Mangaluru: St Agnes awarded star college status by union govt

CD Network
July 5, 2017

Mangaluru, Jul 5: St Agnes College, an autonomous college under Mangalore University, has been awarded with star college status by the Union Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, for its performance in the field of science and technology, according to a release from the college. It is the second women’s college in the State to receive this status.

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Under the status, now the Department of Biotechnology has sanctioned Rs. 1 crore to the faculty of sciences of the college for nurturing excellence in undergraduate science education, it said. Earlier, the college had received some fund under star college scheme in 2012.

It is for improving critical thinking, innovations in teaching and learning, and to improve hands-on experimental work at the undergraduate level in basic sciences. The main objective of the scheme was to attract students to basic sciences.

This is the only second women's college in Karnataka to be conferred with star status. This comes in the wake of the college receiving recognition of College of Excellence from UGC in February and 'A+' Grade in cycle four from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in March 2017.

The college had applied for financial assistance under Star College Scheme in 2011. In 2012, it received financial assistance for physics, chemistry, botany, zoology and microbiology under the scheme.

According to Sr M Jeswina, principal, this scheme is for improving critical thinking, innovations in teaching and learning and to improve hands-on experimental work at undergraduate level in basic sciences. The main objective of the scheme is to attract students towards basic science. Every year the progress report of this scheme is being reviewed and the expert committee appreciated the outstanding progress achieved by the college under this scheme.

The seventh expert committee meeting to review colleges supported under Star College Scheme was held in April 2017 at Jalandhar. The expert committee appreciated the outstanding progress made by the college. The department of biotechnology was sanctioned Rs 1 crore to star status faculty of sciences of the college for further nurturing excellence in undergraduate science education.

The expert committee reviewed 27 colleges of the country, of which only five colleges have been selected for the star status award.

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News Network
November 22,2025

The Karnataka government has announced a 50% rebate on pending traffic and transport fines. The discount is available from November 21 to December 12.

The rebate applies to all traffic e-challans and violation cases booked by the RTO between 1991–92 and 2019–20. Officials clarified that the offer is not applicable to pending tax dues and is restricted only to traffic-violation fines.

Across Karnataka, more than 4 lakh RTO cases remain pending, including those involving transport vehicles. While thousands of vehicle owners have already cleared their dues, the department expects to generate substantial revenue through this limited-period rebate.

How to Pay and Avail the Discount

There are three ways to check and pay your pending fines:

1. Through Mobile Apps
Available on both Play Store and App Store:
•    Karnataka State Police (KSP) app
•    KarnatakaOne app
•    ASTraM app

Steps:
•    Enter your vehicle number in any of the above apps
•    Verify the photo/details of your vehicle
•    Pay the fine with the 50% discount applied

2. Visit a Traffic Police Station

You can pay your pending fine at any nearby traffic police station.

3. Visit the Traffic Management Centre (TMC)

•    Location: First Floor, Infantry Road, near Indian Express, Bengaluru

Transport Commissioner Yogeesh A M said, “We don't issue e-challans, so there's no online payment system.”

The department estimates ₹52 crore in pending RTO fines up to March 2020. “With the 50% rebate, we expect to collect around ₹25 crore if all dues are cleared,” he added.

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News Network
December 1,2025

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Udupi, Dec 1: A horrific case of alleged rape has unfolded in Udupi, where a worker from a Hindutva organisation, previously arrested and released on bail for harassing a young woman, is now accused of waylaying and sexually assaulting her.

The arrested individual has been identified as Pradeep Poojary (26), a member of the Hindu Jagarana Vedike's Nairkode unit in Perdur.

Poojary had allegedly been relentlessly harassing the young woman, pressuring her to marry him. When she bravely stood up to him and refused his demands, she filed a formal complaint at the Hiriyadka police station. He was subsequently arrested in that initial harassment case but was later granted bail.

According to police reports, driven by the same malicious grudge, Poojary allegedly intercepted the woman again on November 29. While she was walking through a deserted area, the accused is claimed to have threatened her by grabbing her neck. When she again refused to marry him, he allegedly proceeded to rape her.

The survivor immediately informed her family about the traumatic assault. Following this, her parents lodged a complaint at the Udupi women’s police station.

Police arrested Poojary again and produced him before the court. He has since been remanded to judicial custody.

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News Network
November 21,2025

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Udupi: The Malpe Police have arrested two men from Uttar Pradesh for allegedly sharing classified information related to Indian Navy vessels with individuals in Pakistan, posing a serious threat to national security.

According to a complaint filed by the CEO of Udupi Cochin Shipyard, Malpe—an institution under the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways—the prime accused, Rohit (29), was working as an insulator through subcontractor M/S Shushma Marine Pvt Ltd. He had earlier served at Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi, Kerala, where naval ships are under construction.

Udupi SP Hariram Shankar said the accused had unlawfully shared, via WhatsApp, confidential identification numbers of Navy-related ships and other classified details while working in Kerala, allegedly for illegal gains.

After joining the Malpe shipyard unit, Rohit reportedly continued collecting sensitive information through a friend in Kochi and circulated it to unauthorised individuals, violating national security protocols and potentially endangering India’s sovereignty, unity, and integrity.

Based on the complaint, Malpe Police registered a case under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923.

A police team led by Karkala Subdivision Assistant Superintendent of Police Harsha Priyamvada—along with PSI Anil Kumar D, ASI Harish, and PC Ravi Jadhav—conducted the investigation and arrested the two accused, identified as Rohit (29) and Santri (37), both residents of Sultanpur district, Uttar Pradesh.

The duo was produced before the court, which remanded them in judicial custody till December 3. Further investigation is in progress.

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