Seat restrictions: Film producers in Karnataka not to release new films till Jan 2021

News Network

October 31, 2020

Bengaluru, Oct 31: The Karnataka Film Exhibitors Federation members have decided not to release new films till January due to seat restrictions by the State government due to Covid threat in the State.

For most of the new releases, over-the-top (OTT) platforms have become the preferred choice ever since the lockdown in March 2020. On the other hand, theatres had been gearing up for reruns of old movies.

After a meeting of film exhibitors from the region, Federation Chairman R R Odugoudar told reporters that many Producers have expressed their unwillingness to release big-ticket movies till January 2021 though the government had given its nod to reopen theatres with restrictions and by following standard operating procedures as per the Unlock 5.0 guidelines.

"Producers are saying that they won’t release films till January 2021. In such circumstances, exhibitors have also decided to not open theatres till January as it will only bleed us," he said.

The exhibitors further said that since the last six months they were facing severe challenges and most of their requests and demands were placed before the government and producers were not fulfilled.

"The State Government has increased the licence renewal fee for cinema theatres by nearly 2,250 per cent. As per the old structure, Rs 1,000 was collected for every 100 sq mt for 3 years. But now, this has been increased to Rs 4,500 per 100 sq mt per year," Odugoudar said.

"Do away with trade licences for theatres. Besides, we have been demanding the government levy electricity charges at industrial instead of commercial rates and permit us to collect service charge at 5 per cent on net rate of tickets for non-AC theatres and at 10 per cent for AC ones, but our demands have not been addressed," said Odugoudar.

Presently, service charge is Rs 2 for non AC theatres and Rs 3 for AC theatres.

Referring to the varying property tax rates on cinema theatres under different civic bodies, the exhibitors have sought uniform rates across the state and doing away with trade licences for theatres. They also said that producers must agree to change the existing business module of fixed weekly payments to a percentage- based module.

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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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