No bird flue in Karnataka; officials asked to maintain utmost caution: Minister

News Network

January 9, 2021

Bengaluru, Jan 9: Karnataka Minister for Animal Husbandry Prabhu Chauhan said there was no case of bird flu (H5N8) reported from any part of the state, however, officials have been asked to maintain utmost caution and alertness.

The State is already on high alert after Bird Flu was reported in two districts of neighbouring Kerala State.

The Minister, who held a high-level meeting of senior officials of various departments concerned, instructed that a meeting under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners of respective Districts be held immediately to keep a vigil and take all precautionary measures against the Bird Flu, according to a release from the Minister's office.

Transportation of poultry and its products from Kerala into the state had been totally prohibited, he said.

Bird flu has been reported in parts of Alappuzha and Kottayam, prompting officials to cull birds, including ducks and chicken there.

Deputy Commissioners of the districts in the border have been directed to take preventive measures by holding district-level disease control committee meetings.

Chauhan said directions have also been given to have proper coordination between forest, urban and rural development, and police departments.

Forest officials have been directed to be vigilant about symptoms of flu or unnatural death of birds in Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts bordering Kerala, he added.

The Minister also said officials have been asked to maintain utmost care at poultry areas, especially bird sanctuaries and water bodies.

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Mangaluru’s KPT becomes India’s first autonomous govt polytechnic

News Network

January 23,2026

Mangaluru: The Karnataka Government Polytechnic (KPT), Mangaluru, has achieved autonomous status from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), becoming the first government polytechnic in the country to receive such recognition in its 78-year history. The status was granted by AICTE, New Delhi, and subsequently approved by the Karnataka Board of Technical Education in October last year.

Officials said the autonomy was conferred a few months ago. Until recently, AICTE extended autonomous status only to engineering colleges, excluding diploma institutions. However, with a renewed national focus on skill development, several government polytechnics across India have now been granted autonomy.

KPT, the second-largest polytechnic in Karnataka, was established in 1946 with four branches and has since expanded to offer eight diploma programmes, including computer science and polymer technology. The institution is spread across a 19-acre campus.

Ravindra M Keni, the first dean of the institution, told The Times of India that AICTE had proposed autonomous status for polytechnic institutions that are over 25 years old. “Many colleges applied. In the first round, 100 institutions were shortlisted, which was further narrowed down to 15 in the second round. We have already completed one semester after becoming an autonomous institution,” he said. He added that nearly 500 students are admitted annually across eight three-year diploma courses.

Explaining the factors that helped KPT secure autonomy, Keni said the institution has consistently recorded 100 per cent admissions and placements for its graduates. He also noted its strong performance in sports, with the college emerging champions for 12 consecutive years, along with active student participation in NCC and NSS activities.

Autonomous status allows KPT to design industry-oriented curricula, conduct examinations, prepare question papers, and manage academic documentation independently. The institution can also directly collaborate with industries and receive priority funding from AICTE or the Ministry of Education. While academic autonomy has been granted, financial control will continue to rest with the state government.

“There will be separate committees for examinations, question paper setting, boards of studies, and boards of examiners. The institution will now have the freedom to conduct admissions without government notifications and issue its own marks cards,” Keni said, adding that new academic initiatives would be planned after a year of functioning under the autonomous framework.

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