Recent Current Affairs related to Karnataka

The Ministry of Education has issued a Letter of Approval (LoA) to the University of Liverpool, UK, to establish a branch campus in Bengaluru.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has facilitated the first-ever sea shipment of botanical-infused ready-to-cook millet functional foods from Karnataka to New Zealand.

This initiative is expected to boost the agri-food exports of India, increase the income of farmers, and strengthen the agri-export ecosystem.

DK Shivakumar has been sworn in as the 25th Chief Minister (CM) of Karnataka, with the oath of office and secrecy administered by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot.

He succeeds Siddaramaiah, who resigned from the position following a planned power-sharing arrangement. Dr G Parameshwara has been sworn in as the Deputy CM of Karnataka.

Swara Lakshmi Nair, a chess player from Bengaluru has secured the Woman International Master (WIM) title. She achieved this milestone at the Ptuj International Masters tournament held in Slovenia.

It is to be noted that she is the first WIM from Bengaluru and the second WIM from Karnataka, following Isha Sharma who achieved the title in 2019.

Karnataka Grameena Bank (KGB) has won the National Award from the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). The award is given recognising its outstanding performance in subscriber enrolment under the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) scheme.

The Karnataka government has launched India’s first integrated technology-driven monitoring portal to track ‘Not of Standard Quality’ (NSQ) medicines and regulate ‘Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances’ (NDPS) drugs.

This initiative aims to strengthen drug surveillance, enhance transparency, and ensure public safety.

Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy has unveiled the Unified Bharat e Charge (UBC) platform, a national unified electric vehicle (EV) charging platform, during the ‘National Conference on Enabling Nationwide EV Charging Infrastructure’ held in Bengaluru.

The platform is being developed by Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) with technical support from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). He also approved the installation of 1,243 EV charging stations in Karnataka with a financial outlay of ₹123.26 crore.

The Karnataka government has implemented an “Alcohol-in-Beverage” (AIB)-based excise duty structure and revised the liquor rates. It is the first instance of such a taxation model being implemented in India, following the 2026-27 Budget announcement. The State Excise Department aims to rationalize liquor pricing to make beverages more affordable for consumers.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has announced the winners of the National Panchayat Awards 2025 (NPA-2025), recognizing 42 Panchayats for excellence in rural governance and sustainable development. Karnataka secured the highest number of awards with 6 honors, followed by Odisha and Andhra Pradesh with 5 awards each.

Under the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (DDUPSVP) category, 34 Gram Panchayats (GP) were selected based on the scores of the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0. The Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (NDSPSVP-2025) recognized 8 winners, comprising 3 District Panchayats, 2 Block Panchayats, and 3 GPs.

New Napam Gaon Panchayat in Assam was named the Best GP of India under NDSPSVP 2025, receiving a prize of ₹1.5 crore. Telcup in Bihar and Biraharu in Uttar Pradesh secured the second and third positions, earning ₹1.25 crore and ₹1 crore respectively.

The Karnataka government has inaugurated the Centre of Excellence for Space Technology (CoE SpaceTech Foundation) in Bengaluru, marking the first state-led center in India dedicated to the space sector.

The foundation was established by the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS) in collaboration with the SatCom Industry Association of India (SIA-India). It aims to bridge the gap between academic research and the commercialisation of space technologies to enhance industrial development.

The Karnataka government has launched India’s first digital grievance redressal framework for gig workers on May 1 (International Workers' Day).

The system utilizes the Integrated Public Grievance Redressal System (IPGRS) portal to allow workers to lodge complaints regarding remuneration, working conditions, and disputes.

The Bengaluru City Police has launched a multilingual AI integration within the ‘Namma 112’ Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) to enhance accessibility and inclusivity. This is the first-of-its-kind initiative in India.

The integration utilizes the Multilingual Voice AI for Nationwide Key Interventions (VANKI) system, which was developed in collaboration with technical partners Monday Ventures and Aeos.

PM Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Sri Guru Bhairavaikya Mandira at Sri Kshetra Adichunchanagiri in Mandya, Karnataka. During the visit, he was honoured with a Mysuru Peta, a traditional headgear crafted from Mysuru and Benaras silk and decorated with pearls and pendants, which was historically worn by the former King of Mysuru, Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar.

PM Modi and former PM HD Deve Gowda have released the publication titled ‘Saundarya Lahari and Shiva Mahimna Stotram’ in Mandya, popularly known as the “Sugar City”. He also highlighted a “nine-point, citizen-driven development agenda” to facilitate the goals of “Viksit Karnataka” and “Viksit Bharat”.

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has inaugurated a new structure assembly line for the Prachand Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) at its helicopter factory in Tumakuru, Karnataka. The facility features a dedicated LCH Structure Assembly Line and an Automated Storage & Retrieval System (ASRS).

It is to be noted that the Tumakuru facility currently has a production capacity of 30 helicopters per year, with plans to scale it up to 100 units annually. This expansion will help in the execution of a ₹62,700 crore contract for 156 additional LCHs, including 90 for the Indian Army and 66 for the Indian Air Force (IAF).