Timeline India

Category: More News

  • Karnataka govt announces 50% discount on pending traffic fines

    Bengaluru, August 22, 2025: The Karnataka government has launched a limited-period scheme offering a 50% discount on pending traffic violation fines to provide relief to vehicle owners. The initiative, detailed in an official order by Pushpa V S, Under-Secretary of the State Transport Department, is effective from August 23 to September 12, 2025, and applies to violations recorded under the police department’s e-challan system up to February 11, 2023.

    This marks the second time the state has introduced such a concession, following a successful earlier scheme that saw significant recovery of pending fines. The current offer targets motorists with long-pending dues, encouraging them to clear penalties by paying only half the amount. For violations recorded after February 12, 2023, the government has indicated that a similar discount may be considered in 2026.

    The Transport Department urges vehicle owners to take advantage of this window to settle their dues and avoid legal complications. Details on accessing the e-challan system and paying fines are available through official police and transport department portals.

  • District Police Complaints Authority Member Post: Applications invited

    Udupi, August 21, 2025 – The Udupi District Administration has announced an invitation for applications from interested candidates in civil society to serve as a member of the District Police Complaints Authority. The role involves addressing grievances related to police services, and candidates are required to submit their bio-data along with a consent letter.

    The deadline for submitting applications is September 4, 2025. Application forms and further details can be obtained from the Administrative Section of the District Collector’s Office, Rajatadri, Manipal, Udupi. For inquiries, candidates can contact 0820-2574925, as stated in a press release from the District Collector’s office.

  • Udupi: National Tuberculosis Elimination Program Intensifies Efforts

    Udupi, August 21, 2025: The National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP), implemented under the National Health Mission (NHM), is intensifying efforts in Udupi to combat tuberculosis (TB) through early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. The program targets undiagnosed cases, reduces TB-related deaths, and prevents new infections by mapping vulnerable populations, conducting chest X-rays, and using Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAAT) for suspected cases. Treatment is initiated promptly, with specialized care for high-risk cases and preventive therapy for household contacts and eligible groups.

    Free diagnostic and treatment services are available at public health facilities and designated private centers, with TB services decentralized to Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) for comprehensive primary care. Community engagement is prioritized through awareness campaigns, involving schools, Panchayat Raj institutions, self-help groups, anganwadis, NGOs, and civil society organizations. Under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, 176 Nikshay Mitras in Udupi have supported 956 TB patients with nutritional kits in 2024-25. Additionally, patients receive ₹6,000 via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) until treatment completion, as per a release from the District TB Elimination Officer’s office.

  • Gangolli: G. Mohammad Rashdan Wins First Prize in District-Level Karate Competition

    Gangolli, August 20, 2025 – G. Mohammad Rashdan, a 10th-grade student from Stella Maris English Medium School, Gangolli, and son of Mohiddin (Noor) and Rubina, secured first prize in the district-level karate competition held in Udyavara. The event, organized by the Udupi Zilla Panchayat Department of School Education (Administration) for the 2025-26 academic year, featured primary and high school students competing in various sports. Rashdan’s achievement has brought pride to his school and hometown.

    Rashdan has also been selected to represent Udupi district at the state-level karate competition, marking another milestone in his sporting journey.

    Rashdan’s success follows his earlier triumphs. On August 9, 2025, he won first place in the taluk-level karate competition in Kandalur. Additionally, on August 3, 2025, he excelled at an international open karate championship, securing first place in the Kumite category and second place in the Kata category. These accomplishments highlight his exceptional skill and commitment to karate.

    Rashdan’s consistent performance across taluk, district, and international levels underscores his potential as a rising star in martial arts, inspiring young talents in Udupi district and beyond.

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  • Vidhana Soudha: Karnataka Assembly Passes Child Marriage Prohibition (Amendment) Bill

    Bengaluru, August 18, 2025: The Karnataka Legislative Assembly unanimously passed the Child Marriage Prohibition (Amendment) Bill on Monday, presented by Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar. The bill introduces stringent measures to combat child marriage, a persistent social issue in the state, with the goal of eradicating it at the grassroots level.

    Speaking after presenting the bill, Hebbalkar highlighted the severity of child marriage as a social evil that successive governments and laws have struggled to eliminate. She noted that in 2024-25, the Women and Child Development Department identified 1,828 child marriage cases, successfully preventing 1,460 of them. However, 369 cases still occurred, leading to the filing of FIRs. The minister emphasized the department’s commitment to rooting out the practice entirely.

    Under the amended law, stricter enforcement will be applied, including legal action against those involved in arranging child engagements. Offenders face a penalty of ₹1 lakh and up to two years of imprisonment. “Our department’s primary objective is to eradicate child marriage at its core,” Hebbalkar stated, underscoring the need for robust measures to protect young girls and boys from early marriages that hinder their education and well-being.

    The passage of the bill marks a significant step in strengthening Karnataka’s legal framework to address child marriage, aligning with broader efforts to promote gender equality and child welfare.

  • Karnataka’s Shakti Scheme Enters Golden Book of World Records for transporting 500 Crore Women Passengers

    Bengaluru, August 18, 2025 – The Karnataka government’s flagship Shakti Scheme, which provides free bus travel for women, has secured a prestigious entry in the Golden Book of World Records for enabling 5,04,94,76,416 (over 500 crore) women passengers to travel between June 11, 2023, and July 25, 2025. Transport and Muzrai Minister Ramalinga Reddy described the achievement as a moment of immense pride and joy, attributing it to the collective efforts of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC).

    In a press statement, Reddy highlighted the scheme’s role in empowering women socially, educationally, economically, and professionally, aligning with the vision of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. He dedicated the milestone to the transport corporations’ staff, management, and labor leaders, acknowledging their dedication and honest service. The minister also thanked the media for their support and constructive suggestions since the scheme’s inception.

    The Shakti Scheme faced significant challenges at its launch, with transport corporations grappling with outdated fleets, no new recruitments, and financial burdens. Despite these hurdles, Reddy noted that the government added 5,800 new buses, recruited 10,000 staff, and provided ₹2,000 crore to clear debts, leading to increased ridership and transformative changes in the transport sector.

    A study by the Sustainable Mobility Network, titled Beyond Free Rides, conducted across 10 Indian cities, revealed that the scheme increased women’s workforce participation by 23% in Bengaluru and 21% in Hubballi-Dharwad, contributing to a rise in per capita income. The initiative has also inspired other states to adopt similar programs under different names, underscoring its national impact.

    Reddy emphasized that while challenges like fleet shortages and connectivity issues in rural areas persist, the government remains committed to addressing them. The scheme’s success has earned Karnataka’s transport corporations 185 national and international awards, solidifying its status as a model for gender-inclusive public transport.

  • Udupi: Individuals Arrested for Drug Trafficking Targeting Students and Workers in Manipal

    Udupi, August 18, 2025 – In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, Manipal police arrested three individuals involved in the sale of ganja and LSD, targeting students and workers in private industries in Manipal, Udupi district. The accused, identified as Afshin from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Shivanidhi Acharya from Shivalli, Udupi, and Manish from Kasaragod, Kerala, were apprehended following a police operation led by Inspector Mahesh Prasad.

    The operation began after four workers from Kerala—Ajeesh (28), Vipin (32), Bipin (24), and Akhil (26)—tested positive for ganja consumption. Their samples, sent for laboratory analysis, confirmed the use, leading to cases being filed against them. Further investigation revealed that the ganja was supplied by Mithun, who sourced the drugs, including LSD, from Bengaluru for sale in Manipal.

    On Saturday night, police raided Room No. 03 on the first floor of Manipal Auto Bar near Narasinghe Devasthana Road in Herga village, seizing 1.237 kg of ganja, 0.038 grams of LSD strips, plastic covers, a digital scale, ₹2,000 in cash, and two mobile phones from Afshin and Shivanidhi. A subsequent raid on Manish’s residence at Flat No. 004, Mandavi Sapphire Apartment in Vidyaratna Nagar, Manipal, led to the recovery of 653 grams of ganja, two digital scales, a ganja crusher, ₹3,000 in cash, and one mobile phone. The accused were presented before the court, which remanded them to judicial custody.

    Afshin, a former student of a private Ayurvedic college, targeted engineering students and workers, while Shivanidhi, an engineering student from Mangaluru, sold drugs to students and locals. Manish, a welder, supplied ganja to workers from Kerala and other states in Manipal. Notably, Afshin has a prior MDMA trafficking case from 2023 in Manipal, and Manish was involved in a ganja consumption case in Bekal, Kerala.

    Acting on instructions from Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar IPS, the Manipal police recently conducted drug tests on out-of-state students and industrial workers, uncovering the trafficking network. The operation, led by PSI Akshay Kumari, highlights ongoing efforts to curb drug-related activities in the region, particularly targeting vulnerable groups like students and laborers.

  • Kadaba: BCom Student Handwrites Entire Quran in Five Years, Sets Remarkable Record

    Kadaba, August 18, 2025: Fathima Sajla Ismail, a BCom student from Markazul Huda Women’s College in Kumbra, Kadaba taluk, has garnered widespread admiration for her extraordinary accomplishment of handwriting the entire Quran using a traditional ink pen. Hailing from Baitadka in Kaniyur village, Sajla, daughter of Ismail and Zahra Jasmine, dedicated nearly five years to this meticulous task, starting in January 2021 and completing it in August 2025.

    The 604-page manuscript, written on white, light blue, and light green paper with black ink, is bound in an elegant red and gold cover and weighs approximately 14 kg. Sajla shared that each page took around four hours to complete, with some days allowing her to write two pages in eight hours. In total, she spent 2,416 hours over 302 days to finish the work, demonstrating remarkable patience and discipline.

    The handwritten Quran was unveiled at a special ceremony at Markazul Huda Women’s College, Kumbra, on August 18, 2025. The manuscript was officially released by Yaseen Sakhafi Al Azhari, a Mudarris from Markaz Knowledge City, Kerala, in the presence of scholars and college officials. The family is considering applying for recognition in the Limca Book of Records and is in discussions with elders and scholars regarding the manuscript’s future preservation.

    Sajla’s achievement is a testament to her dedication and serves as an inspiration, highlighting the value of perseverance and devotion in pursuing meaningful endeavors.

  • Legislation in the Shadows: India’s Privacy and Democracy at Risk

    Last week, as India was consumed by controversies over voter list tampering, stray dog policies, and electoral concerns in Bihar, the Indian Parliament quietly passed three major bills: the Income-Tax (No.2) Bill, 2025, the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025. These laws, which could reshape your taxes, your privacy, and the future of Indian sports, were rushed through with barely any debate or opposition. For every Indian, this is a wake-up call: when laws slip through in silence, our privacy and democracy are at stake.

    The Income-Tax (No.2) Bill, 2025, passed in the Lok Sabha on August 11 and the Rajya Sabha the next day, replaces the 1961 Income-Tax Act with what the government calls a simpler, modern system for a digital India. But here’s the alarming part: it gives tax officials sweeping powers to access your emails, social media accounts, WhatsApp chats, and other digital spaces if they suspect tax evasion. Imagine tax authorities reading your private messages or scrolling through your Instagram DMs without clear oversight. With over 500 clauses, this bill needed thorough discussion, but it was approved in just three minutes. This isn’t just about taxes—it’s a direct threat to your privacy, a right upheld by the Supreme Court in 2017. For salaried workers, small business owners, or anyone with a smartphone, this means your personal data could be an open book to officials, with little to stop misuse.

    The sports bills, passed in a mere 34 minutes on August 11, carry their own concerns. The National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, creates a National Sports Board and a tribunal to streamline sports management, while the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025, strengthens penalties and testing to align with global standards, eyeing India’s 2036 Olympics bid. But a controversial detail stands out: the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was exempted from the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Initially, the bill proposed making all sports bodies, including the BCCI, answerable under RTI, which would let fans question team selections or how cricket’s billions are spent. An amendment, however, limited RTI to bodies receiving direct government funds, letting the BCCI—a financial giant that doesn’t take such funds—stay opaque. Despite calls from the Supreme Court and others for transparency, cricket, India’s biggest sport, remains shielded from public scrutiny. These bills, with only two MPs speaking and amendments ignored, missed the debate they needed to protect athletes and fans alike.

    How did this happen? The opposition was nowhere to be found, caught up in protests outside Parliament. Allegations of “vote chori” (vote theft) and voter list tampering in Bihar’s Summary Intensive Revision (SIR) process had leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge marching to the Election Commission on August 11. Many were detained by police, leaving Parliament’s opposition benches nearly empty. Meanwhile, a Supreme Court order to relocate stray dogs from Delhi-NCR sparked outrage, with MPs like Shashi Tharoor and Priyanka Gandhi pushing for humane solutions like shelters. These issues—electoral integrity and animal welfare—mattered, but they distracted the opposition from their duty to scrutinize laws that could invade your privacy or shield powerful bodies like the BCCI.

    This feels like a calculated move. With opposition MPs detained or protesting, the government pushed these bills through with quick voice votes, no real debate, and no changes allowed. Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien called it a “murder of Parliament,” and he’s right. Laws that let tax officials into your private chats or keep cricket’s operations secret need rigorous discussion. Without it, we risk laws that prioritize control over fairness. The Income-Tax Bill’s privacy intrusions could chill free expression, while the BCCI’s RTI exemption keeps a national institution unaccountable. The sports reforms, though promising, needed more input to ensure they truly serve athletes.

    Democracy thrives on open discussion, not hurried decisions. All MPs, whether from the government or opposition, should prioritize debating laws that affect us all. As citizens, we can play a role too—by staying informed and asking questions about what these laws mean for our taxes, our privacy, and our sports. Last week, Parliament acted while India was focused elsewhere. Let’s hope for more transparency and engagement in the future, so our voices—and our rights—are fully heard.

    Sources

    • “Finance Minister Sitharaman introduces Income-Tax (No.2) Bill in Lok Sabha.” The Economic Times, August 11, 2025.
    • “Lok Sabha passes Income-Tax (No.2) Bill, 2025.” The Hindu, August 11, 2025.
    • “Rajya Sabha clears Income-Tax Bill, 2025.” Hindustan Times, August 12, 2025.
    • “National Sports Governance Bill, 2025 introduced in Parliament.” The Indian Express, August 11, 2025.
    • “Anti-Doping Bill passed in Lok Sabha.” Times of India, August 11, 2025.
    • “Opposition protests ‘vote chori’ in Bihar voter lists.” The Statesman, August 11, 2025.
    • “Supreme Court orders removal of stray dogs from Delhi-NCR.” India Today, August 12, 2025.
    • “Rahul Gandhi slams stray dog order as cruel.” The Times of India, August 12, 2025.
    • “BCCI exempted from RTI in Sports Governance Bill.” The Hindu, August 11, 2025.
    • “Derek O’Brien calls bill passage ‘murder of Parliament’.” The Indian Express, August 12, 2025.
    • “Income-Tax Bill raises privacy concerns with digital access powers.” Mint, August 12, 2025.

  • Kadur: Police Arrest Thief, Recover ₹17.50 Lakh Worth of Stolen Gold Ornaments

    Kadur, August 14, 2025 – In a significant breakthrough, the Kadur police, under the leadership of Circle Police Inspector (CPI) Rafiq M., arrested one individual involved in a jewelry theft that occurred on July 25, 2025, at a residence in Lakshmeesh Nagar, Kadur town, Chikkamagaluru district. The police team successfully recovered stolen gold ornaments valued at ₹17.50 lakh.

    The operation was conducted by a team comprising PSI Sajith Kumar, PSI Dhananjay, PSI Leelavathi, and police personnel Madhukumar, Harish, Swami, Mohammad Riyaz, Dhanapala Naik, and Parameshwar Naik. The recovered ornaments have been subjected to legal procedures, and investigations are ongoing at Kadur Police Station to uncover further details related to the case.