SM Krishna

Topic : Person in new ( Prelims)

Context: SM Krishna, Former Karnataka Chief Minister Breathes His Last At 92

About SM Krishna: 

• Born in Somanahalli in Karnataka’s Mandya district on May 1, 1932, Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna started his career in electoral politics in 1962 by winning the Maddur assembly seat as an independent.
• He was then associated with the Praja Socialist Party before joining the Congress.
• He later joined the BJP in March 2017, ending his nearly 50-year-long association with the Congress.
• Krishna  last year announced that he was retiring from active politics, citing his age as the reason.
• He was the 10th Chief Minister of Karnataka from October 11, 1999, to May 28, 2004.
• He also served as the Governor of Maharashtra and was the External Affairs Minister during the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government from 2009 to 2012.
• A law graduate, Krishna studied in the US graduating from the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and The George Washington University Law School in Washington DC, where he was a Fulbright Scholar.
• Krishna served as the Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from December 1989 to January 1993. 
• He was also a member of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha several times between 1971 and 2014.
• Krishna was a member of both the Karnataka Assembly and Council and also served as Deputy Chief Minister (1993 to 1994).
• He was Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president ahead of the 1999 assembly polls in which the party won and he became the chief minister.
• Krishna is credited by many for putting Bengaluru on the global map as a fillip given to the IT sector during his tenure resulting in the city growing as India’s Silicon Valley’.
• In 2023, Krishna was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award of India.

SHORTS: 

• SM Krishna, Former Karnataka Chief Minister Breathes His Last At 92.
• Born in Somanahalli in Karnataka’s Mandya district on May 1, 1932, Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna started his career in electoral politics in 1962 by winning the Maddur assembly seat as an independent.

• He was the 10th Chief Minister of Karnataka from October 11, 1999, to May 28, 2004.
• He also served as the Governor of Maharashtra and was the External Affairs Minister during the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government from 2009 to 2012.
• Krishna served as the Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from December 1989 to January 1993. 
• He was also a member of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha several times between 1971 and 2014.

December 11, 2024 Category: Current Affairs Day Wise

Release of financial assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to the state

Topic : Geography ( GS-2)

Context: The Supreme Court  said the Centre and the Karnataka government should resolve the issue of release of financial assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to the state for drought management.

Highlights : 

• Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the Centre, requested a bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan that he needed some time to file an affidavit in the matter.
• The counsel appearing for Karnataka said the state requested for Rs 18,171 crore and has been granted Rs 3,819 crore.

About National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): 

• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is India’s top body for disaster management. 
• The NDMA is responsible for developing, implementing, and enforcing disaster management plans and policies.
• The NDMA was established in 2006 under the Disaster Management Act of 2005.
• The Prime Minister of India heads the NDMA. 
• NDMA does : 

• Formulates plans and policies: The NDMA develops plans and policies for disaster management. 
• Coordinates enforcement: The NDMA coordinates the enforcement of disaster management plans and policies. 
• Recommends funding: The NDMA recommends how funds should be allocated for mitigation. 
• Identifies disaster risks: The NDMA identifies, assesses, and monitors disaster risks. 
• Develops forecasting systems: The NDMA develops forecasting and early warning systems. 

• The NDMA has five main divisions:

• Policy and Planning Division, Mitigation Division, Operations Division, Communication and Information Technology Division, and Administration and Finance Division. 

• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is the nodal ministry for managing natural disasters in India. 

SHORTS: 

• The Supreme Court  said the Centre and the Karnataka government should resolve the issue of release of financial assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to the state for drought management.

• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is India’s top body for disaster management. 
• The NDMA is responsible for developing, implementing, and enforcing disaster management plans and policies.
• The NDMA was established in 2006 under the Disaster Management Act of 2005.
• The Prime Minister of India heads the NDMA. 

December 11, 2024 Category: Current Affairs Day Wise

Integrated township at Bidadi

Topic : Economy ( GS-1 )

Context: Developers may be given land parcels on a 99-year lease for layout and property development at the proposed integrated township at Bidadi for which the government is examining a new approach to minimise financial burden.

Highlights : 

• For Bidadi, the plan is to build the integrated township in three phases. 

• In the first phase (800-1,000 acres), the government will start master development and land will be put in a special-purpose vehicle with equity stakes.
• The second phase (2,500-3,000 acres) will involve government oversight while land is transferred to developers on a 99-year lease to form layouts and properties.
• The last phase (4,000-5,000 acres) will be entirely private developer-led. The developer will be entrusted with full responsibility, including returning developed land to owners of pooled land.

About Integrated township: 

• An integrated township is a large, modern real estate project that combines residential and commercial spaces with infrastructure to create a self-sufficient community. 
• They are often located on the outskirts of cities and are designed to provide residents with everything they need in close proximity. 
• Some benefits of living in an integrated township include:

• Close proximity to amenities: Residents have access to shops, schools, hospitals, shopping centers, and parks
• Secured living: Townships can offer a secure living environment
• Better lifestyle: Residents can enjoy a better lifestyle with all services under one roof 

• Amanora Park Town was India’s first fully developed integrated township.

• It was also the first Smart City in the country, featuring smart access cards, sustainable electricity, and social infrastructure. 

• The Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) is developing three integrated townships on the outskirts of Bengaluru in Bidadi, Solur, and Nandagudi. 

SHORTS: 

• Developers may be given land parcels on a 99-year lease for layout and property development at the proposed integrated township at Bidadi for which the government is examining a new approach to minimise financial burden.

• An integrated township is a large, modern real estate project that combines residential and commercial spaces with infrastructure to create a self-sufficient community. 
• They are often located on the outskirts of cities and are designed to provide residents with everything they need in close proximity. 

December 11, 2024 Category: Current Affairs Day Wise

Global Innovation Alliance

Topic : Economy ( GS-1)

Context: The Karnataka government signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the New Jersey Department of State, US, marking a significant step towards enhancing global cooperation in technology, innovation, and economic development.

Highlights : 

• The agreement signed by Department of Electronics, IT, Bt, Government of Karnataka establishes a framework for collaboration between Bengaluru and New Brunswick, New Jersey.
• Agreement will focus on Twin City Collaboration for promoting exchanges between Bengaluru and New Brunswick in identified focus areas.
• In Startup Ecosystem Engagement, it will focus on developing programs to foster synergies between the startup ecosystems of both regions.
• As part of technological collaboration, it will focus on advancing cooperation in sectors such as life sciences, deep technologies (cybersecurity, AI), and electronics.
• This collaboration is aligned with Karnataka’s Global Innovation Alliances (GIA) initiative, which seeks to build international partnerships to promote knowledge-sharing and accelerate innovation across borders.

About Global Innovation Alliance: 

• The Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) is a Karnataka government initiative that encourages collaboration with other countries on technology and knowledge exchange.

• The GIA focuses on:

• Co-creation, co-innovation, and co-invention
• Technology sharing
• Skilling cooperation
• Trade promotion
• Startup support
• Academic collaboration 

• The GIA is part of the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS), which is Asia’s largest tech conclave.
•  At the BTS, each GIA partner country:

• Curates a session in the Global Collaboration Track
• Conducts B2B meetings
• Showcases their technological prowess in the GIA Exhibition Pavilion 

• The GIA has helped 40 startups enter international markets. 
• Other initiatives by the Karnataka government to promote innovation include: 

• Establishing three global innovation districts in Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Belagavi 
• The “Beyond Bengaluru” initiative, which brings technology to rural areas and improves e-education 
• The “Namma Grama Namma Raste” program for rural connectivity 
• Significant investments in physical and digital infrastructure 

SHORTS: 

• The Karnataka government signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the New Jersey Department of State, US, marking a significant step towards enhancing global cooperation in technology, innovation, and economic development.

• The agreement signed by Department of Electronics, IT, Bt, Government of Karnataka establishes a framework for collaboration between Bengaluru and New Brunswick, New Jersey.
• Agreement will focus on Twin City Collaboration for promoting exchanges between Bengaluru and New Brunswick in identified focus areas.

• The Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) is a Karnataka government initiative that encourages collaboration with other countries on technology and knowledge exchange.

December 11, 2024 Category: Current Affairs Day Wise

Belgavi border dispute

Topic :  History ( GS-1)

Context: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha MP Tejasvi Surya hit out at Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray over his demand to make Belgavi a union territory, saying that the district will always be a part of Karnataka.

History of the  Belgavi border Dispute: 

• The Karnataka-Maharashtra border dispute began during Independence and the reorganization of states on linguistic lines in 1956.
• Belagavi (then Belgaum) was part of the Bombay Presidency during Independence.
• The Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) was formed in 1948 to advocate for Belagavi’s inclusion in Maharashtra during state reorganization.
• Despite MES demands, Belagavi was integrated into Mysore State (now Karnataka) based on linguistic criteria.

Claims: 

• Pro-Marathi groups (MES):

• Claim Belagavi is predominantly Marathi-speaking, with around 45% of the population speaking Marathi.
• Argue the region should be part of Maharashtra.

• Pro-Kannada groups:

• Dispute the Marathi-speaking population figure, stating it is around 35%.
• Assert that Kannada-speaking people are equally represented in the region.

Mahajan Commission Report

• Formed in October 1966 under Chief Justice Mehr Chand Mahajan to resolve the Karnataka-Maharashtra border dispute.
• Recommendations:

• 264 villages be transferred to Maharashtra.
• Belagavi city and 247 villages remain with Karnataka.
• Proposed an exchange of certain villages between Karnataka and Maharashtra.
• Rejected Maharashtra’s claim over Belagavi city.

SHORTS: 

• The Karnataka-Maharashtra border dispute began during Independence and the reorganization of states on linguistic lines in 1956.
• Belagavi (then Belgaum) was part of the Bombay Presidency during Independence.
• The Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) was formed in 1948 to advocate for Belagavi’s inclusion in Maharashtra during state reorganization.
• Despite MES demands, Belagavi was integrated into Mysore State (now Karnataka) based on linguistic criteria.

December 11, 2024 Category: Current Affairs Day Wise