KARNATAKA

The Karnataka government has launched a multi-pronged approach to combat child marriage, including a ₹50,000 reward for gram panchayats that eliminate or significantly reduce child marriage cases. This initiative, coupled with the appointment of 59,000 Child Marriage Prohibition Officers and collaboration with seven government departments and NGOs, aims to address the issue at the grassroots level. Despite these efforts, child marriage persists due to factors like poverty, superstition, economic challenges, migration, and lack of legal awareness. While the government has successfully prevented numerous child marriages, data reveals a significant number of cases still occur, particularly in districts like Mysuru, Chitradurga, and Shivamogga. The government remains committed to eradicating this social evil, but challenges like poor inter-departmental coordination and deep-rooted societal factors continue to hinder progress.

The Karnataka Board of Waqfs has declared 17 monuments within the historic Bidar Fort as its property, including the renowned 16-pillar mosque and tombs of Bahmani rulers. This claim, however, has been met with skepticism from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which has been the custodian of the fort for decades. The controversy comes amidst ongoing disputes in Vijayapura district, where farmers allege that their lands have been wrongly marked as Waqf properties. The Waqf Board has withdrawn notices issued to individuals in Vijayapura, citing the need for a fair and legal process. Meanwhile, the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 will visit Hubballi and Vijayapura to hear from farmers affected by the Waqf Board’s actions. The controversy has sparked concerns about the potential for land grabbing and the need for a transparent and equitable approach to resolving land disputes.

1. Oscar Qualification: The Kannada short film Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know, directed by Chidananda S Naik, has qualified for the 2025 Oscars in the Live Action Short Film category.
2. Award-Winning Journey: The film, initially created as a project at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), has already garnered international acclaim by winning the La Cinef award for Best Short at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024.
3. Bengaluru Festival Success: Its selection for the Oscars follows a victory at the Bengaluru International Short Film Festival, further boosting the film’s recognition on the global stage.
4. Folkloric Inspiration: Rooted in Kannada folklore, the film tells a unique story of an elderly woman who steals the village rooster, leading the villagers on a quest to recover it and “restore the sun’s light.”
5. Talented Crew: Suraj Thakur served as the cinematographer, Manoj V as the editor, and Abhishek Kadam handled sound design, contributing to the film’s impactful storytelling and production quality.
6. Celebration of Regional Cinema: The FTII and the Kannada film industry celebrate this milestone, highlighting the growing influence of regional Indian cinema on the global stage.

Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know stands as a testament to the power of regional stories in connecting with universal themes, capturing the spirit of Kannada folklore in an international spotlight.

• Mysuru maintained a “satisfactory” Air Quality Index (AQI) throughout the Deepavali festival. The average AQI of 68 recorded across the three days indicates improved air quality compared to previous years.

• Green crackers and public awareness contributed to reduced pollution. The use of green crackers, which emit fewer pollutants, played a key role in maintaining lower AQI and noise levels.

• Continuous monitoring showed a decrease in AQI compared to last year. This year’s average AQI of 68 was lower than the previous year’s average of 81, indicating a positive trend.

• Noise levels also remained within bearable limits. Although slightly exceeding the prescribed residential noise level, the average noise level during the festival was 67.7 dB.

• Authorities actively promoted the use of green crackers. By encouraging vendors to sell only certified green crackers and restricting high-decibel fireworks, authorities helped curb pollution levels.

• Comprehensive monitoring of various pollutants was conducted. The KSPCB tracked particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, heavy metals, and noise levels to ensure public safety.

• Mysuru and Chamarajanagar had “satisfactory” air quality, while Kodagu (Madikeri) had “good” air quality. This data highlights the varying levels of air quality across different regions.

1. Historical Stigma and Transformation: Once stigmatized and associated with “untouchable” communities, the Parai drum has evolved into a powerful symbol of identity and pride, particularly within the Dalit community in South India.
2. Instrument of Protest and Celebration: The Parai now resonates with themes of social equality and resistance, blending traditional storytelling and folk songs with modern musical influences, creating a unique cultural expression.
3. Adavi Arts Collective’s New Performance: Adavi Arts Collective, a Bengaluru-based troupe dedicated to breaking barriers, presents “Parai Aattam: Our Celebration, Our Protest” on November 7, 2024, at Bangalore International Centre, showcasing the drum’s historical significance and current role.
4. A Historical and Cultural Journey: Through the performance, Adavi’s founder Naren narrates the Parai’s journey—from ancient origins and folktales to the struggles of the 1980s, where artists protested oppression by burning their drums.
5. Symbol of Equality: Parai performances emphasize that this drum belongs to everyone, bridging the divide between performers and audience, and standing as a testament to unity and shared heritage.
6. Art for Social Change: Adavi Collective envisions a society transcending caste and other divisions, fostering equality through traditional folk arts, and aiming to keep the Parai’s message of resilience alive for future generations.

With free entry at BIC, the performance invites everyone to experience the Parai as a medium of art, protest, and community celebration.

• Science Hack Day 2024 will be held in Belagavi, India from November 8-10th. The event, hosted at Sankalpa Bhumi, is open to science enthusiasts, engineers, hackers, IT professionals, and more.

• The theme for this year’s event is “DNA and gene editing, the future of medicine, biology and beyond.” Attendees will explore the exciting possibilities and ethical considerations surrounding this cutting-edge technology.

• The event will feature a variety of interactive activities, including workshops, live demos, documentaries, and discussions with scientists. Participants can engage in hands-on experiences like DNA extraction, microscopy, 3D printing, and soldering.

• There will be dedicated workshops for students of different age groups. Younger students can explore DIY science toys and electronics, while older students can learn Python, visual coding, and microcontroller programming.

• Fun competitions and social activities are also planned. Attendees can participate in a paper plane contest, boat racing, a science treasure hunt, and a spaghetti bridge challenge. Evening activities include fireside chats and stargazing.

• Science Hack Day is an annual global event. Belagavi has a strong history of hosting this event, with this year marking its sixth time in the city.

1. Massive Participation: The 15th edition of Aero India, Asia’s largest air show, will be held at Yelahanka Air Force Station from February 10 to 14, 2025, with more than 240 exhibitors already registered.
2. Business and Public Days: The event will cater to industry professionals for the first three days (February 10-12), while February 13 and 14 will be open to the public, allowing broader engagement.
3. Venue and Booking Updates: Provisional bookings are live for Hall A and Hall B, with bookings for Hall C and Hall F scheduled to open on November 8.
4. Record-Breaking 2023 Edition: The previous Aero India in 2023 saw participation from over 100 countries, with 809 exhibitors and an impressive footfall of seven lakh visitors. Deals worth more than ₹75,000 crore were finalized.
5. Global Meeting Point: Described as a premier platform for global aerospace leaders, Aero India 2025 aims to promote innovation, collaboration, and knowledge exchange across the aerospace industry.
6. Boosting Defence Production: The event underscores India’s growing role in global defence production and the aerospace sector, as highlighted by the Department of Defence Production.

Aero India 2025 promises to be a critical event in aerospace, setting the stage for significant industry advancements and international partnerships.

More than 31,000 farmers are still awaiting the benefits of the ‘s farm loan waiver scheme.

The highest number of such farmers are in Belagavi (3,676), followed by Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Tumakuru and Mandya.

These five districts together account for around 45% of all such farmers.On the other hand, the government said more than 17 lakh farmers have benefited from the scheme that has so far cost the exchequer nearly Rs 8,000 crore.Data from the state co-operation department shows that overall, the government had identified more than 17.4 lakh farmers across districts who were together scheduled to get loan waivers to the tune of Rs 8,155 crore.

Of these, more than 17 lakh farmers’ loans worth Rs 7,987.5 crore have already been waived

The has formed a panel headed byR Balasubramaniam, the founder ofSwami Vivekananda Youth Movement, which will lay out a policy for the youth ofKarnatakaafter getting their feedback on 43 questions, many of which are related to Covid-19.

The Department of Collegiate Education (DCE) through a circular dated January 1, 2022, has asked college principals to ensure that students participate in the survey in which youth up to the age of 29 can participate.

Girish N Gowda, a para Olympian, said: The new policy should give more Stress towards building a healthy Society and enable the youth to be independent. It should cover all critical areas of Human Development, including physical and mental Health, quality education, Sports, etc. It should be implemented in a timebound manner.

In 2020-21, the tribals recorded a turnover of Rs 1.56 crore by selling over 75 tonnes of coffee and pepper. Moved by their success, Chamarajanagar DC M R Ravi has announced land to set up these units to encourage the products.

There is a huge demand for organically coffee and black pepper grown in this region at national and international markets, and the produce is sold through the Coffee Board and Tribal https://exam.pscnotes.com/cooperative-Marketing“>Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED). TRIFED is a national-level cooperative body under the administrative control of ministry of tribal affairs (GoI). They also sell honey, bamboo products and other minor forest products through these organisations.

Over 650 Soliga tribals from region, who own land measuring a few cents to 2-3acre, have been cultivating coffee and black pepper since 2015. They had been selling their products after forming their own body Bilirangana Hills Soliga Farmers Producers Association.