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Rice prices rise again in Bengaluru as poor rainfall hits supply

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Bengaluru : Rice prices have increased again across Karnataka, with traders attributing the latest hike to inadequate rainfall, lower crop output and shortages of raw material. The latest increase is the third rise in three months, adding to the burden on consumers. According to wholesale traders, the price of ordinary rice has increased by around Rs 5 to Rs 10 per kg, while premium varieties have become costlier by Rs 10 to Rs 20 per kg. At the wholesale level, prices have risen by around Rs 1,000 per quintal. The price of a bag of ordinary rice has gone up by nearly Rs 200, while premium rice bags are now costing Rs 250 to Rs 300 more, traders said. The latest revision came into effect from Tuesday. Wholesale prices are expected to increase by Rs 10 to Rs 20 per kg, while retail consumers could see a rise of Rs 20 to Rs 40 per kg depending on the variety and quality of rice . Traders said poor rainfall in the state has affected agricultural production, leaving fa...

Karnataka government to observe Engineers’ Day from 2027

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Bengaluru: The Karnataka government will begin celebrating Engineers’ Day officially from next year, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced on Monday, September 14. saying the state must recognise the contribution of its large engineering workforce to development and technological progress. The Chief Minister announced this after paying homage to Sir M Visvesvaraya at KR Circle in Bengaluru on Tuesday, September 15. Speaking after the floral tribute, he said he had approved a proposal to hold Engineers’ Day as an official government programme. Shivakumar said Karnataka produces over one lakh engineering graduates every year, making it necessary to create greater recognition for the profession and its contribution to society. “We produce more than one lakh engineers every year. India has a very large engineering community, and recognising their contribution is our duty,” he said. He said engineers should also take a broader view of their responsibilities and contribute...

Four charred to death in Belagavi house fire on Ganesh Chaturthi

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Belagavi : Four members of a family were charred to death and two others suffered serious injuries after a fire broke out at their residence in Chavhat Galli in Belagavi city late at night of Monday, September 14, coinciding with Ganesh Chaturthi. The deceased have been identified as Gajanan Rajaram Damone, 65, Roshan Gajanan Damone, 21, Sharada Damone, 45, and Bharati Rajaram Damone, 50. Priya Gajanan Damone, 28, and Ganga Gajanan Damone, 25, sustained serious injuries in the incident and were shifted to a local hospital for treatment. According to preliminary information, the fire is suspected to have been triggered by a short circuit inside the house. The flames reportedly spread rapidly, leaving the family members with little time to escape. The exact circumstances that led to the fire and the deaths are yet to be established. The victims belonged to a family that was reportedly dependent on daily wage work for their livelihood. The incident has caused shock and gr...

Karnataka seeks public views on coaching centres, school fees

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Bengaluru : The Karnataka government is considering a series of reforms in the education sector, including regulation of private school fees, changes to the curriculum and examination system, and tighter controls on coaching centres operating across the state. The Education Reforms Sub-Committee constituted by the government is seeking suggestions from educationists, parents and the public before finalising its recommendations. Regulation of coaching centres, particularly those operating without registration or approval, is among the key issues being examined. A large number of institutions functioning as tutorials, academies and study centres have emerged across Karnataka. They provide coaching to students from Classes 1 to 12 as well as candidates preparing for CET, NEET and JEE examinations. Concerns have been raised over the fees charged by such institutions, student safety and the absence of uniform regulatory standards. The committee is seeking views on whether re...

‘Bengaluru, Hyderabad should look beyond rivalry, compete globally’

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Bengaluru: The city is looking beyond its long-running tech rivalry with Hyderabad and seeking greater collaboration between the two ecosystems to strengthen India’s artificial intelligence and semiconductor capabilities and compete globally. Speaking at the 29th edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit roadshow hosted in the city, Sharath Kumar Bache Gowda, chairman of Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (KEONICS), said Bengaluru and Hyderabad share deep cultural ties, linguistic connections and economic aspirations that position them as natural partners. Addressing industry leaders, Gowda said Indian tech hubs must look beyond regional borders to collectively compete with emerging international innovation centres such as Berlin and Hanoi. Kavitha C, director of the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) in Hyderabad; Cyient president PNSV Narsimhan; Dr Manjula N, secretary to the Karnataka government, Department of Electronics, Information Technol...

1 dead as bus crashes into hotel on Hyderabad-Bengaluru Highway

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Hyderabad: A man was killed, and several people were injured after a container truck collided with an electric pole on the Hyderabad-Bengaluru Highway near Shamshabad, triggering a chain-reaction crash in which an oncoming private bus lost control and rammed into parked vehicles, a roadside hotel and an adjoining betel shop. The accident took place in the early hours of Monday, September 14, in Rangareddy district. According to witnesses, the container truck first hit the electric pole on the road divider. The impact reportedly caused the private bus travelling on the highway to lose control, after which it ploughed into several stationary vehicles parked along the roadside before crashing directly into the hotel and the betel shop next to it. A man who was drinking tea outside the eatery at the time was struck by the bus and died on the spot, according to the reports. The bus driver and several other people sustained grievous injuries in the crash and were rushed to...

Ramamurthy seeks easier permissions for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations

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Bengaluru : BJP MLA C.K. Ramamurthy has written to Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge seeking immediate steps to simplify rules governing Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations and prevent police officials from allegedly troubling festival organisers. The Jayanagar legislator said Ganeshotsava was deeply connected with the religious sentiments and cultural traditions of the public. He alleged that organisers were increasingly facing difficulties due to strict conditions and procedures imposed by civic and police authorities. Ramamurthy claimed that the BBMP and police department guidelines relating to the installation and immersion of Ganesh idols had resulted in inconvenience for citizens. He said the authorities should distinguish between necessary safety measures and avoidable restrictions. In his communication to the Home Minister, the MLA requested that existing guidelines be reviewed and relaxed to make the permission process easier for organisers. He also sought direc...