Karnataka First

City gets the fifth United States Consulate in India after Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai.

The United States opened a consulate in Bengaluru on Friday. However, it will not immediately offer visa services and will take some time to start full consular services.

U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti, along with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, dedicated the site of the consulate, which will become the fifth in India, after Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. The consulate is temporarily located at the JW Marriott Hotel on Vittal Mallya Road.

Visa services

Initially, consular services will continue to be performed at the consulate in Chennai and other U.S. diplomatic posts in India. Mr. Garcetti said, “Visa services will not be offered at the beginning, but we will work on that to bring visas as soon as possible.’‘

According to him, the consulate will expand on the U.S. government’s more than 30-year presence in Bengaluru by increasing diplomatic engagement on economic and political issues, conducting public diplomacy and people-to-people engagements, and augmenting existing U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service capabilities.

Mr. Garcetti said, “Our relationship truly extends from the seabed to the stars, and nowhere is that truer than here in Bengaluru. The innovation and entrepreneurship of this state – from semiconductors to space – is matched only by Silicon Valley in my home state of California.’‘

Bilateral ties

Expressing optimism about the future of the bilateral relationship, Mr. Jaishankar said, “I see a great future for India and the United States, and I think, in that future, obviously Bengaluru will also have a salient part.” The Minister said it was a very important milestone in the bilateral ties and urged the US administration to ensure that the mission starts visa operations at the earliest.

He also promised to open an Indian diplomatic mission in Los Angeles. ‘’This will be my number one talking point with Secretary Rubio when I see him. The sooner we get it done, the better it is,’‘ he said.

According to the Minister, the Regional Passport Office in Bengaluru issued 8,83,000 passports in just one year. “Do the math, you will see how important it is to ensure a smooth travel.’‘

On increased collaboration between the U.S. and India, he further said two decades ago, there were virtually no American weapons in the Indian inventory and very little defence collaboration. “Today, we fly the C-17s, the C-130Js, the Chinooks and the Apaches.” The minister also said India has about 3,50,000 students in the U.S. and a diaspora of five million people, building a powerful case for the U.S. to get around to issuing visas from Bengaluru as early as possible.

Symbol of ties

Speaking at the event, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said, ‘‘This is not just an opening of the diplomatic mission, but a powerful symbol of the ties between the United States and India, particularly with Karnataka, a state that has been long at the heart of India’s growth and innovation.”

He further said the U.S. consulate site in the city was a testament to the growing global importance of Bengaluru and Karnataka. ‘‘The proposal for a U.S consulate in the city dates back to S.M Krishna, former Chief Minister and External Affairs Minister, who took up the matter with Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Many have chased this case since then.”

Bengaluru is the sister city of San Francisco, California, and Cleveland, Ohio, and a key link with U.S. defence, technology, and aerospace companies. According to the U.S. mission in India, the U.S. government first established an office in Bengaluru in 1993, opening its commercial service post.

Diplomatic mission in Los Angeles

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar promised to open an Indian diplomatic mission in Los Angeles, which he would discuss with Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, US. ‘’This will be my number one talking point with Secretary Rubio when I see him. The sooner we get it done, the better it is,’‘ he said.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

German and Indian governments have entered into a strategic partnership to launch a groundbreaking initiative in India focusing on Gender in Green Mobility and Smart Urban Freight.

In a step towards promoting safer and more inclusive travel options for women, the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) held a meeting on Thursday with representatives from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, a German development agency funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The meeting focused on designing shared, electric, and connected micro-mobility solutions to improve gender inclusion and advance green mobility in BMTC’s services.

BMTC Managing Director Ramachandran R. said, “The German and Indian governments have entered into a strategic partnership to launch a groundbreaking initiative in India focusing on Gender in Green Mobility (GiGM) and Smart Urban Freight. This initiative, which underscores the importance of sustainable and inclusive urban mobility, is slated to commence in June 2025.”

The project, which will be designed and implemented by GIZ GmbH, was commissioned by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). According to BMTC, the initiative aims to tackle critical challenges at the intersection of gender and sustainable urban mobility while also enhancing the efficiency of urban freight systems.

The preparatory phase, led by GIZ, includes comprehensive fact-finding activities to understand the current urban mobility landscape, challenges, and opportunities with a gender-sensitive approach. Gender mainstreaming, a policy-making method that considers the needs of both men and women, will be central to the project’s design and execution.

GIZ will engage with various stakeholders and agencies in Bengaluru to promote inclusive urban mobility. The objectives include integrating gender perspectives into urban transport planning, improving accessibility and safety for women and vulnerable groups, and developing smart urban freight solutions to enhance logistics efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

“By addressing gender-specific challenges and promoting green mobility, the initiative aims to ensure safer, equitable, and environmentally sustainable transport solutions for Bengaluru,” Mr Ramachandran added.

The Karnataka government has already introduced the Shakti scheme, offering free bus travel for women on state-run buses. In addition, the BMTC has launched the Namma BMTC app, developed with funding from the Government of India under the Nirbhaya Scheme. This initiative incorporates women’s safety features, an in-bus surveillance system for city buses, and a Passenger Information System (PIS) at bus stops and stations.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

27 students bag 69 gold medals; 540 students to receive degrees

Mysuru: Veteran theatre and cine actor Girija Lokesh,  Music Composer-actor Sadhu Kokila and former Rangayana Director C. Basavalingaiah are among nine personalities who will be conferred with Hon. Doctorates during the seventh, eighth and ninth annual convocation of Karnataka State Dr. Gangubai Hangal Music and Performing Arts University on Jan. 18 at the University premises here at 3 pm, said Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nagesh V. Bettakote, here this morning.

Addressing media persons at Music Varsity premises on JLB Road,  he said that Governor and Chancellor of the University Thaawarchand Gehlot would preside over the convocation ceremony while Minister for Higher Education Dr. M.C. Sudhakar will be present.

Prof. Srinivasa Varakhedi, Vice-Chancellor, Central Sanskrit University, will deliver the convocation address.

The nine personalities, who will be conferred with Hon. Doctorates in recognition of their contributions in the field of fine arts are as follows:

2021-22: Sathyanarayana Raju (Indian Classical Dance), C. Cheluvaraju (Mridanga – Percussion) and Girija Lokesh (Theatre artiste).

2022-23: Sandya Purecha (Indian Classical Dance), M.R. Sathyanarayana (Gamaka) and Sadhu Kokila (Performing Arts).

2023-24: Veena Murthy Vijay (Indian Dance), Pushpa Srinivasan (Karnatak Music) and former Rangayana Director C. Basavalingaiah (Theatre).

In total, 540 students will be presented with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees and nine candidates will be awarded D.Litt. degrees combining all three academic years. The convocation will also witness 27 students being awarded with a total of 69 gold medals —22 gold medals for 2021-22; 24 gold medals for 2022-23 and 23 gold medals for 2023-24 academic years. 

Music Varsity Registrar (Evaluation) M.G. Manjunath was present at the press meet.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

According to the Top Cities for Women in India (TCWI) survey, Bengaluru’s dynamic economic environment solidified its position as the most supportive city for women professionals in India.

Bengaluru has emerged as the best city in India for working women in the latest Top Cities for Women in India (TCWI) survey conducted by Avtar Group. The survey, which ranks cities based on gender inclusivity, safety, infrastructure and employment opportunities, places Bengaluru at the top, surpassing Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Pune.

The IT capital scored exceptionally high in skilling and employment for women, caregiving support and infrastructure. These factors, combined with its dynamic economic environment, have solidified its position as the most inclusive and supportive city for women professionals in India.

What makes Bengaluru stand out?

According to the report, Bengaluru’s appeal lies in its combination of economic opportunities, social inclusion and infrastructure development. The city received strong ratings in the Citizen Experience Score (CES), which measures women’s perceptions of six key pillars:

• Skilling and employment opportunities: Bengaluru scored 7.54, only slightly behind Mumbai (7.60) and Gurgaon (7.68). Women professionals acknowledged the city’s vibrant job market, particularly in technology, startups and innovation sectors.

. Infrastructure: Bengaluru scored 7.52 for infrastructure, driven by its growing public transport system and the rise of co-working spaces that cater to women. Meanwhile, Hyderabad topped the infrastructure ranking with a score of 8.01, thanks to its well-connected public transport and travel amenities. Mumbai (7.64) also scored high. Coimbatore (7.75) and Kochi (7.41) were top among smaller cities.

• Caregiving support: The city has seen an increase in childcare facilities, parental leave policies and flexible work arrangements, enabling women to balance work and family responsibilities.

• Safety: Despite its top ranking, the survey highlights areas where Bengaluru can improve, particularly in safety, where the city scored 6.17, lower than Mumbai (7.19) and Thiruvananthapuram (7.43). The women surveyed expressed concerns about public safety at night and the need for better-lit streets and enhanced police presence in certain areas.

• Governance: Thiruvananthapuram (8.15) and Pune (7.06) received top scores for effective governance. However, Gurgaon (6.48) lagged due to inefficiencies in administrative processes.

• Quality of life: The report also showed that Coimbatore (7.54), Pune (7.50) and Chennai (7.05) emerged as the cities offering the best quality of life. Environmental challenges pushed Gurgaon to a lower score of 6.34.

The southern part of the country emerged as the most inclusive region, as per the survey, scoring comparatively higher in both social and industrial inclusion. The average city inclusion score of the South is 18.56. It is followed by the West (16.92). The Central and East regions lag, with averages of 11.79 and 10.55, respectively as a result of limited industrial development and opportunities.

The average city inclusion score of the North is 14.00. It is worth noting that while the industrial inclusion scores of northern cities like Delhi and Gurgaon are high, there is scope for improvement in their social inclusion scores.

Dr Saundarya Rajesh, founder-president of Avtar Group, said that cities, being the foundations of opportunity, shape how women live, work, and thrive. “So, a clear understanding of the core principles and cultural fabric of our cities is crucial for advancing women’s progress and inclusion. Avtar’s annual index ‘Top Cities for Women in India” does precisely that, using a data-centric and evidence-based approach,” she explained.

“To realise our dream of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, we need the Indian women professionals to succeed on par with men. This is possible only if cities are truly gender-inclusive and offer an atmosphere where women’s strengths can be optimised,” she added.

This, Dr Rajesh said, entails not only providing safe streets, accessible healthcare and education and affordable living to women, “but also competitive avenues for women’s economic success and opportunities for them to thrive as business leaders. Let’s invest in women-led projects and optimize women’s lives and careers.”

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

Games24x7, today announced the cohort for its ongoing accelerator programme, TechXpedite, featuring 17 promising start-ups from across the country including six from Bengaluru.

Launched in Bengaluru in October 2024, TechXpedite has received an overwhelming response, with more than 330 start-ups applying across three focus categories: gaming, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and impact-driven inclusive technology. From this impressive pool, 17 promising start-ups have been selected for an intensive accelerator programme, designed to accelerate their growth and market impact.

According to a press release, six of the selected start-ups in the AI category are from Karnataka, reflecting the vibrant and booming entrepreneurial spirit in the state. These are Arficus, Cairovision, Chittoo.com, Noha.ai, Spoda and Zeuron.ai.

Dr. Ekroop Caur, Secretary, Department of Electronics, IT, BT, and S&T, Government of Karnataka, said, “We remain committed to supporting initiatives that drive technological advancements and foster sustainable economic growth—not just within the state, but across the country.”

The selected start-ups are now participating in a structured mentorship programme where they will interact with industry leaders, venture capitalists, and domain experts to address challenges and refine their products and solutions.

TechXpedite offers start-ups a comprehensive support ecosystem, including masterclasses, networking opportunities, guidance from industry experts, and credits worth over U.S. $500,000 from more than 30 technology partners.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Dr Shruthi Ballal, diabetologist of Udupi has won gold medal in the South Asia Masters Athletics open championship in the high jump women 30 plus category.

The athletics games were held in Mangala Stadium in Mangaluru on Jan 10.

Dr Shruthi Ballal is also a talented model. She has been crowned as ‘Mrs Earth International Tourism 2024’ and has been named Ambassador of ‘Mrs Earth International 2024’ at a grand event in Manila, Philippines.

Dr Ballal has dedicated her career to diabetes prevention and early detection, organising over 100 free awareness programmes at the grassroots level.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

The Infosys Science Foundation (ISF) celebrated outstanding achievements in research and innovation by awarding the Infosys Prize 2024 to six scholars during a felicitation ceremony here on Saturday.

In its 16th year, the eligibility criteria were revised to honour researchers under the age of 40, emphasising early recognition for exceptional talent. The winners were felicitated for their work across six disciplines: economics, engineering and computer science, humanities and social sciences, life sciences, mathematical sciences, and physical sciences.

The 2024 prize for economics was awarded to Arun Chandrasekhar of Stanford University for his work on social and economic networks. His research, which includes data mapping from Karnataka villages, offers insights into network roles in economic development and policymaking.

The prize for engineering and computer sciencewent to Shyam Gollakota of the University of Washington for innovations such as smartphone-based healthcare tools and battery-free computing, addressing critical societal needs.

Mahmood Kooria of the University of Edinburgh received the prize for humanities and social sciences for his work on maritime Islam, particularly its economic and cultural impact along the Indian Ocean littoral.

The prize for life sciences was awarded to Siddhesh Kamat of IISER, Pune, for his research on bioactive lipids, revealing their significance in cellular functions and diseases.

Neena Gupta from the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, was recognised for resolving the Zariski cancellation problem, a longstanding challenge in algebraic geometry.

Finally, Vedika Khemani of Stanford University was awarded for her work on time-crystals, with potential implications for quantum computing.

The chief guest for the ceremony was Peter Sarnak, known for his work on number theory, from Princeton University and the Institute for Advanced Study, who conferred the awards. Each winner received a gold medal, a citation, and a purse of $100,000. 

Commending the laureates in his address, Professor Sarnak said: “Recognising the achievements of these young scholars, whose brilliant research has advanced and shaped their fields, is an inspiration to students both in India and globally. The annual recognition of such world-leading scholars by the Infosys Science Foundation is a testament to the immense talent and impact of Indian and global researchers.”

The event was attended by other scientists, academicians, business leaders, young researchers, and students. Trustees of the Infosys Science Foundation, including Kris Gopalakrishnan (president, board of trustees), Narayana Murthy, and Nandan Nilekani, were present to celebrate the laureates’ achievements.

Highlighting the foundation’s new direction, Mr. Gopalakrishnan said: “This year’s focus on early-career researchers reflects our commitment to driving innovation and inspiring the next generation of scientists to tackle the world’s critical challenges. These laureates exemplify the transformative potential of science to create a better and more sustainable future.” 

A day before the winners were felicitated, the foundation hosted the fourth edition of the Infosys Prize Winners’ Symposium, where laureates presented their research to peers and senior academicians.

The winners were selected by jury panels chaired by leading academics, including Jayathi Y. Murthy (engineering and computer science) and Kaushik Basu (economics).

The evening ended with a note of thanks by Salil Parekh, CEO of Infosys and a trustee of Infosys Science Foundation.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The minister of petroleum and natural gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, launched MRPL’s product, Toluene, during his visit to the refinery today. Puri also engaged in discussions with MRPL’s senior officials.

With an annual production capacity of 40 TMT, MRPL’s Toluene facility exemplifies India’s progress toward self-reliance and global competitiveness in the petrochemical sector.

Toluene, a versatile aromatic hydrocarbon, plays a vital role in industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, paints, and defense. India’s annual demand for Toluene stands at about 650 TMT, but domestic production currently is about 160 TMT. MRPL’s addition of 40 TMT per year will help bridge this gap, contributing to significant foreign exchange savings of approximately $3 million annually.

This initiative represents a major stride in reducing India’s dependency on imports while bolstering industrial and economic growth, in line with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

Every sportsperson dreams of donning the blue jersey to represent India at the international level in the sports of their interest. While some realise their dreams, others continue to strive hard. One such sportsperson, who realised her dream, is Mysuru’s B. Chaitra, who has been selected to represent the Indian Women’s Kho Kho team at the upcoming World Cup to be held in New Delhi from Jan. 13 to 19.

Chaitra has created history by becoming the first girl from Mysuru district to represent the Indian Women’s team at the first ever Kho Kho World Cup. She is also the only player from South India to be selected for national women’s team. Her selection has come as a biggest birthday gift as Chaitra celebrated her birthday on Wednesday (Jan. 8).

Having come from a humble background, Chaitra started to play kho kho at her native village Kuruburu in T. Narasipur Taluk. Her dedication towards the sport made her to represent the State and National teams. She was also one of the members of University of Mysore Women’s Kho Kho team which won the gold medal at All India Inter-University Kho Kho Championship-2022 held in Mysuru. 

Speaking to Star of Mysore this morning, Chaitra said that it was the biggest achievement of her life till date and added that winning a gold medal in the upcoming Kho Kho World Cup would be a great achievement.

“It is because of my coach K. Manjunath, I have been able to reach this level. I also owe a lot to my parents for encouraging me and instilling confidence,” she added.

“We had been camping in New Delhi since a month and the team was announced yesterday. As soon as I got to know that I have been named in the team, I was overjoyed,” added Chaitra.

It was not easy for Chaitra’s family to encourage her in sports as they could not afford to even pay her school fees. However, one of their family friends, noticing her smartness, insisted the parents to admit her to a private school following which Chaitra was admitted  to Vidyadarshini School in Kuruburu.

Having inspired by her elder brother B. Chethan, also a kho kho player, Chaitra developed interest towards the game and expressed her willingness to join the coaching classes. It was then she got introduced to Manjunath, a mathematics teacher at Vidyadarshini School, who also conducted kho kho classes. Noticing her potential, Manjunath encouraged her to work hard and as a result Chaitra has now been selected to represent the Indian Women’s Kho Kho Team.

Chaitra is currently pursuing her II year B.PEd (Bachelor’s in Physical Education) at Sri Shambhulingeshwara College in Pandavapura, Mandya district.

She is the proud daughter of a farming couple Basavanna and Nagarathna. Earlier, she completed her PU education at Vidyodaya PU College, T. Narasipur and Bachelor of Arts (BA) from PRM College in T. Narasipur.

Speaking to SOM, Nagarathna thanked Chaitra’s coach Manjunath for encouraging and training her daughter to play at the international level. “At the time when Chaitra was a kid, we were not economically strong. In fact, we wanted to admit her to a government school. But it was because of a few people in the village, who insisted Chaitra to join a private school, we admitted her to Vidyadarshini School. We are very happy that our daughter has been able to achieve this remarkable feat,” she added.

Chaitra’s list of achievements is long. Being a recipient of Ila Award – 2017 (Best Sub-Junior Player) instituted by Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI), Chaitra has represented the State in the Senior National Tournament, Khelo India Championship and University of Mysore (twice). She is also a part of Mandya University Women’s Kho Kho team that has qualified for All India Inter-University Women’s Kho Kho Tournament.

Mathematics teacher turns Kho Kho Dronacharya

K. Manjunath, a full-time Mathematics teacher, who turned part-time Kho Kho coach out of passion, at Vidyadarshini School in Kuruburu village, T. Narasipur taluk, is the talk of the town now, having nurtured some of the best Kho Kho players in the country.

He is getting accolades as the coach responsible for helping B. Chaitra make it to Indian Women’s Kho Kho team.

An emotional Manjunath, who spoke to SOM this morning, said it was  the outcome of 15 years of dedication. He further said, “As coaches, we only expect our students to excel to represent the country at the international-level. Chaitra being selected to represent the country and that too in the first ever Kho Kho World Cup is something which will be cherished by me for a long time.”

Chaitra is not the only protege of Manjunath. Two other students, Monica and Nisarga, coached by him also took part in the recently held National selection camp in New Delhi but could not make it to the Indian team.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

While preferences have shifted due to the smartphone era, the timeless values of life remain unchanged.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of Akashvani Dharwad, a cultural icon of North Karnataka’s oral tradition.

A unique voice of the 20th century, the broadcasting service was launched with the rendition of India’s national song ‘Vande Mataram’, by a team led by Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.

Akashvani Dharwad was the beloved medium of acclaimed artistes like Da Ra Bendre, Mallikarjun Mansur, Rajguru, Chennaveera Kanavi, Girish Karnad, Balappa, Gangubai Hangal and many others. Radio legends like Kaka, Nani Kaka and Akkamma became special stars, especially among rural audiences.

Bendre Ajja, while walking through the streets of Sadhanakeri after dinner on Wednesdays, would listen to plays aired on radio before reaching home. Even today, many start their daily activities with the ‘Vandana Chintana’ broadcast.

“In the 21st century, amid the dominance of modern media, the radio seems to struggle to retain its charm and connect, especially with rural audiences. While preferences have shifted due to the smartphone era, the timeless values of life remain unchanged. Amid this media noise, values seem to fade away, yet Dharwad stands steadfast, evidenced by the overwhelming number of letters received every week and countless phone calls,” said Sharanabasava Cholin, programme head, AIR Dharwad.

“This celebration carries forward its legacy with the aspiration that Akashvani Dharwad continues to shine like a golden light for generations to come,” he added.

The once-robust programme division now faces challenges with fewer than 10 permanent staff. However, its remarkable programmes, like the 175+ episodes of Vachanamrutha and 120 episodes of Krishi Shodhane Sadhane remain treasures.

Shows like Angaiyalli Ayurveda, Jeevamrutha, Vanitha Vihara and Valmeeki Nela Jala Jagriti continue to educate and entertain. The technical and administrative divisions work tirelessly despite limited staff, while temporary announcers and assistants contribute significantly. The archives, digitized through relentless efforts, are recognized as unique treasures of Akashvani Dharwad.

Radio Dharwad, now available through FM and the NewsOnAir app, has reached global audiences, gaining appreciation from Kannada associations abroad. Interestingly, the demand for radios is reportedly rising in Dharwad, and Akashvani Dharwad is active on social media platforms too.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)