Karnataka Politics & Governance

Karnataka activates emergency coordination for Kannadigas affected by West Asia travel disruptions

2 March 2026

Karnataka activated its State Emergency Operations Centre and district emergency centres around the clock to coordinate assistance for Kannadigas affected by West Asia flight disruptions. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote to the Union government seeking coordinated protection and return arrangements, while state officials coordinated with the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian missions.

Key Facts

• India’s Ministry of External Affairs is responsible for repatriating Indian citizens in danger abroad.

Airspace closures disrupt flights at Bengaluru and Mangaluru airports

2 March 2026

Airspace closures amid the West Asia conflict disrupted flights at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport and Mangaluru International Airport. Bengaluru reported 22 cancellations—10 departures and 12 arrivals—while at Mangaluru a Dubai-bound flight returned and a Doha-bound flight was diverted to Mumbai; several other Gulf services were cancelled.

Key Facts

• Kempegowda International Airport is operated by Bengaluru International Airport Limited, a public–private consortium.
• Mangaluru airport serves domestic destinations and major Middle East cities.

Karnataka High Court orders judicial inquiry into Hubballi encounter

2 March 2026

The Karnataka High Court ordered a judicial inquiry into the April 2025 Hubballi police encounter in which a man accused in a child’s rape and murder case died. It directed that the inquiry report be submitted by the end of June 2026 and said a central agency investigation could be considered if the magistrate’s report had shortcomings.

Key Facts

• The Karnataka High Court has supervisory authority over Karnataka’s lower courts and tribunals.
• PUCL is a human-rights organisation formed in India in 1976.

BDA proposes improvement fees in its Bengaluru layouts

2 March 2026

The Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) proposed an improvement fee for property owners in its layouts, with reported rates ranging from ₹15 to ₹336 per square foot. The proposal covers 22 layouts, with Arkavathy listed at the highest rate and Visvesvaraya Layout at the lowest. Collection across the layouts was projected to generate more than ₹3,000 crore annually.

Key Facts

• The BDA Act permits betterment tax when a development scheme increases land value; the article’s proposed improvement fee is a separate proposal.

Karnataka High Court upholds BWSSB’s ₹12-crore water-charge demand

3 March 2026

The Karnataka High Court upheld Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) demand notices seeking ₹12 crore in pro-rata water charges from Jain International Residential School in Kanakapura taluk. The court held that the Board could levy the charge under Section 16 of the BWSSB Act and found no defect in billing the institution as a commercial establishment for water supply.

Key Facts

• BWSSB’s pro-rata charge was described as covering maintenance and other costs; the court upheld its authority under Section 16.

Mysuru’s first Akka Café begins operations under women’s self-help-group initiative

4 March 2026

Mysuru’s first Akka Café began operating under a women’s self-help-group initiative, run by five members of the Ganga Stree Shakti Sangha from Nagavala village. Its building was constructed at a reported cost of ₹15 lakh under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission; the group took a ₹2 lakh loan to operate the café.

The café serves breakfast and meals, including upma, ragi mudde and sambar. The state’s wider plan to open more Akka Cafés is an announced rollout.

Key Facts

• Akka Cafés aim to support women’s self-reliance through women-run enterprises.

KPSC submits report on alleged KAS examination irregularities

5 March 2026

Karnataka’s Chief Secretary sought a report from the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) over allegations of irregularities in the KAS examination. KPSC secretary Jyoti submitted a report stating that CCTV footage showed no suspicious activity and that 11 candidates, rather than the alleged 15, had passed from the questioned examination room. The state government had yet to decide on further action.

Key Facts

• KPSC recruits candidates for Karnataka government jobs through competitive examinations, including the examination at issue.
• KAS officers recruited through KPSC serve in administrative posts at district and state levels.

Lokayukta searches 42 locations linked to eight Karnataka officials

5 March 2026

The Karnataka Lokayukta conducted searches at 42 locations linked to eight government officials across eight districts over allegations of assets disproportionate to income. The operation covered Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mandya, Bagalkot, Dharwad, Hassan, Vijayapura and ...