Karnataka First

The new Operation Sindoor sarees also fall in this variety, being made from pure cotton, with a silk border.

Operation Sindoor , the military action India launched against Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam attack, has inspired a line of popular sarees in Gadag district.

The idea to honour Operation Sindoor on a saree is the brainchild of Tejappa Chinnur, a weaver from Gajendragad, and today, many are making a beeline to his address, yearning for the garment. The saree is aesthetically designed, with “Operation Sindoor” printed in bold English against a dark background, with three fighter jets depicting the Tricolour embroidered on its silk border. All this, apart from patterns of ocean waves, are woven using knot technology in the weft.

Historically, Gajendragad is known for its striped-edge sarees, derived from pure cotton yarn, which also earned a GI tag this year. Currently, there are about 400 handlooms here, of which about 200 are involved in producing striped-edge sarees.

The new Operation Sindoor sarees also fall in this variety, being made from pure cotton, with a silk border. “In order to strengthen one side of the saree, the threads are hand-picked (piecing) and the warp is prepared and traditional designs are created in the solid saree using traditional knot technology.

Another feature is the word “Kannada”, inscribed in the Kannada language, woven by twisting,” Ashok Ladwa, another weaver, said. The striped-edge silk sarees are priced between Rs 2,000 and Rs 5,000, while the Operation Sindoor sarees particularly start from Rs 4,000, going upwards to Rs 10,000, depending on quality.

For 40 years, Chinnur has carried on the art of handloom weaving, also founding The Gajendragad Weavers Cooperative Producers Association. He will be presented a prize of Rs 20,000 and a memento during the 11th National Handloom Day celebrations in Bengaluru on Thursday.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

In a proud moment for the coastal city, Mangaluru has secured the 49th position among the safest cities in the world and ranked first in India.

This recognition comes from the mid-year 2025 list released by ‘Numbeo’, an independent global database of user-contributed data.

The list includes a total of 393 cities worldwide in the ‘Safest Cities’ category, with 23 cities from India making it to the rankings.

Among them, Mangaluru has achieved the highest position with a safety index score of 74.2, followed by Vadodara at 85th and Ahmedabad at 93rd place.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

Revenue officials said the faceless system will make every application go outside the local area, reducing the influence of local intermediaries.

To bring in transparency and address corruption, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) issued a notification on Tuesday, implementing an online and faceless e-khata system based on the principle of First In First Out (FIFO), to ensure the service without any delay.

Under this, a citizen will not know to which officer or authority his application has gone. But the decision will be made within a stipulated time (according to FIFO). This faceless system will help control middlemen, the BBMP stated.

The system is designed in such a way that the e-khata and fresh khata applications are distributed in a random round-robin manner among all officers. This will ensure an equal number of applications reach all officers.

Revenue officials said the faceless system will make every application go outside the local area, reducing the influence of local intermediaries.

“This system will be based on documents and information submitted by citizens, as per prevailing rules. Initially, 50 applications per official will be assigned as per the quantity of available applications such as e-khata, new khata and other accounting and tax-related services. Every time applications are disposed of, an equal number of new applications are allocated in the system,” said a senior officer. Every officer should process the application within three days from the date of their login. If even one application is delayed, other applications in the login will be removed and allotted to others in a random round-robin method, he added.

The BBMP revenue department stated that the saff should process at least one application within 36 hours of their login. If this deadline is exceeded, that application will also be withdrawn, and no application will be allotted to him/her unless special approval is obtained from the zonal joint commissioner.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

The 9th edition of Bengaluru Poetry Festival saw poets, lyricists, and enthusiasts gather to celebrate verse over the weekend.

Poets, lyricists, filmmakers, musicians, and literateurs of all kinds came together to celebrate the beauty of verse at the Bengaluru Poetry Festival (BPF) at Indiranagar Sangeetha Sabha across two days. The 9th edition drew an impressive crowd that attended panels on writing poetry, lyrics and more, alongside a Children’s Poetry Festival.

The event also celebrated poetry in the form of lyrics through performances and conversations featuring singer-songwriters like Ramya Nambessan, Bruce Lee Mani, among others. Singer Justh, who rose to fame with the viral single Chor, performed the song alongside his latest, Unse Jaake Kehdo, that had the audience, teeming with youngsters, clapping and singing along. “Every place has a different texture – the expectations of a performance at a college or a concert are very different. People are here to appreciate poetry and the written word, which hold great importance for me,” he shared.

The year’s festival saw five international poets in attendance, some of whom were in conversation with poet Jeet Thayil at the ‘You Are the World’ session. “The highlight were the poets from Singapore, the US and UAE, who shared superb poetry and talked about their poetics and visions,” said Bengaluru poet Mani Rao.

Alongside these were panels on poetry in Kannada and other regional languages, giving the festival a local flavour. “A festival like this helps people become more aware of the poetry swirling in their midst,” added Rao.

Attending the festival for the first time, 22-year-old Varshith Vattikutti, an aspiring filmmaker, explains what draws creative youngsters to the festival, saying, “Getting perspectives from people who have been writing lyrics and screenplays in the industry for so long has been very insightful. I enjoy hearing them talk about everything, from mundane things to how they approach their writing.”

Avani Singh, a college student, adds, “Even just to see that there are people in the field who are making a living out of being creative – as writers, musicians, and filmmakers – was so important to me.”

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

According to data by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, a total of 4,557 public EV charging stations have been installed across 146,342 km stretch of National Highway across India.

Karnataka has 489 public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations installed along its 8,191-kilometre-long National Highway network, making it the State with the second highest number of highway EV chargers in India.

This puts Karnataka just behind Uttar Pradesh in the national rankings, as per a recent response from Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in the Rajya Sabha.

The data, shared in response to a question by MP Derek O’Brien, revealed that Uttar Pradesh tops the chart with 507 EV charging stations along highways. In third place is Maharashtra with 459 followed by Tamil Nadu, which has 456, and Rajasthan, which has 424 charging points on highways.

According to the Union Minister, a total of 4,557 public EV charging stations have been installed across 146,342 km stretch of National Highway across India.

He clarified that the Union Government does not currently have any dedicated incentive scheme for Charging Point Operators (CPOs), in response to Mr. O’Brien’s question on incentives.

Urban EV infrastructure

While Karnataka holds a strong position nationally in terms of highway EV infrastructure, earlier data released by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) highlights the State’s significant lead in urban EV infrastructure. As per BEE’s April 2025 data, Karnataka boasts of 5,880 public EV charging points, more than any other State, with 4,626 located in tier-1 cities, predominantly Bengaluru.

In comparison, Maharashtra has 2,454 stations, and Delhi has 1,951, all established over the past five years.

Beyond the capital city, Karnataka has made strides in expanding EV infrastructure to underserved areas. Tier-2 cities in the State now have 285 public charging stations, while tier-3 towns account for 969 chargers.

Nationwide, India now has 26,367 public charging stations, the BEE data reveals.

Officials from the Karnataka Energy Department attributed this rapid progress to a combination of rising fuel costs, deteriorating urban air quality, and proactive government policy.

“Karnataka was the first State to introduce a dedicated EV policy back in 2017, laying the foundation for the expansion we’re seeing today,” a senior energy official said. At the time of the policy’s launch, Karnataka was recording just around 11,000 EV registrations annually, according to official.

Initiatives on clean mobility sector

The 2025–26 State Budget, presented on March 7 this year, introduced initiatives to clean transportation. The budget included announcements for the establishment of a state-of-the-art EV testing track and an exclusive EV manufacturing and R&D hub in the Bengaluru region. The State has set an ambitious goal of attracting ₹50,000 crore in investments and generating one lakh new jobs in the clean mobility sector.

On the public transport front, the Karnataka Transport Department plans to deploy 14,750 electric buses as part of its electrification strategy. A Transport Department official said, “These will be introduced under schemes such as PM e-DRIVE, PM-eBus Sewa, and other Externally Aided Projects. Of this total, 9,000 buses are slated for inclusion in the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) fleet.”

Transport expert M.N. Srihari said the presence of charging stations along highways plays a crucial role in encouraging EV adoption. “Many long-distance travellers hesitate to invest in EVs because of the lack of charging options on highways. Most highways are still dominated by petrol and diesel stations. However, now I see more fuel stations integrating EV chargers, which is a positive trend,” he said.

He further stressed the need for the government and private players to now focus on improving interoperability, standardising tariffs, and providing real-time data on charger availability to enhance the consumer experience. “Expanding more EV charging stations on national highways, expansion to tier-2 and tier-3 cities, as well as interior roads, must be the next focus. For electric vehicles to go mainstream, charging stations must be as widespread and easy to locate as petrol pumps. Only then will people feel confident enough to make the switch,” Mr. Srihari added.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The focus of the conference was to promote awareness, share surgical experience, and advance the adoption of the sternal-sparing transaxillary approach – a method that allows cardiac surgery through a small incision under the arm, avoiding the need to cut through the sternum.

A two-day dedicated conference on the transaxillary approach to cardiac surgery titled ‘TRANS AX SUMMIT 2025’ organised by the State-run Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research concluded in Bengaluru on Saturday (August 2, 2025).

The summit attracted over 350 in-person delegates and was broadcast to more than 100 registered online viewers from India and abroad. The focus of the conference was to promote awareness, share surgical experience, and advance the adoption of the sternal-sparing transaxillary approach — a method that allows cardiac surgery through a small incision under the arm, avoiding the need to cut through the sternum.

This technique offers quicker recovery, less pain, and superior cosmetic outcomes, and has been steadily gaining attention in the global cardiac surgery community.

A major highlight of the event was the presentation by Rajesh Kishan Rao, Professor of Cardio Thoracic Vascular Surgery at Jayadeva, who shared a case series of over 500 transaxillary cardiac surgeries successfully performed at the Institute. 

The summit also featured case discussions led by international faculty from Italy and Spain, the release said.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Science and Technology Minister Boseraju said Karnataka expects to have quantum chip fabrication capabilities operational by the end of this year.

The Karnataka government on Thursday launched the Karnataka Quantum Mission (KQM), pledging an investment of Rs 1,000 crore to accelerate research, infrastructure, talent development and startup growth in the quantum technology sector.

A major highlight of the initiative is the proposed Quantum City (Q-City) — an integrated quantum technology hub to be established near Bengaluru. Q-City will host research centres, manufacturing units and advanced data infrastructure. The announcement was made during the inaugural session of Quantum India Bengaluru 2025, a two-day international summit on quantum science and technology, organised by the Karnataka Department of Science and Technology in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science’s (IISc) Quantum Technology Initiative.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who inaugurated the event, said the event’s theme — Building a Quantum Ecosystem – Qubits to Society — reflects the government’s goal of translating complex quantum research into solutions that can benefit key sectors.

He said the government’s Quantum Vision 2035 aims to build a $20 billion quantum economy. For this, a Quantum Technology Task Force will be set up to frame policy, and supported by a series of initiatives, including dedicated quantum parks, manufacturing zones and the Q-City innovation hub. Q-City, the CM said, will play the same role in quantum tech that Bengaluru once did for IT.

Science and Technology Minister NS Boseraju announced that with plans to create over two lakh direct jobs, Karnataka is targeting 20% of the global market share in the quantum sector. A Karnataka Quantum Roadmap was also released during the event.

Boseraju said Karnataka expects to have quantum chip fabrication capabilities operational by the end of this year. “To prepare the next generation of quantum talent, a quantum curriculum will soon be introduced at the higher secondary level in both English and Kannada, under the Stream Labs initiative.”

Pancharatnam Prize

The state government announced the institution of the Pancharatnam Prize for Excellence in Quantum Science and Technology, named in honour of physicist S Pancharatnam, who conducted his pioneering work at the University of Mysore and the Raman Research Institute. The prize will be awarded to Indian nationals whose contributions bridge fundamental quantum science and its practical applications. The inaugural award was given to Prof Rajamani Vijayaraghavan from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.

‘Maha’s IT firms welcome’

DCM DK Shivakumar said Karnataka is open to IT companies that want to move from Maharashtra and they will get all the support they need. Speaking to the media, he said, “We welcome all IT companies planning to shift from Maharashtra. Karnataka will provide them with the right infrastructure and help them grow.”

FIVE Pillars of quantum strategy

The CM outlined the government’s roadmap built on five foundational pillars

1. Talent Development: Launch of quantum skilling programs across 20+ colleges and provision of 150 PhD fellowships annually.
2. R&D Excellence: Focus on advanced quantum systems, including the development of 1,000-qubit processors and real-world deployments in cybersecurity and healthcare.
3. Infrastructure Creation: Establishment of India’s first Quantum Hardware Park, four Innovation Zones, and a dedicated FabLine to manufacture quantum components.
4. Industry Support: Promotion of over 100 startups, filing of 100+ patents, and the creation of a Quantum Venture Capital Fund.
5. Global Partnerships: Engagement with international institutions and platforms such as the India Quantum Conclave.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Several initiatives are underway to ensure the holistic growth of the quantum sector in Karnataka.

Karnataka Minister for Science and Technology NS Boseraju said India’s first quantum computer is already operational in Bengaluru, and Karnataka is leading the country in quantum innovation. The minister was responding to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s tweet stating that Andhra Pradesh is set to deploy India’s first indigenously built 8-qubit quantum computer this November in Amaravati.

“While celebrating our progress, we must also cultivate a culture of considering facts and figures,” the minister stated in a sharp response to Naidu’s claims.

Boseraju said that Karnataka, particularly Bengaluru, has already made significant progress as the hub of India’s quantum sector. A prime example is the 25-qubit quantum computer “Indus”, indigenously developed by QpiAI and operational in Bengaluru, he stated. He highlighted that India’s first Quantum Research Park has been established at the prestigious Indian Institute of Science (IISc). The state cabinet has approved Rs 48 crore for the development of its second phase. Several initiatives are underway to ensure the holistic growth of the quantum sector in Karnataka.

A Quantum Summit is being organised in Bengaluru on July 31 and August 1. A roadmap to transform Karnataka into a global quantum powerhouse is being prepared, which will be unveiled on July 31 by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, read a statement from the minister’s office.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

More than 175 Bishop Cotton Boys’ School alumni had volunteered for service in World War I. The Bengaluru school and its distinguished alumni were the topic of a talk held in the city this Sunday.

On the night of September 2, 1916, Britain faced a menace that it had seen over its skies for two years of World War I—the high-flying German Zeppelin. While the bombings by these airships did not impact the war effort, they did cause considerable property damage and instil fear across the country. Until then, Zeppelins had been destroyed in Europe, but not over Britain. That night, this would change.

William Leefe Robinson, emptying three drums of ammunition before the airship exploded, became the first to achieve this feat. Robinson soon became an overnight celebrity. The Victoria Cross followed, and he was a household name across the United Kingdom. Back in India, another group had reason to cheer him on—the students and teachers of his alma mater in Bengaluru, Bishop Cotton Boys’ School.

More than a century later, Robinson and other alumni of Bishop Cotton were the topic of a talk by senior lawyer and author Aditya Sondhi at The Bangalore Room in Indira Nagar on Sunday.

In his 2014 book, The Order of The Crest, Sondhi had documented the prominent alumni of Bishop Cotton, and had noted that over 175 Cottonians had volunteered for service in World War I. At the time, the students were mostly of European descent. The terrible, grinding trench warfare took its toll on these volunteers, and 23 of them were killed in action.

Noel Saunders, who wrote the music for the famous school song, died in battle, as did a teacher, Cyril Walter Wallace, who had only weeks before written about the gallant death of one of his students leading an attack.

Brothers Captain Robert and Lt Col Kenelm McCloughlin died fighting in France. So did Harold, Robinson’s brother, who died just months before his brother achieved his great feat. Weakened by a stint in German captivity, Robinson himself would not live to see the inter-war years, dying in 1918 of the Spanish Flu.

“He had written to the warden a few months earlier (before his death in Mesopotamia) offering to join the staff of the school, pending his commission. He was remembered by many Bangaloreans for his role as Portia in the school’s production of The Merchant of Venice in 1909,” Sondhi noted in his book.

From Sondhi’s accounts, it seems that Cottonians did not let the privations of warfare daunt them. Even as late as 1917, Sondhi quotes a Reverend Bazley, who notes that several students hoped that the war would continue until they graduated, so they too could volunteer. The sort of officer that the school sent to the war is perhaps exemplified by Lt Col Terence Claud Crichton, who went so far as to climb onto his men’s shoulders to shoot at enemy soldiers defending a wall opposite him.

A glance at the school’s history in World War II throws up Indian names in the records. One of the earliest of these, and arguably the most well-known, was General K S Thimayya. Sondhi’s research shows that Thimayya had a fighter’s spirit from the early days—a fellow British student who tried to rag him for being an Indian found himself on the wrong end of a punch from Thimayya.

Thimayya was one of the only Indians assigned a major battlefield command in World War II, and Sondhi records that he took a point known as Hill 109 in a morning attack after a climb up the hillside. This enabled the British forces to link up near Imphal, a crucial moment in breaking the siege of the town. An anecdote shared by Sondhi revealed that in the later years, Thimayya would, without ceremony, visit one of his old teachers at the school, who still knew him as “Timmy”. “I found a reference to one of his masters at school, Sergeant Burgess, who said to him – Like the princes of the states, you can earn your commission and be an officer, see the world and be a hero -. What a prophetic call….” Sondhi said at the talk.

The number of brigadiers, generals, and senior air force officers from Bishop Cotton Boys’ School in this period forms an exhaustive list. When the Partition split the country, it did not spare the school alumni either. Brigadier Mirza ‘Hesky’ Beg was one such former student who later went on to be known as one of the finest polo players in Pakistan.

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)