KARNATAKA

IISc Bangalore device can help power streetlights

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Researchers at the department of instrumentation and applied physics (IAP), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), have designed a novel ultra-micro supercapacitor – a tiny device capable of storing an enormous amount of electric charge.

According to the institute, the new device is much smaller and more compact than existing supercapacitors and can potentially be used in many appliances ranging from streetlights to consumer electronics, electric cars and medical apparatus. “Most of these devices are currently powered by batteries. However, over time, these batteries lose their ability to store charge and therefore have a limited shelf life. Capacitors, on the other hand, can store electric charge for much longer, by virtue of their design.

In the current study, published in ACS Energy Letters, researchers fabricated their supercapacitor using field-effect transistors (FETs) as the charge collectors, instead of the metallic electrodes used in existing capacitors.

Hoteliers unite to seek GI tag for Savaji food

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SSK Savaji Hotels Owners Association (Hubballi) has been formed to popularise Savaji food across the country and also to get GI (geographical indication) tag for the traditional Savaji food, one of the delicious and popularnonvegcuisine ofnorth Karnataka. The association, a state-level body, has over 200 hoteliers as members now.

Savaji food is popular in north Karnataka districts, mainly Belagavi, Dharwad, Gadag,Bagalkotand Koppal. Looking at it popularity and taste, many big hotels have also included Savaji food in their menu.

Bengaluru tops in Covid-19 positivity rate among children

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The Covid-19 test positivity rate is at a high of 9.5% inchildrenaged 0-9 years in Bengaluru, more than thrice the states Average of 2.9%, according to an analysis by the state Health and family welfare department, reports Sunitha Rao R.

Shivamogga district stands second with 6.4% positivity rate among the children of this age group. At 5.5%, Bengaluru tops in the test positivity rate among children in the 9-19 age group, too.

According to the health department, of the total 9.7 lakh tests done from January 4 to 10, some 50,783 turned positive for Covid.

Among them, the test positivity rate was 2.9% among children from the age group 0-9 years and 2.4% in the age group of 9-19 years. In Udupi, 3.2% positivity rate has been observed in the age group 9-19, followed by Mandya at 3%.

Karnataka: 1.5 crore ration card holders to be covered by December

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The plans to issue 1.5 crore Ayushman BharatArogya Karnataka(ABArK) cards by December, taking scheme coverage of ration card holders both APL and APL to 50%.Karnatakahas 5.1 crore people with ration cards, and the Health department has already disbursed over one crore AB-ArK cards to eligible beneficiaries.

While health department officials said 1.5 crore beneficiaries will be added this year, health ministerK Sudhakarsaid over 1 crore AB-ArK cards will be distributed by December.

With an AB-ArK card, BPL beneficiaries will be assured of Rs five lakh per family on a family floater basis with 100% coverage. APL beneficiaries will get Rs 1.5 lakh per annum on a family floater basis with a 30% co-payment. At present, the health department is focusing on those with just ration cards.

Yediyurappa to form a committee to decide on all major projects undertaken by government

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Having overcome a round of dissidence within his government to establish that he will remain in his chairKarnatakachief ministerB S Yediyurappa(BSY), is working on measures to ensure such disruptions do not crop up again during his tenure and to improve the image of his government that has taken hit with the recent dissident activities.

A cabinet reshuffle is also being planned, in coordination with the central party Leadership, even though the exercise may come up only after a month or more, once the governments priority to deal with the pandemic situation in the state is taken care of.

Only 24% cybercrime cases in Karnataka solved since 2019

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Of the 32,286 cybercrime cases registered by Karnataka Police since 2019, only 7,835 cases or 24% have been solved so far.

Data presented in the legislative council by Home minister Araga Jnanendra on Thursday showed the state managed convictions in only 70 cases and only about 75 of the accused were convicted. The highest number of cases were reported from Bengaluru. The capital recorded 10,553 cases in 2019, 8,892 in 2020, 6,423 in 2021 and 1,372 so far this year. Responding to a query by BJP MLC Suneel Valyapure, Jnanendra said the government launched cybercrime police stations in 2017 precisely to prevent such crimes.

Karnataka: 35-50% learning loss in kids of classes 1-3 due to pandemic

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A baseline study conducted by the Education department has shown that around 40%-50% of children in classes 1-3 have not attained age-appropriate competencies in numeracy and 35%-40% in Literacy owing to 18 months of pandemic-induced school closure.

The next academic year, 2022-23, inKarnatakawill be declared as a Learning recovery year with complete focus on bridging this gap.

As per the study, 40% of children have not achieved competency in literacy skills in class 1, 36% in grade 2 and 35% in class 3. Around 22% have partially attained it in these grades. In numeracy, 49% have not acquired the skills in class 1, 48% in class 2 and 41% in class 3.

Karnataka: Panel to decide on profit share for sugarcane farmers

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In a step to fulfil a long pending demand of sugarcane growers, the state on Thursday set up a committee of technical experts who will work out a formula to share profits mills make from sugarcane byproducts with farmers.

The decision was taken at a meeting of mill owners and farmers chaired by sugar ministerShankar Patil Munenakopp. The committee headed by the sugar commissioner has been asked to submit its report in five days.

The panel will ascertain revenue generated from byproducts like ethanol and biogas and decide on a share for farmers. It will be paid every year. It will be over and above the fixed by the Centre. The government has taken a proactive step, but the committee must submit its report in five days or else we will resume our agitation, saidKuruburu Shanthakumar, president,Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers Association.

Farmers have been on a day-night strike for the past week, demanding Rs 3,500 per quintal of cane as opposed to theFRPof Rs 3,050 announced by the Centre. The minister said that the government has decided to set up a call centre to address issues of sugarcane growers.

Onake Obavva Jayanti Observed By Karnataka

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From the year 2021, the Karnataka government has celebrated ‘Onake Obavva Jayanti’ on 11 November.

Highlights:

Kannada and Culture Department proposed that Onake Obavva’s birth anniversary be commemorated.

In the 18th century, Onake Obavva was a woman-soldier who fought against Hyder Ali’s army in Chitradurga.

The events will be funded by the state.

Onake Obavva was a courageous woman who fought Hyder Ali’s men with a pestle on her own.

She fought in the Karnataka kingdom of Chitradurga. Her husband worked as a watchtower guard in the Chitradurga fort.

In Karnataka, she is honored with Abbakka Rani, Kittur Chennamma, and Keladi Chennamma. She was a member of the Holayas (Chalavadi) tribe.

While protecting the fort of Chitradurga, Obavva was killed by warriors of Tipu Sultan’s father (Hyder). She fought with her ‘Onake,’ earning her the nickname ‘Onake Obavva.’

Karnataka banks on tech to plan MNREGA projects

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To ensure transparency and adopt a scientific approach to projects under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural EMPLOYMENT Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), the government has been using technology to avoid overlapping and unscientific projects.

While the Centre has decreed that 65% of annual MGNREGA work should be dedicated to water and conservation, theRDPRdepartment has made it mandatory for MGNREGA projects for the fiscal 2023-24 to be approved by a state core team.

This team will plan works based on data and approve those suited to a particular region. BesidesKarnatakas geographic information system and Geo MGNREGA for table-top planning, the NREGA commissionerate is using Composite Landscape Assessment & Restoration Tool, a mobile application developed byFoundation for Ecological Security(FES), a not-for-profit organization, for ground proofing.