The New Indian Express News

BENGALURU: Bengaluru, popular for its beer and wine culture, will soon lose its appeal to tourists seeking to enroll themselves in the wine making and pairing training course, as the state government has stopped offering the course. According to sources in Karnataka Grape and Wine Board, the state government had stopped the funding for the Wine Education Appreciation and Tasting Course (WEAT) for the past two years. The course was introduced by the state government in 2014, offering free classes

BENGALURU: Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) is aiming to mop up around Rs 2,000 crore through premium FAR (Floor Area Ratio) route. It has urged the public, landowners and developers to make use of the opportunity and called upon them to prepare building plans including the the proposed premium FAR and submit them for approvals. A move aimed to facilitate higher-density developments and optimal utilisation of high-value land within Bengaluru city limits, premium FAR is the additional built-up a

BELAGAVI: Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao on Tuesday inspected different areas in Kasturinagar, falling under Bengaluru Central and East City Corporations limits, and directed officials to prepare a detailed master plan covering overall infrastructure development, including roads, footpaths and parks. Taking note of unhygienic conditions at the waste transfer unit and the dry waste collection centre located under the flyover, Rao instructed officials to carry o

BENGALURU: India is witnessing very serious reversals in civil and political rights, former Amnesty International secretary-general and activist Salil Shetty said. He was speaking at a public dialogue on human rights held here on Tuesday, where speakers, including Law Commission of Karnataka Chairman Justice Ashok B Hinchigeri, pointed out widening socioeconomic inequalities and weakening accountability across state institutions. The event was organised by the Universal School of Law on the topi

BENGALURU: Bengaluru Urban was ranked second compared to other Indian metropolis in the installation of rooftop solar panels and the number of household benefiting from it, according to a report from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). But the state government officials say that Karnataka lags behind the target set by the central government for the installation of solar rooftop panels under the Pradhan Mantri-Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana scheme. The ministry in its response to Banga

BELAGAVI: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday said that the state government intends to establish five more integrated solid waste management (SWM) plants in and around Bengaluru to process around 8,000 tonnes of waste. He was replying to MLA Dheeraj Muniraju during QuestionHour in the Assembly. Shivakumar, who is also Bengaluru Development Minister, said the SWM plants will generate biogas from waste. Muniraju opposed the move to establish an integrated SWM plant at Gundalahalli vill

BENGALURU: A 25-year-old biker is undergoing treatment in a private hospital after a murder attempt was made on him by a truck driver in a road rage incident. The victim, identified as H Harish, a resident of Ramasagara in Anekal, was rushed to the hospital by the police and passersby in an ambulance after he was knocked down. The accused has been identified as Devaraju, a resident of Chandapura. The incident haproad rage. Fearing that he would hit me, I slowed down at a road hump near Nallappa

BENGALURU: As many as 715 people, including 203 pedestrians, have died in road accidents in Bengaluru in the last ten months, Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara informed the Assembly during the winter session at Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi. Responding to Rajajinagar BJP MLA Suresh, who sought details on the number of accidents in the city, the number of fatalities and the measures being taken to ensure pedestrian safety, Parameshwara said 3,985 accidents were reported till October this year, compare

BENGALURU: The Karnataka State Police Complaints Authority (KSPCA) has written to Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG & IGP) M A Saleem, urging him to direct his officers and staff to stop harassing, assaulting, or using abusive language against vehicle drivers during routine checks. In the letter sent on Monday, KSPCA member Mohan Kumar Danappa said while the state police department is regarded as a disciplined force, repeated incidents of misconduct by certain officers and per

HASSAN: A youngster, under the influence of ganja, clobbered his friend to death with a stone on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru National Highway on Tuesday afternoon, even as passersby and local residents watched in horror. After a fight over a silly issue, Keerthi (24) of Huvinahalli Kaval village was murdered by his friend Ullas of Dodda Kanagal village in Alur taluk. What made the crime freakier was the fact that Ullas made a video of the scene of crime and uploaded it on social media, which went vi

BENGALURU: Close to 65 tmcft of storage capacity in major reservoirs has been lost to siltation. This means that every year, 65 tmcft of water that could have been stored, is wasted across reservoirs in the Cauvery and Krishna basins. This quantity of water is nearly three times Bengalurus annual water requirement of over 22tmcft. Karnataka has 14 major reservoirs, including KR Sagar, Malaprabha, Bhadra, Harangi, Kabini, Almatti, Tungabhadra, Hemavathy and others. In an unstarred question by Con

BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday criticised the Union government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that Public Sector Banks (PSBs) have written off Rs 6.15 lakh crore in loans over the past five years. Expressing displeasure in a post on his X account, Siddaramaiah cited data from the Union Finance ministry, saying PSBs have written off Rs 6,15,647 crore, which comes to an average of Rs 1,23,129 crore per year. This amount is more than double the annual cost of Karnatak

BENGALURU: The Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has won the Geospatial Excellence Award for Water Management for its GIS-based utility asset management platform, Jalapatha, at the GeoSmart India-2025 conference held in New Delhi. The award, presented during the conferences closing plenary session, was received by BWSSB Chairman Ram Prasath Manohar. Speaking after the event, Manohar said the recognition reflects BWSSBs commitment to scientific, technology-led water governance for

BENGALURU: The Karnataka government has declared 1,777 acres of land in Devanahalli taluk as a Permanent Special Agricultural Zone (PSAZ) and farmers need not be misled by rumours. They have the freedom to sell their land and there are no restrictions, said S Selvakumar, Principal Secretary, Department of Industries. A press release said the government has declared 1,777 acres across 13 villages in Channarayapatna hobli, Devanahalli taluk, as a PSAZ. He was reacting to reports in certain quarter

BENGALURU: More than half of young Indians surveyed believe that Artificial Intelligence knows everything and can be trusted like a parent or teacher, highlighting the growing risks of misinformation and hidden bias in AI systems. A survey of 2,500 ITI and secondary school students revealed that 52.24 per cent of girls and 53.37 per cent of boys viewed generative AI chatbots as all-knowing entities, while 55.6 per cent of girls and 47.5 per cent of boys believed chatbots always give correct answ

For Shreyanka Patil, pressure has become a familiar companion rather than a burden. The off-spinner, who emerged as Royal Challengers Bengalurus (RCB) leading wicket-taker and Purple Cap winner during their Womens Premier League (WPL) title run in 2024, approaches high-stakes moments with calm, shaped by preparation. Before I bowl, especially when I feel Im under pressure, I take a moment, breathe and smile. When you smile, your nerves ease down, says Patil, her composure evident even as she spe

BENGALURU: Animal rights activists and concerned citizens have pointed out deep flaws in the implementation of the Supreme Court ruling on removal of stray dogs from public premises. At a press conference on Monday, they flagged the manner in which the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has been implementing the SC order, saying it disregards the wellbeing of the dogs as well as the general public. According to the group, the GBA has been picking up dogs across the city and placing them in tempor

BENGALURU: Farmers and site owners affected by the Bengaluru Business Corridor (BBC) project have urged Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO) to withhold funding to the project, warning the project faces major legal, financial, and operational risks. In a letter dated December 8, the PRR Raitha Haagu Niveshanadharara Sangha (PRR farmer and site owners association) said the land acquisition scheme has lapsed, compensation is based on suppressed values, and excess land is being

BENGALURU: The Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd is all set to resume work on widening the Uttarahalli Main Road, popularly known as Dr Vishnuvardhan Road, and make it a signal-free corridor. The stretch falls under the Bengaluru West City Corporation limits of Greater Bengaluru Authority. Once the asphalting of the 3.4-km stretch is completed, traffic on Kengeri, Mylasandra, Kanakapura Road and Mysuru Road will ease significantly. The stretch will provide seamless travel for motorists heading

BENGALURU: A debt-ridden woman allegedly administered poison to her 14-year-old son before consuming it at their rented house near Tavarekere in Suddaguntepalya police limits on Monday morning. Seeing them writhing in pain, the womans 60-year-old mother is suspected to have suffered a fatal heart attack. The deceased have been identified as Sudha, 38, a domestic help, her son Mounish, a Class 7 student, and her mother Mahadevamma. Sudha separated from her husband a few years ago and lived with h

BENGALURU: A 22-year-old MSc student ended her life by hanging at her residence in Vibuthikere village in Ramanagara taluk, Bengaluru South district on Sunday night. She left behind a death note alleging cheating and blackmail by her boyfriend. The deceased has been identified as Varshini, a resident of Vibuthikere village, a first-year student of MSc Biotechnology at a private college in Mysuru. She had lost her father a few years ago. According to the police, around 11 pm on Sunday, Varshinis

BENGALURU: Noting that promotioncannot be withheld on mere contemplation of disciplinary action yet to crystalise into a charge sheet against an employee as on the date of assessment for promotion, the Karnataka High Court directed the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) to promote Assistant Accounts Officer Maruthi Rao to the post of Accounts Officer with effect from April 2018 and give all consequential benefits. A charge sheet surfacing years after the Departmental Promot

BENGALURU: A 24-year-old food and courier delivery agent from Malleswaram was arrested for sexually harassing women under the pretext of providing them work-from-home jobs. The accused was identified as Shiva Shankar. The accused was approaching victims after finding their details on a mobile application which helps users to make new friends. He was collecting their personal information and also their photographs claiming to use them for job purposes. After morphing their images into sexually ex

BENGALURU: The state government has ordered all universities and colleges to designate an area on their campuses to feed stray dogs and to stop feeding them near hostels or canteens. The department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries has also directed the educational institutions to install signage indicating the designated place to feed the canines. The order comes as the Bangalore University is struggling to handle the increasing number of stray dogs on its Jnanabharathi campus. Bangalore Univer

When social media came onto the world stage, it was met with excitement at the possibility that technology could connect people across the globe. Decades later, as we start to see the wear that constant connectivity has on mental well-being, especially the harm cyberbullying, exposure to predatory behaviour and the addictiveness of social media causes to young minds, hope has given way to worry and caution. In an unprecedented and likely trend-setting move, Australia took decisive action of bann

BENGALURU: Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara on Sunday condemned individuals who promote or support narcotics, stating that they destroy peoples lives, future and health. Those who promote or support narcotics are not human beings, he said. Emphasising the governments stance against drug abuse, he reaffirmed Karnatakas commitment to becoming a drug-free state. He was speaking at a vintage car rally organised to support the states war against drug abuse and peddling at Vidhana Soudha. The Bengaluru

BENGALURU: The Vidhana Soudha police have registered a theft case against a head constable for allegedly stealing Rs 11 lakh from a seized car parked on the premises of the City Police Commissioners Office recently. The head constable, Zabiullah Gudiyal (48), was attached to the Cyber Crime Police Station (CCPS) located within the Commissioner of Police (COP) premises. He has also been suspended. According to the FIR, a reserve sub-inspector, along with three head constables, including Gudiyal,

BENGALURU: Congress MLC Dinesh Gooligowda has warned that the Bengalurus air quality is deteriorating rapidly and that if measures are not taken, the city will become another New Delhi. In a letter addressed to Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar dated December 6, he urged that steps be taken to curb air pollution. Acting immediately on Gooligowdas letter, the DCM directed the chief secretary to set up an expert committee to submit a report on air pollution. In his letter, Gooligowda, who is al

As we near the end of the year, I am confused about how I should feel. I know that I struggled through the year as I battled my personal demons and health issues. But as I look back, I see myself being counselled as well as playing the role of a counsellor for many of my friends. I remember a couple of years ago, on one of my trips overseas, I had the opportunity to listen to a standup comic who joked about how men and women behave so differently when in trouble. He said that as women, we form p

As Vir Das enters the Bangalore Literature Festival (BLF) stage with the kind of disarming candour he is known for and breaks the ice instantly, it dissolves the line between a performer and the audience. He jokes about everything, yet keeps it intense and subtle at the same time and looks around the crowd, half-amused, half-awed, as if he has entered a room he isnt sure he deserves to be in, a theme that runs through his new memoir, The Outsider: A Memoir for Misfits . Its my first literature f

BENGALURU: In a compelling panel discussion titled Should a country speak a single language?, Indian literary critic GN Devy and writertranslator Deepa Bhasthi, in conversation with moderator Samanth Subramanian, argued that multilingualism is not just Indias reality but one of its greatest strengths. Drawing on personal experiences, the speakers highlighted the richness of Indias linguistic landscape. One panellist described growing up speaking Kannada, Kodava and Tulu, and later learning Hindi

BENGALURU: Around 100 people gathered at Freedom Park on Saturday to remember Atul Subash, a software engineer and artificial intelligence professional who died by suicide on December 9, 2024, at his apartment in Marathahalli. Atul had reportedly left a 24-page death note and an 81-minute video in which he mentioned his troubled married life and ongoing divorce proceedings. The event was organised by the Save Indian Family Foundation (SIFF). People from across the country came for the event. Man

BENGALURU: DG&IGP Dr MA Saleem has issued a memo to all unit heads across Karnataka, directing them to take effective steps to curb corrupt practices among police personnel and restore the integrity of the force. The memo was sent after Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara visited his office on Friday and warned that police personnel involved in corruption would be dismissed. Saleem said it was deeply concerning that the names of some police personnel have recently surfaced in cases of robbery, theft

BENGALURU: Economic pressures, social expectations, and patriarchal norms are profoundly shaping the emotional lives of boys and men in India, leaving many struggling with fear, responsibility, and the weight of family expectations. These issues were at the core of the panel discussion What Do Men Fear? Peeping into the Male Mind, held at Bangalore Literature Festival on Saturday. Speakers Dilip Pattubala, co-founder of the Centre for Men and Boys, South Asia; Kartikeyan V, psychoanalytic and or

BENGALURU: The Karnataka government has issued detailed instructions to strengthen the Medical Certification of Cause of Death (MCCD) system across the state, following an ICMR study and review meetings held on April 21 and October 18, 2025. Reliable cause-specific mortality data is essential for policymakers, but currently, only 26.73% of registered deaths in Karnataka have a medically certified cause. The new guidelines follow the Karnataka Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Rules,

BENGALURU: Additional Chief Secretary for Urban Development, Tushar Girinath, informed that with grants from both the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and the state government worth Rs 4,800 crore, Bengaluru roads will be developed. By May, 928 km of roads will be blacktopped. He also said BDA will execute the work on the short underpass from Hebbal worth over Rs 2,000 crore. He clarified that the underpass will only run parallel to the proposed Tunnel Road. Girinath, was speaking at a press me

BENGALURU: At the Bengaluru Literature Festival, writer and MP Sudha Murty offered an intimate look into her writing process, creative evolution and the life philosophy that underpins her latest book The Circle of Life. In conversation with writer Vani Mahesh, Murty reflected about how her understanding of human nature and long-term friendships shaped her latest work here on Saturday. Murty speaks about the deep understanding of human nature in her writings and what inspired her to revisit an ol

BENGALURU: A jail warder at the Bengaluru Central Prison in Parappana Agrahara was arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle cigarettes and a prohibited narcotic substance to inmates. The warder, identified as Rahul Pati, was caught red-handed by personnel of the Karnataka State Industrial Security Force (KSISF) near the main gate of the prison on Friday around 6.50 pm. During the inspection, KSISF staff reportedly found two packets of cigarettes and about 60 grams of a narcotic substance on

BENGALURU: Manhar Bansal, a final-year BA LLB (Hons) student from the Bengaluru-based National Law School of India University (NLSIU), is among the six Rhodes Scholar-elect from India for 2026. With this, Bansal has joined the hallowed ranks in NLSIU with 25 other scholars who received the prestigious academic honours in previous years. Bansal will head to the University of Oxford in October 2026 to join more than 100 scholars from around the world to undertakefully funded post-graduate studies.

BENGALURU: Bengaluru is set to host the much-awaited Bangalore Literature Festival, inviting book lovers, writers, and literary enthusiasts to celebrate reading and writing under the winter sun. The 14th edition of the festival would be held in Freedom Park, aims to bring together authors from Karnataka, across India, and around the world, creating a platform where diverse literary voices can meet and converse. This time the fest is being held in Freedom Park to make it more accessible to people

BENGALURU: Minister for IT/BT and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Priyank M Kharge, along with senior government officials including Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) Chief Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao, met CXO representatives of leading companies operating along the Outer Ring Road (ORR) corridor at a Town Hall organised by the Outer Ring Road Companies Association (ORRCA) in Bengaluru on Friday. During the interaction, industry leaders flagged key issues such as last-mile connectivity to

BENGALURU: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday directed contractors to complete the Blue Line Metro corridor within the revised deadlines, warning that firms failing to meet timelines would not be considered for future government projects. Shivakumar issued the instructions after inspecting ongoing construction at Kodigehalli, a key stretch of the 58-km line connecting Silk Board to Kempegowda International Airport. The government aims to complete the KR Puram to Silk Board section by

BENGALURU: Thousands of passengers were stranded at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Friday as Terminal 1, known for its iconic design, descended into chaos, overcrowding and exhaustion, resembling a refugee camp. As 292 IndiGo flights were cancelled and abrupt disruptions continued for the fourth day on Friday, there was little clarity and passengers frustration only grew. Arguments broke out between passengers, airline staff and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel.

BENGALURU: St Johns Medical College Hospital marked its 50th anniversary on Friday with a Golden Jubilee event held at St Johns National Academy of Health Sciences Auditorium. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy spoke about the institutions early development, noting that land for the hospital was acquired when the surrounding areas were still farmlands. He referred to the role of Christian missionary groups in setting up educational and health institutions. He remarked on St Johns policy of not r

BENGALURU: A city-based advocate and a former convener of Bajrang Dal have filed police complaints seeking an FIR against Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khans son Aryan Khan for obscene gesture, public indecency, insulting modesty of women and disturbing public order. Advocate S Owaiz Hussain of Sankey Road and Tejas A Gowda of Jayanagar 1st Block have filed the complaints. In his complaint, Hussain stated that he is filing the complaint on behalf of the general public seeking immediate registration

BENGALURU: A 38-year-old engineer died by suicide after jumping on to the tracks at the Kengeri Metro Station of the Purple Line around 8.15 am on Friday. Metro services were immediately suspended and resumed only at 9.40 am, disrupting the commute of a large number of IT employees. The victim was identified as Shantagoud Police Patil, residing in an apartment in Doddabele. He was a native of Devara Hippargi in Vijayapura district. The victims wife, Preethi, identified her husbands body at the R

BENGALURU: Policemen involved in corrupt practices will not only be suspended but also dismissed from service, after their involvement is verified, warned Home Minister G Parameshwara, here on Friday. He was addressing the media at the state police headquarters on Nrupathunga Road after flagging off three Hygiene on Go mobile sanitation vehicles for Bengaluru Traffic Police. On nearly 130 policemen being suspended in Bengaluru, he said the only way to stop corrupt practices is either through sus

While its easy to fall into nihilism about the environmental crisis, as corporations and governments bigger and more powerful than us go back and forth on environmental action, individuals and communities across the world are deciding that enough is enough and taking charge of their environment. It is this spirit of resilience that All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF) is set to showcase with over 86 films from 39 countries to be screened across Indian cities, kicking off with

Nothing Like Lear , a solo clown piece by actor-director Rajat Kapoor, strips William Shakespeares tragedy down to its emotional core. The play, first staged in 2012 and starring actor Vinay Pathak, has quietly built a long life of its own, travelling across cities, without losing its intimacy. As the duo gear up for their next show in the city, Kapoor speaks to CE on approaching King Lear through vulnerability and using the language of clowning to excavate themes of power, ageing, madness and f

BENGALURU: The Center for Digital Public Goods (CDPG), IIM Bangalores knowledge and research hub on digital public goods (DPGs), and Protean eGov Technologies Ltd released a report titled State of Digital Public Infrastructure in India on Thursday. Addressing the audience, Professor R. Srinivasan, Chairperson of CDPG, IIM Bangalore, said, Through this report, we highlight how the same foundational rails that support identity and payments are now quietly reshaping the financial and healthcare lan