Karnataka govt working on new university bill to curb corruption

October 26, 2016

New Delhi, Oct 26: Concerned over corruption in state universities, the Karnataka government today said it was working on a new bill that seeks to bring transparency in the functioning of 23 varsities and ensures quality education.

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At present, there are 23 universities in the state and each one is governed by a separate law.

"We are almost in the process of finalising the Comprehensive Karnataka University Bill 2016. We will soon move a cabinet note on this," the state Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddi told reporters here.

The bill seeks to replace the existing laws framed by each university and aims to curb corruption and bring transparency in the functioning of the universities across the state, he said.

"This would be a uniform and comprehensive bill. It seeks to bring transparency in appointment of vice chancellors, suspension of vice chancellors, recruitments and construction related activities among others," the Minister explained.

He said the new bill will ensure full liberty to the universities in appointment of staff and other related issues but the state government will have powers to control it to check corruption.

Rayareddi was here to attend the 64th meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education on 'New National Policy on Education'.

In the meeting, the Minister insisted that the central government should provide 25 per cent reservation for state students in the newly set up IIT Dharwad.

"This demand was turned down by the HRD Minister. But I have raised this issue in the meeting today. I have told only seven students out of 120 were selected from Karnataka. We have given Rs 500 crore worth of land for the IIT and we should be given more quota for our state," he said.

Among recommendations made to the proposed national education policy, the Karnataka government has suggested that the vice chancellor (VC) should focus on academic leadership and be held accountable for outcomes, while the administrative tasks such as construction of buildings and other infrastructure should be hived off to a separate body.

The state has suggested that the process of appointment of VCs should be rationalised, besides a re-think about the present governing structure of the university and phasing out of single-discipline universities, among others.

The state has also recommended that the universities should be encouraged to accredit themselves on a regular basis by globally rated agencies, ensure grant-in-aid funding is linked to performance, mandatory pre-service training for teachers in higher education and review/revamp of recruitment and service conditions of faculty.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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News Network
December 7,2025

SHRIMP.jpg

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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News Network
December 20,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 20: The Mangaluru City Police have issued a detailed traffic advisory ahead of the inaugural ceremony of Karavali Utsava, which will be held at the Karavali Utsava Ground on Saturday.

The festival will be inaugurated at 6:00 pm by Dakshina Kannada District Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao. Cultural and public programmes will be held at the venue every evening and will continue until January 2.

According to City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy, parking of vehicles is strictly prohibited on both sides of the road from Lalbagh to Karavali Utsava Ground. Visitors are requested to park their vehicles only at designated parking areas.

To help the public, traffic signboards and parking guidance flex boards have been installed along the routes leading to the venue. The police have urged commuters and visitors to follow these instructions to ensure smooth traffic movement.

Designated Parking Locations

•    Urwa Market Ground – Cars
•    Gandhinagar Government School (near Press Club) – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Ladyhill Church parking area – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Canara School Ground, Mannagudda – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Thimmappa Hotel premises – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Scout and Guide Bhavana premises (behind Karavali Utsava Grounds) – Two-wheelers
•    Urwa Market Road – Two-wheelers
•    Hat Hill Road – Two-wheelers

The police have appealed to the public to cooperate by following traffic rules and parking guidelines to avoid inconvenience during the festival.

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