KARNATAKA

Some states, like Gujarat, Maharashtra and Delhi, are providing large subsidies to consumers to encourage mass adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). But the Karnataka governments policy, released earlier this year, has little on this front. The policy focuses mostly on drawing EV makers and investors to the state.

It offers 15 per cent capital subsidy to investors in the sector on the value of fixed assets over five equal annual payments, with maximum land covered being 50 acres, and a production-linked subsidy of 1 per cent on turnover. The latter will be provided to large EV assembly and manufacturing units for five years, starting from the first year of commercial operations.

But such incentives have not helped the cause of consumers: prices of EVs have not come down in the state as they were expected to. Take the example of an electric scooter launched recently. According to reports, its two variants are priced at Rs 99,999 and Rs 1.2 lakh in Karnataka. In Gujarat, they will be available for Rs 80,000 and Rs 1 lakh, and for Rs 85,000 and Rs 1.1 lakh in Delhi.

By not offering a subsidy to EV buyers, the Karnataka government appears to be guarding itself against more pandemic-triggered financial setbacks and cuts in central devolution of funds.

BJP-governedUttar PradeshandAssamare moving towards a two-child policy. Karnataka, the state with the eighth-largest Population (nearly 6.5 crore), is considering a similar population-control measure. Recently, law minister Basavaraj Bommai said the was studying UPs draft law that aims to lower the gross fertility rate to 2.1 by 2026 and 1.9 by 2030.

But some experts argue that Karnataka doesnt need such steps, pointing to the decreasing total fertility rate, which is the number of babies each woman is expected to have during her reproductive years. The rate reached a record low of 1.7 births per woman in 2020 compared to 3.6 in 1981, according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS).

Experts also say that a two-child policy may lead to issues such as an increase in female foeticide and unsafe abortions. The government has been making efforts to sensitise people, but data indicates that this practice is still rampant. Currently, Karnataka stands eighth among states with the most gender imbalance.

Revenue ministerKrishna Byregowdarevealed that technical glitches in Kaveri 2. 0, the portal to register property documents, have been sorted out, ending months of disruption in registration of property documents in sub-registrar offices acrossKarnataka.

He also said once online registrations are streamlined in all 256 sub-registrar offices, the government will raise property guidance values. Revenue department officials say the government plans to increase guidance value by 15% to take advantage of the real estate markets expansion and boost revenues to pay for its poll guarantees.

Last year, the government had offered a rebate of 10% onguidance value to boost property transactions in a sluggish market in the aftermath of two pandemic years. ButByregowdasaid transactions are higher than last year although there is no rebate now. This year, revenue collection has gone up to Rs 3,425 crore.

The Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) is all set for a major shift. KSOU, the only state-run open university in Karnataka, is all set to foray into online Education.

It may be recalled that all major universities in the state, including University of Mysore (UoM), are now offering various courses online. These universities launched online courses after the stopped them from offering any courses in the distance education mode and awarded exclusive right to KSOU.

As many as 60,000 people aged above 80 and 15,000-20,000 specially abled people have chosen the vote-from-Home option across the state.
The ECI had announced the option for the first time in Karnataka. “We are still working on the final number of voters after individual assessment. The returning officers will verify applications and decide on providing the facility. The list will be shared with parties in advance,” said, ChiefElectoral Officer, Karnataka.

As on March 2023, Karnataka had on its electoral rolls 12.2 lakh people in the age group of 80-99 and 5.6 lakh people with disabilities. There were over 16,000 centenarian voters. Voters’ response to the initiative was lukewarm, with less than 5% of the targeted Population availing it.

Commercial activities remained strong in Karnataka in March, when Covid-19 cases began to climb. The state collected commercial tax of Rs 10,900 crore in the month, an all-time high.

The GST collection was Rs 9,200 crore and sales tax mopup from petrol and diesel sales was Rs 1,700 crore, according to the data of the department of commercial taxes. Traders were allowed to submit March returns till April 20 as per the standard practice.

Apart from the states share, the overall goods and Services tax also includes the components of central GST (Rs 2,187 crore in March), integrated GST (Rs 3,400 crore) and a cess (about Rs 900 crore). Integrated GST goes to states where goods from Karnataka are transported.

Karnataka State Safai Karmachari Commissionchairperson MShivanna said that a statewide survey on pourakarmikas who are socially, financially and educationally backward and who are deprived of minimum wages and basic facilities will commence in February.

Shivanna told reporters that the survey will be conducted to identify those working in gram panchayats and BBMP in order to bring them to mainstream of Society. National Law School, which has already conducted the economic and social conditions of pourakarmikas, will conduct the survey. It will be completed in three months, he said.