Karnataka First

In a move aimed at giving Karnataka’s engagement with non-resident Indians (NRIs), foreign investors and global organisations a sharper institutional focus, the state government has approved a separate department for global investment and overseas affairs.

The decision to establish the ‘Department of Global Investment and Overseas Affairs’ was taken at the Cabinet meeting held on Thursday.

The new department will have a separate secretariat and minister. For now, however, it will function under the supervision of the chief minister.

A single-window system will be created to address various NRI-related requirements, including their affairs and welfare, under one roof. NRIs will also be issued a special card through which they can access various government services and assistance. The system is expected to be particularly useful for accessing opportunities such as employment abroad.

The government will also establish a mechanism to directly receive investment and partnership proposals from foreign investors and delegations visiting Karnataka.

The chief minister will meet such delegations and receive their proposals, which will then be forwarded to the concerned administrative departments for necessary action.

Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, deputy chief minister Dr G Parameshwara said the move was intended to ensure that investors did not have to wait for a response from the government or look towards other states for investment opportunities.

Foreign investors seeking partnerships, collaboration or investment can directly meet the Chief Minister and present their proposals, he said. The proposals will subsequently be sent to the concerned departments for further action.

The new system will cover a wide range of areas, including global research and development, start-ups, cultural exchange, soft power, sports diplomacy, twin-city partnerships, healthcare, medical services and tourism, among others.

State Facilitation Board to be formed

A State Facilitation Board will also be constituted with the chief minister as chairman and the deputy chief Minister as vice-chairman.

Ministers handling the Industries, Agriculture, Horticulture, IT-BT, Urban Development, Bengaluru Development, Higher Education, Energy, Health, Sports and Medical Education departments will serve as members of the board.

Parameshwara said the Cabinet had held an extensive discussion on the proposal before approving it. Several aspects, including its impact on industries and various government departments, were examined before the decision was taken.

The proposed Facilitation Department will primarily function as a co-ordination and liaison mechanism. When an investor approaches the government with a proposal concerning a particular sector, the department will facilitate a meeting with the Chief Minister, if required, and subsequently forward the proposal to the concerned department for further action.

10-member Group of Ministers gets Cabinet nod

The Cabinet has also approved the formation of a 10-member Group of Ministers (GoM) in Karnataka, on the lines of the system followed by the Union government, with the chief minister as chairman.

Major decisions will be discussed by the GoM before being placed before the Cabinet for consideration.

Deputy chief minister Dr G Parameshwara and ministers K H Muniyappa, K J George, Priyank Kharge, Krishna Byre Gowda, Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah, U T Khader, Laxman Savadi, Satish Jarkiholi and M B Patil will be members of the Group of Ministers.

Eight named as government spokespersons

The government has also decided to appoint spokespersons to issue official statements on its behalf.

Deputy chief minister Dr G Parameshwara, along with ministers Krishna Byre Gowda, Priyank Kharge, Santhosh Lad, U T Khader, Eshwar Khandre, H C Balakrishna and Laxman Savadi, will serve as government spokespersons.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

The FQCI is also working on shared, world-class infrastructure for quantum device fabrication, characterisation, testing and technology development.

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has established the Foundation for Quantum Computing Innovation (FQCI) as a Section 8 not-for-profit company under the National Quantum Mission implemented by the department of science and technology.

Shankar Kumar Selvaraja, a professor and project director of FQCI at IISc, said, “The NQM provides a unique opportunity to build a strong and globally competitive quantum computing ecosystem in India… Our focus is on bringing together India’s research capabilities, advanced infrastructure, industry and entrepreneurial talent to translate cutting-edge research into indigenous quantum computing technologies and applications. We aim to create an ecosystem where fundamental research, technology development and real-world applications progress together.”

The FQCI is also working on shared, world-class infrastructure for quantum device fabrication, characterisation, testing and technology development.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

The operations will be conducted under the supervision of Cauvery Neeravari Nigam with scientific/technical assistance from the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC).

The Karnataka state government has given administrative approval for cloud-seeding operations for 60 days in drought-hit areas at an estimated cost of Rs 28 crore.

The operations will be conducted under the supervision of Cauvery Neeravari Nigam with scientific/technical assistance from the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC). During their meetings with CM Shivakumar, the elected representatives urged him to take steps for cloud-seeding in view of the poor monsoon, and a proposal was submitted by M/s Kyathi Climate Modification Consultants LLP (KCMC) on August 13, according to a government order.

Based on the results of the previous “Varshadhare” cloud-seeding programme implemented by the government and CAIPEEX (Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment) by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), “Karnataka Emergency Cloud Seeding Programme – 2026” has been prepared by KSNDMC. According to a report by KSNDMC, the state recorded a rainfall deficit of 42% by the end of June and 29% by the end of July. In all, 178 taluks in 27 of the 31 districts face rainfall deficit.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) Director Basavaraj Kodagunti on Monday announced CIIL’s initiative to prepare around 75 introductory books in linguistics, incorporating greater representation of Indian languages and perspectives.

“Around 15 volumes are expected to focus on Indian grammatical traditions, while other books will incorporate Indian perspectives in areas including phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics,” he said at the inauguration of a two-week orientation programme on Indian Grammatical Traditions at CIIL.

Prof. Kodagunti called upon the younger generation, particularly teachers and researchers, to carry these studies forward and integrate them into their academic work.

He said Indian grammatical traditions cannot be confined to Sanskrit alone. Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Pali, Prakrit and other Indian languages have their own traditions and histories of grammatical analysis. He pointed to the interaction among different linguistic traditions as an important feature of India’s intellectual history.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

An Ayurveda college professor from Belagavi has been selected for the National Level Best Physiotherapy PG Teacher Award.

Shobha R. Itnal, who is Head and Professor of the Department of Physiotherapy, J.G. Cooperative Ayurveda Medical College, Ghataprabha, Gokak taluk, received the award at the eighth National Conference ATACON-2026 organized by the NCISM-accredited Ayurveda Teachers Association, New Delhi, in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh recently.

NCISM president Manisha Kothekar said that she was selected for this award considering her contribution to the field of teaching, guidance and education in the field of Physiotherapy.

The college management, teaching and non-teaching staff congratulated her, said a release.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

He directed officials to remove pump sets and electricity connections from non-functional borewells to avoid unnecessary power bills.

Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar B Khandre on Thursday launched a GIS-based mobile and web application to ensure scientific management of rural water assets, improve transparency and prevent fraudulent billing.The application will geo-tag rural water supply assets and record details of their physical condition, operation and maintenance.

The application is developed by the Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Department in collaboration with the Karnataka State Remote Sensing Applications Centre (KSRSAC).

The app can geo-tag assets with an accuracy of up to five metres. Borewells, overhead tanks, open wells, pump houses, water treatment plants, reservoirs, lakes, laboratories and hand pumps are covered under the system. According to Khandre, the state has over three lakh water assets, which are expected to be digitised by the end of September. At present, more than 70,000 such assets have been documented. The initiative will have a three-stage verification mechanism.

RDPR engineers shall carry out physical and random inspections at different levels. Khandre said geo-tagging would help prevent fake billing for works that have not been executed and enable authorities to monitor the quality and status of assets.

He directed officials to remove pump sets and electricity connections from non-functional borewells to avoid unnecessary power bills. He said 7700 borewells have been recharged so far, while more borewells suitable for recharge are being identified.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

All projects were presented through a poster exhibition, ensuring that all 20 teams that participated had the opportunity to share their research.

Anveshana 2026, the flagship student-led research initiative of Bengaluru-based nonprofit Prayoga Institute of Education Research, saw 61 students from Classes 9-12 present 20 independent research projects, highlighting the scope for scientific inquiry at the school level earlier this week. The final project presentation saw shortlisted top four projects showcased.

According to a release from Prayoga, Anveshana, the five-month student science research programme, drew students from across India, including Leh.

All projects were presented through a poster exhibition, ensuring that all 20 teams that participated had the opportunity to share their research with an audience comprising researchers, educators, industry representatives and parents.

The event was attended by Tejasvi Surya, Member of Parliament, Bangalore South, Manu Saale, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI), Dr Renata Jovanovic, Chief Scientific Officer, Deloitte South Asia, and Pratyush Mehrotra, President & COO, SBI Foundation.

“The impact of Anveshana extends well beyond the annual showcase. Over the years, research emerging from the programme has contributed to international peer-reviewed publications, while some student projects have progressed towards patent applications,” said Prayoga.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Aldovia Resort & Convention, Swiss Town, Bengaluru, has received prestigious international recognition from the World Confederation of Businesses (WORLDCOB), Houston, Texas, in the United States of America, at The Bizz Awards 2026, held at the InterContinental Wien, Vienna, Austria, on August 25.

The international event brought together leading business establishments and industrial houses from several countries, with 33 awards presented across various categories. Aldovia Resort & Convention was selected following the recommendation of WORLDCOB’s evaluation committee, recognising its standards of business excellence, leadership, and hospitality based on OTA and review aggregators’ statistics.

Among the principal honours, Aldovia Resort & Convention was conferred the “World Business Leader” award, recognising the organisation for consistently demonstrating business excellence. It was also conferred the “Recognition of Inspirational Company”, upon the recommendation of WORLDCOB’s evaluation committee.

The Vienna recognition also extended to members of Aldovia’s leadership team. Nigel Rufus Colaco was honoured as a “World Leader Businessperson” for consistently demonstrating business excellence, while Randal Shawn Colaco received the “Excellence in Business Leadership” recognition. Balaji Mukunda received the “Excellence in Business Management” award for his consistently demonstrated business excellence management.

The honours assume special significance as the Aldovia brand enters a new chapter in its hospitality journey. Formerly known for two decades as Clarks Exotica Convention Resort & Spa, the landmark property has evolved into Aldovia Resort & Convention, carrying forward the vision of its property owner and founder, Dr Ronald Colaco. The change of brand was opted following the acquisition of the Clarks Exotica brand in Delhi, Jaipur, and other states by the Tata Group, as Dr Ronald Colaco wanted to retain the property and hotel ownership under the new brand Aldovia Resort & Convention.

A pioneer in integrated township development and hospitality, Dr Colaco has played a leading role in developing landmark international standard projects including Hollywood Town, Swiss Town, Oval Reef, Serene Gardens, and Parkland View. His vision for Aldovia is founded on the belief that true luxury extends beyond physical excellence to grace, warmth, emotion, and meaningful human experiences.

Spread across 70 acres near Kempegowda International Airport, within a self-developed township in an approximately 300-acre property offering three swimming pools and various indoor and outdoor sports facilities, Aldovia combines luxury hospitality, large-scale conventions, weddings, corporate gatherings, leisure, wellness, and recreation. Aldovia Resort & Convention offers a total of 11 indoor banquet halls, of which the flagship Ocean Convention Centre happens to be the largest indoor convention centre attached to a five-star hotel in South India. It also offers multiple event venues, one Oasis-formal bar, three separate restaurants—multi-cuisine Ambrosia, pan-Asian Shogun, and Mediterranean grills Ember—and one café, Mirage. Besides a health and wellness spa offering Ayurvedic therapies, aromatherapy, and modern wellness practices, its extensive landscaped grounds and recreational facilities have established the destination as a significant hospitality and convention venue in Bengaluru.

The 2026 recognition adds to the property’s longstanding association with WORLDCOB honours. The organisation had earlier received recognition at The Bizz Awards in Muscat, Oman, in 2015, and at The Bizz 2017 Peak of Success Awards in Dubai, UAE, including recognition as an inspirational company.

For Dr Ronald Colaco, the recognition represents more than business achievement. Over more than three and a half decades, his professional journey has been accompanied by extensive philanthropic and social initiatives across numerous sectors, including contributions towards education, healthcare, public infrastructure, and community welfare.

The latest international honours reinforce Aldovia’s new identity and its commitment to building an Indian hospitality brand distinguished by excellence, purpose, and gracious service.

“This international recognition is not merely an award for business success; it is a recognition of the people, values, and purpose behind Aldovia. Our endeavour is to create a destination where excellence is expected, hospitality comes from the heart, and every guest carries back an experience of genuine warmth and grace,” the management stated reiterating, “Aldovia is where grace finds you.”

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)