combining gaana and narthana as one. This journey demanded immense discipline, devotion, and collective effort, and I am deeply thankful to my family, accompanists, and well-wishers for their constant support. I hope this achievement inspires the younger generation to explore our classical arts with sincerity and innovation, while staying rooted in tradition.”

Dr Manish Vishnoi said, “The Golden Book of World Records is a US-based organisation that recognises extraordinary achievements across the world. Today, Deeksha accomplished something truly remarkable. This is one of the toughest performances I have witnessed. Some people sing, some dance, but she did both simultaneously. Classical dance itself is difficult, and performing it in combination with classical singing is extremely challenging.”

Other dignitaries present included Dr M Vishwanath Pai, vice-principal, MGM College, Udupi; Vidwan Madhoor P Balasubramanyam of Madhuradhwani; Vidwan Raghavendra Acharya, AIR artiste; and Dr Sharana Basava, Founder President of Shri Basava Trust, Ballari, among others.

The event concluded with sustained applause and appreciation from art lovers, marking the occasion as a landmark moment for Indian classical dance, music, and devotional heritage.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)