Karnataka faces financial crunch as debt zooms 255% in fiscal 2018-19

News Network
September 23, 2020
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Kumaraswamy

Bengaluru, Sep 23: Karnataka is facing a financial crunch, evident from a record 255 per cent increase in its net debt for fiscal 2018-19, an official said on Wednesday while citing a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report.

"In its state finance audit report, the CAG red-flagged that Karnataka's net debt was Rs 17,766 crore in 2018-19 financial year, a whopping increase of 255 per cent over the 2017-18 fiscal," said the report, which was tabled in the state legislature on Tuesday.

A 6-day Monsoon Session of the legislature began on Monday after it was delayed due to the Covid-induced lockdown and surging virus cases across the southern state.

To meet the growing expenditure, the previous Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S)-Congress coalition government borrowed heavily -- 55 per cent of the debt from the open market, 27 per cent from public account, 6 per cent from national social security fund and 5 per cent from the central government.

A fractured verdict in the May 2018 Assembly elections forced the outgoing Congress to ally with the JD-S to form the coalition government, with HD Kumaraswamy appointed the Chief Minister on May 23, 2018.

The resignation by 17 rebel legislators, including 14 from the Congress and 3 from the JD-S in July 2019, however, led to the fall of the 14-month-old coalition government on July 26, 2019 after Kumaraswamy lost the trust vote in the Assembly for want of a simple majority.

Holding the finance portfolio, Kumaraswamy presented two Budgets in July 2018 for fiscal 2018-19 and February 2019 for fiscal 2019-20.

The CAG found that an expenditure of Rs 2,901 crore was wrongly classified by oversight, while the supplementary provision of Rs 1,319 crore was unwarranted.

"The total provision for the fiscal under review was Rs 2.45 lakh crore and expenditure Rs 2.2 lakh crore, while Rs 25,139 crore remained unspent," said the report.

Reappropriation of funds in 27 cases was not judicious, resulting in excess provision.

Noting that the Supplementary Budget was also not properly assessed to be fiscally neutral, the report said it failed to curtail expenditure.

The report advised the BJP government to ensure adjustment of abstract contingent bills in the stipulated time.

"The tax revenue growth rate decreased to 11.13 per cent in 2018-19 from 12.1 per cent in 2014-15," the report added.

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News Network
December 2,2025

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Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

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News Network
December 4,2025

Udupi: A 40-year-old NRI from Udupi has reportedly lost more than Rs 12.25 lakh in an online investment scam operated through Telegram.

According to a complaint filed at the CEN police station, Leo Jerome Mendonsa, who has been working in Dubai for the past 15 years in computer accessories sales, maintains NRI accounts in Karkala and Nitte.

On November 12, 2025, Mendonsa was added to a Telegram group called Instaflow Earnings by unknown individuals. Users identified as Priya and Dipannita persuaded him to invest in “Revenue Tasks.” Initially, Mendonsa transferred Rs 1,100 multiple times and received the promised returns, encouraging him to continue.

On November 14, another user, Nishmitha Shetty, directed him to register on a website, digitvisionuoce.cc, and invest Rs 4 lakh in various shares. Over the next few days, he made multiple transfers totaling Rs 12,25,000, including Rs 50,000 via Google Pay, believing the scheme was legitimate.

After receiving the money, the alleged handlers stopped responding, and neither the invested amount nor the promised profits were returned.

The CEN police have registered a case under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the IT Act and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and investigations are ongoing.

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coastaldigest.com news network
December 2,2025

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Udupi, Dec 2: A wave of regional pride is sweeping through Udupi district as Shagun S Verma Hegde, a talented Class 9 student from Christ King English Medium High School, Karkala, has been named the captain of the Indian National Team for the Under-15 Girls’ Volleyball Championship.

Shagun holds the unique distinction of being the sole player from Karnataka selected to represent the country in the prestigious international tournament. The championship, organized by the School Games Federation, is scheduled to take place in Shangluo, China, from December 3 to 13, where Shagun will lead the national squad.

A Remarkable Journey to the Top

Shagun’s selection is a testament to her dedication and exceptional skill on the court. Her journey included several rigorous rounds of selection:

•    She was the only player from Udupi district to qualify for the state-level selection camp.

•    Out of eight players from Karnataka who advanced to the national selection camp in Pune, Maharashtra, Shagun was the only one to secure a place in the final national squad.

•    The national camp saw participation from approximately 200 players, which was shortlisted to 23. Shagun not only made the final cut but was also ranked as the second-best player overall, solidifying her leadership role.

Shagun, who is the daughter of Sandesh Verma and Shruthiraj of Kallotte, Karkala, has trained under experienced coaches Santosh D’Souza, Jeevan D’Silva, Jairaj Poojary, and Ramesh. Her selection as the team captain has brought profound honour to her family, school, the Udupi district, and the entire state of Karnataka.

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