Menstrual leave (ML) policy
Context
: High Court of Karnataka directed the State Government to” strictly and faithfully” implement the menstrual leave (ML) policy.
- Policy mandates registered establishments to grant one day’s leave per month to women employees, aged between 18 and 52 years, during their menstrual cycle.
Key Features
- Entitlement: Women employees are entitled to 1 day of paid leave per month, amounting to 12 days annually.
- Eligibility: The policy applies to women aged 18 to 52 across various sectors, including government offices, IT firms, multinational companies (MNCs), garment factories, and other private establishments.
- No Medical Certificate: The policy allows for “no-questions-asked” leave, meaning employees do not need to provide a medical certificate to avail of this leave.
- Flexibility & Usage: The leave can be taken on the first or second day of the cycle. It is designed to be used within the same month and cannot be carried forward, nor can it be combined with other leave types.
Nine-point collective pledge
Context
Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed a nine-point collective pledge (or resolutions) aimed at driving the development of Karnataka and India.
- He addressed the gathering at the Adichunchanagiri Mahasamsthana Mathin Mandya.
The Nine Collective Pledges
The proposed areas for collective resolve include:
- Water Conservation: Pledge to conserve water and practice responsible water management.
- Tree Plantation: Participate in the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” (One tree in the name of mother) campaign to protect the environment.
- Cleanliness: Take collective responsibility for maintaining cleanliness in public spaces, religious sites, villages, and cities.
- Vocal for Local: Strengthen the local economy by supporting and buying local products and businesses.
- Domestic Tourism: Explore and promote diverse locations within India to support the national tourism sector.
- Natural Farming: Embrace and encourage chemical-free, natural farming practices.
- Healthy Diet (Millets): Incorporate millets into daily diets and aim to reduce oil consumption by 10% to combat obesity.
- Fitness and Yoga: Make yoga, sports, and physical fitness an integral part of daily life.
- Spirit of Service: Nurture the habit of serving those in need to strengthen the social fabric.
18-point memorandum
Context
: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah submitted a detailed 18-point memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the PM’s visit to Bengaluru.
- The CM welcomed the PM at the HAL Airport and used the opportunity to flag “systemic inequity” regarding fund releases and project clearances for the state.
Key Demands in the Memorandum
The memorandum outlines critical infrastructure, financial, and social demands for Karnataka:
Major Infrastructure & Irrigation Projects:
- Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir: Urgent approval for the drinking water project intended for Bengaluru.
- Upper Bhadra Project: Request for “National Project” status and release of ₹5,300 crore announced in previous budgets.
- Mahadayi Project: Immediate wildlife clearance for the Kalasa-Banduri Nala diversion.
- Krishna Water Dispute: Gazette notification of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II Award.
- Sharavathy Project: Expedited forest and environmental clearances for the 2,000 MW Pumped Storage Project.
Financial Assistance:
- Bengaluru Development: A special grant of ₹6,000 crore to strengthen the city’s infrastructure and global competitiveness.
- Jal Jeevan Mission: Release of pending central shares amounting to ₹17,554 crore.
- Kalyana Karnataka: Annual assistance of ₹5,000 crore under Article 371(J) for the development of the northern region.
- Public Sector Units: Establishment of at least one PSU in every district of North Karnataka.
Railways & Connectivity:
- Kolar Railway Factory: Revival of the proposed coach factory for which the state has already allocated 1,123 acres.
- High-Speed Rail: Inclusion of the Bengaluru–Mysuru stretch in the national high-speed rail corridor.
Social & Policy Issues:
- Reservation Policy: Inclusion of Karnataka’s 56% reservation policy in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.
- ST Status: Recognition of specific backward castes in the Central List of Scheduled Tribes.
- Healthcare: Establishment of an AIIMS in Raichur.
Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) 2.0
Context
The Karnataka government is scheduled to unveil the Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) 2.0 framework at the “Bridge to Bengaluru 2026 – Dialogue with Diplomats” event.
- This initiative aims to transition from “dialogue to delivery” by deepening sectoral partnerships and expanding global market access for Karnataka-based startups.
Key Highlights of GIA 2.0
- The event will host representatives from approximately 75 to 80 countries, including ambassadors and trade commissioners.
- GIA 2.0 will introduce specific “innovation corridors” with partner countries to focus on targeted collaborations in areas like cybersecurity, DeepTech, and AI.
- The framework is a core part of Karnataka’s vision for a “Deep Tech Decade,” strengthening the innovation value chain from talent to capital.
- The platform positions Karnataka as a gateway for international firms to enter India while helping local startups scale globally.