The "caste census" report was submitted to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah by K Jayaprakash Hegde, Chairman of the Karntaka State Commission for Backward Classes on Thursday. "We don't know what is in the report. The government has received the report, it will be placed before the cabinet, and will be discussed and decided there," Siddaramaiah told media.

It should be noted that Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities have deffered against the survey, terming it unscientific and urged it to be set aside and a new survery be conducted. 

With PTI inputs

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Thursday presented a Rs 12,369 crore budget for the city primarily focusing on the ‘Brand Bengaluru’ initiative of the Karnataka government.

Shivanand H Kalakeri, special commissioner (finance) of BBMP, said that the BBMP’s opening balance for 2024-25 is Rs 12,371 crore. This includes Rs 8,294 crore from own resources, and Rs 4,077.59 crore from central and state government grants. The total expenditure was estimated at 12,369 crore with a surplus budget of Rs 2.17 crore. Read more

The Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which was rejected by legislative council last week, was taken up for reconsideration and passed by the legislative Assembly again on Thursday, PTI reported. The Bill attempts to tweak the law that governs taxation of Hindu temples and was stymied by the Opposition BJP which holds a majority in the Legislative Council. The Bill, will now be sent to the Governor for his assent, after which it will become a law.

Check out our explainer on the Temple Bill

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah presents his reply to the debate on the state budget in the Legislative Assembly while BJP legislators stage protest over the alleged sloganeering issue.

The Karnataka government has decided to extend the deadline for signage implementation with 60 per cent Kannada content by commercial establishments in Bengaluru by two weeks as it was set to end on Thursday.

“Considering that it takes time to change the signage, Karnataka Govt has decided to extend the deadline given to commercial establishments by two more weeks so that the 60 per cent signage in Kannada rule can be followed,” Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said on social media on Thursday.

Based on the 70,000 suggestions received by people across all walks, the expert committee have given its recommendations. 
Brand Bengaluru will be looked into in 8 categories

Sugama sanchaara bengaluru. 
Clean Bengaluru
Green Bengaluru
Healthy Bengaluru
Education Bengaluru
Tech Bengaluru
Vibrant Bengaluru
Water security Bengaluru

Rs 1,580 crore to be allotted for the year 2024-25

In order to bring transparency and security tothe — BBMP Property Records, Aadhaar seeding in BBMP property records will be done in a campaign mode on voluntary basis. The owners who opt for Aadhaar 

seeding will get multiple benefits such as added security of their properties from any fraudulent transactions, secure and automated mutations when the Aadhaar based transactions are done at Sub-Registrar offices. Block Chain technology shall be implemented and rolled out ward wise with respect to Property Records of the BBMP as and when the digitization of the Property Records is completed in a ward. This will prevent unauthorized manipulation of the property records by anyone.

BJP legislators stage walkout from assembly over pro-Pakistan slogan issue on  Thursday. The BJP MLAs will approach Governor Thawarchand Gehlot with a memorandum to dismiss the Congress government, leader of the opposition R Ashok said.

Karnataka government has extended the time for changing signage in Bengaluru by two weeks.

The deadline for 60 percent Kannada usage in signage was set to end on February 29.

"Considering that it takes time to change the signage, Karnataka Govt has decided to extend the deadline given to commercial establishments by 2 more weeks so that the 60% signage in Kannada rule can be followed, " deputy CM D K Shivakumar said on social media on Thursday.

"It is important that we uphold our mother tongue in utmost respect, therefore we expect this law will be duly followed, and we shall see compliance to it by the end of the 2 week extended period," he said.

Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission Chairman Jayaprakash Hegde will submit socio-economic and educational survey report - popularly referred as Caste Census - to the state government today. The report is opposed by dominant caste groups such as Vokkaligas and Lingayats. 

Today, due to a large-scale programme at Palace Grounds heavy congestion is expected between 9:30 am and 5 pm, in and around Palace grounds and following roads

1) Bellary road (Hebbal to Windsor Manor) 
2) Tumkur Road (Yehwantpura to IISc) 
3) CV Raman Road
4) Jayamahal road 
5) Mekhri circle.

Krishna Byre Gowda, Karnataka Minister for Revenue, in a post on X said that land enroacher in Bengaluru has been arrested. Gowda also shared a video showing an excavator set on fire. In the post, Gowda mentioned that the JCB was set on fire amid removal of road encroachment by the Revenue Department.

"Land encroacher in Bengaluru arrested. Removal of road encroachment taken up by Revenue Dept. JCB was set on fire to stop clearance of encroachment. We will not be intimidated. Our resolve is firm. #revenue #gok #encroachment," read his post.

After it was stalled for the last four years, Karnataka Government on Wednesday re-started the Shuchi scheme for menstrual hygiene by supplying sanitary napkins to around 19 lakh adolescent girls at the school and college levels.

According to officials, through the relaunched scheme, the Karnataka Health Department will provide free sanitary napkins to around 19 lakh girls (aged 10 to 18 years) in government and aided schools and colleges across the state. The health department will directly deliver sanitary pads to the schools which will be distributed to the girls by the heads.

Each kit would have 10 sanitary napkins in a pack. Napkins required for one year will be given to the girl students. Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said this scheme is important for the hygiene and health of girl students.

Earlier, the project was started by the previous Siddaramaiah-led state government. However, Rao said, he doesn't know why such an important project was stopped by the later (BJP-led) government.

"In our Congress government, after I became the Health Minister, I had announced that the scheme would be revived," he said. While the Congress government has implemented Shakti and Gruha Lakshmi Scheme in favour of women, the Shuchi Yojana, which was started with a collective vision for girls' health, cannot be ignored, he said.

“We are providing free sanitary napkins to 19 lakh school and college girls at a cost of 47 crores. Girls from very poor families cannot not afford it,” he said.

The Minister also emphasised that menstruation is a natural process and that there is no need for girls to be hesitant about this.

There are some superstitions attached to it and it is important to get rid of them and create awareness about cleanliness and the use of sanitary napkins, he said. Cleanliness and scientific management of menstruation are important for girls' health, he added.

“As an alternative to sanitary pads, we have implemented a pilot program in two districts to distribute menstrual cups under Shuchi Yojana. Menstrual cups are eco-friendly and the project has received a good response,” Rao said. The Health Minister also said that the health department will take up a program to create more awareness about the use of menstrual cups instead of sanitary pads. 

PTI

According to the Karnataka Skill Development Corporation, out of the 44,527 candidates who attended the Bruhat Udyoga Mela-Yuva Samriddhi Sammelana, 2024 at Bengaluru’s Palace Ground, only 9,654 candidates were given offer letters at the end of the two-day job fair.

Meanwhile, 16,865 candidates have been shortlisted for the next round of interview, 2,547 candidates were rejected and over 15,000 candidates are awaiting confirmation of their jobs from the employers.

Union Minister for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman is in Bengaluru for Express Adda and is currently interacting with Anant Goenka, Executive Director, The Indian Express Group, and P Vaidyanathan Iyer, Executive Editor, The Indian Express. 'If each of the southern states put their arguments well and convincingly, with data in their hands, more to promote their own strengths and highlight their challenges the face, the finance commission will come up with a formulation,' Sitharaman said.

The event is being held at a time when the Central government is charting out India’s growth trajectory with a focused thrust on capital expenditure. It is also a time when the global risks from geopolitical conflicts run the risk of affecting trade, commodity prices and supply chains. The challenge for the Finance Minister then is to maintain the growth path amid the continuing risks from such factors.

Catch up with what else Nirmala Sitharaman says at Express Adda

Raising the issue of drinking water and Cauvery issue, Aam Aadmi Party leaders slammed Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in a press conference on Wednesday. "The tanker mafia is being run by corporators, former corporators, relatives of MLAs and MLAs. The government has completely failed to solve the drinking water problem. All this is happening right under the nose of Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, but it is not visible," Aam Aadmi Party state organising secretary Mohan Dasari said. Dasari added that doubts were raised about Shivakumar's role in the mafia.

Dasari further said the BWSSB has not done anything as an alternative for Cauvery water. "According to the Right to Information Act, the BWSSB has laid only 108 borewells in entire Bengaluru city. This means that BWSSB has not done anything to supply water to Bengaluru completely. Cauvery water is not reaching all houses in Bengaluru. 

The BBMP has also drilled 1,534 borewells and both these agencies have completely failed to provide water to all households. They are actively working in the unauthorized tanker mafia. The supply of tanker water is unauthorised and is not permitted in law. However, the water supply mafia is rampant in Bengaluru, he said. The price of tanker water, which was supposed to be Rs 600 before the onset of summer, has reached Rs 3,000," he said.

"DK Shivakumar knows how important drinking water is for Namma Bengaluru. If you have drinking water, then only you can make a Brand Bengaluru. The government should curb the tanker mafia, they should be taxed. Even if you can't give water free of cost, make arrangements to provide water at a lower price. Otherwise, people will come to your house and ask you to give me water," he said. 

"Make a mobile app yourself and allow consumers to book tankers. Give the helpline number and respond to people's problems. Otherwise, it will not be surprising if there is a big fight for water in the coming days," he said.

Bengaluru City President Dr. Satish said that in a meeting chaired by BWSSB officials and the chief secretary of urban development, Rs 131 crore was given to 110 villages for drilling borewells. "Only 257 places in Bengaluru are facing water scarcity. This is a big joke and day light lie. He said there was a water crisis in 50 places in one assembly constituency. 

Karnataka Legislative Assembly witnessed a stormy session on Wednesday as opposition BJP staged a protest from the well of the House, urging the Congress government to resign over its “inaction” in ‘Pakistan zindabad’ slogan row. The saffron party alleged that supporters of Congress leader Syed Naseer Hussain raised “Pakistan zindabad” slogan following Hussain’s victory in Rajya Sabha polls.

Hussain’s supporters also rocked the House proceedings, forcing repeated disruptions, PTI reported. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said “strict action will be taken” if the allegations were proven true.

Siddaramaiah’s statement came hours after the Bengaluru city police registered a suo motu case on Tuesday night over the alleged incident even as the BJP filed a formal complaint at the Vidhana Soudha police station.

To enhance last-mile connectivity to Bengaluru's Namma Metro stations, a fleet of women operated electric auto rickshaws were introduced at Indiranagar and Yelachenahalli metro stations on Wednesday.

The Low Emission Access to Public transport (LEAP), an initiative of Alstom, a multinational company that offers solutions for a low carbon future, is done in collaboration with WRI India, a research organisation that aims to influence government policies and civil society actions. The other collaborators are Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and Metroride, an app dedicated to first and last mile connectivity.

“As part of the pilot phase of the programme, we will have electric autos deployed as a last-mile service at Yelachenahalli and Indiranagar stations, serving commuters in a radius of 4 km from each station,” Olivier Loison, managing director of Alstom India, told PTI.

The pilot initiative was launched by former MP Rajeev Gowda, vice chairman of State Institute for the Transformation of Karnataka and member of Brand Bengaluru Committee. Kalpana Kataria, executive director of BMRCL was also present.

Loison said Indiranagar was chosen as a pilot project because it's a commercial hub close to the city centre and therefore, witnesses heavy traffic movement. “Although a residential area primarily, Yelachenahalli too is rapidly transforming into a major IT hub,” he said.

According to him, sustainable transport options in these two stations can significantly benefit metro commuters by bridging last mile connectivity issues. The reason why women drivers were specifically brought under the programme is to ensure gender inclusivity, said Loison.

“Women will feel safer with women drivers of the e-autos,” he added. As for Saraswati, a 40-year-old widow, who took to driving an auto after the death of her husband three years ago, being engaged by Metroride has been a life saver. While she said she did not have to invest upfront in buying an autorickshaw, another advantage is that she gets to choose her working hours.

“I have opted for morning shifts, I finish by 4pm so that I can go home before my daughters return from college. I am paid Rs 800 every day, even if I don't manage to get many rides,” said Saraswati, who has opted to drive an auto at the Yelachenahalli metro station, close to her home.

Learning from this project will serve as a blueprint for scaling similar solutions, said Loison. “It's a collective challenge. We and our partners are working for the convenience of the people of Bengaluru,” he added.

PTI

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said serious action would be taken if it's found true that a pro-Pakistan slogan was raised after the Rajya Sabha election results were declared.

"It is not only an allegation by the BJP, it is also an allegation by the media," he said, referring to the charge that "Pakistan zindabad" slogan was heard after one of the Congress candidates, Syed Naseer Hussain, was declared the winner at "Vidhana Soudha" on Tuesday.

"We have sent the voice report to the FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory). When the report comes, if it's true that somebody has made a slogan that 'Pakistan zindabad', such person will be punished seriously," the chief minister said.

If somebody has raised such a slogan, there is no question of sparing them. "If it is true, we will take strict action, serious action," he said. (PTI)

Karnataka temple Bill controversy: The Karnataka government’s attempt to tweak the law that governs taxation of Hindu temples was stymied in the Legislative Council, where the primary Opposition, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), holds a majority.

The Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was introduced in the Legislative Assembly on February 19 and passed on February 22. However, it was rejected two days later in the Legislative Council.

The Bengaluru police Central Crime Branch (CCB) on Tuesday arrested four drug peddlers, including three foreign nationals, and seized illegal substances worth Rs 2.3 crore from the accused.

While announcing the arrests, B Dayananda, Commissioner, Bengaluru police, said they have seized 730 gram of MDMA crystals, 1273 ecstasy pills, and 42 grams of hydro ganja from the accused.

BJP leaders today staged a protest outside the Karnataka Assembly alleging that “Pakistan Zindabad” slogans were raised after the victory of Congress candidate Syed Nasir Hussain in Tuesday’s Rajya Sabha polls.

The Congress party, however, has clarified that the party’s supporters were raising slogans in support of the MP — “Nasirsab Zindabad” — which has been misconstrued.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said, "If it is proved that anyone has raised pro-Pakistan slogans, we will initiate action".