Shantala Natyarani Award
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Pratibha Prahlad (Mysuru) is awarded for the ‘Shantala Natyarani Award’
About Shantala Natyarani Award
- Establishment: 1995
- Sponsored by: Government of Karnataka
- Purpose: To recognize lifetime achievements in dance.
- Cash Prize: ₹5 Lakh, a plaque, garland, and a commemorative statue (award).
- Frequency: Awarded annually by the Department of Kannada and Culture.
- It is one of the highest awards in the state of Karnataka for excellence in classical dance
Prof K G Kundanagar Gadinada Sahitya Prashasthi
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Writer Allabaksh Mirasaheb Mirji (Vijayapura) has been selected for the ‘Prof K G Kundanagar Gadinada Sahitya Prashasthi’
About Prof K G Kundanagar Gadinada Sahitya Prashasthi
- Establishment: 2010
- Sponsored by: Government of Karnataka
- Purpose: To honor eminent writers and researchers who have rendered unique service in the field of literature, particularly those working in Kannada in border areas.
- Cash Prize: ₹5 Lakh, a plaque, garland, and a commemorative statue (award).
- Frequency: Awarded annually by the Department of Kannada and Culture.
Award is named after Prof. K. G. Kundanagar, a prominent scholar and educator who contributed significantly to Kannada literature, particularly in the border areas between Karnataka and Maharashtra.
AI Centre of Excellence at E-City
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Karnataka Cabinet has approved the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence in Biotechnology (AI-CoE) at Electronics City
- The initiative aims to strengthen the state’s leadership in deep-tech and emerging technologies.
- The centre will be set up over a period of four years with a total outlay of ₹20 crores.
- It is in partnership with IBAB and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP).
Karnataka Technology & Innovation Museum Foundation (KTIMF)
- Cabinet has cleared the transfer of a 51% stake in the Karnataka Technology & Innovation Museum Foundation (KTIMF) to the Unboxing BLR Foundation.
- It is set up Karnataka state government, as a not-for-profit entity to promote innovation, technological awareness, start-up culture, and public engagement in science and technology.
- Under the PPP model, the Technology & Innovation Museum will be developed on the NGEF campus in Bengaluru.
- Total project cost of Rs 100 crore of this, Rs 49 crore will be funded by the State Government and Rs 51 crore by the private partner.
Heritage institutions
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The Kannada Development Authority (KDA) has formally urged the Karnataka government to develop 3,139 schools that are over a century old as “Heritage Schools”.
- It is highlighted that these institutions are vital parts of the state’s historical identity and deserve the same preservation as temples and forts.
Key Recommendations from the KDA Report
- Heritage Designation: Formally declare all 3,139 century-old schoolsas heritage institutions with historical importance.
- Priority Development: Select at least 31 schools(one from each district) where luminaries such as Sir M. Visvesvaraya, Kuvempu, and Ra. Bendre studied to be developed into model heritage schools featuring small museums.
- Administrative Reform: Establish a separate cellwithin the Education Department specifically for the management and development of these schools.
- Learning & Exhibition Centres: Select one school per taluk to serve as a hub for displaying the taluk’s history, geographical features, and environmental details.
- Funding and Infrastructure:
- Direct MLAs to allocate at least 10% of their Area Development Fundto these schools for the next three years.
- Provide modern science, history, and environmental labs.
- Ensure permanent teacher appointments to stabilize quality.
- Protecting Enrolment: Initiate public discussions on granting permissions to private schools that open within a short distance of these heritage institutions.
Regional Breakdown of Century-Old Schools
While the report covers 3,139 schools, the distribution is highly varied across the state:
- Highest Concentration: Vijayapuradistrict has the highest number of schools over a century old, with over 220 such institutions.
- Lowest Concentration: Bidarand Koppal districts have the fewest, with only a handful of schools reaching the 100-year mark.