States PCS: Karnataka GK for KPSC and other Karnataka State Exams

Notes:
The Badami cave temples are a complex of Jain and Hindu cave temples which are located in Badami, a town situated in the Bagalkot district of the state of Karnataka. An important example of Indian rock-cut architecture is the Badami cave temples, especially the Badami Chalukya architecture, and the earliest of the temples date from the 6th century. The Badami cave temples represent some of the earliest known examples of Hindu temples found in the Deccan region of India.

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Kapu is a town which is situated in the Udupi district of the state of Karnataka. It lies between the twin cities of Mangalore and Udupi. Kapu is known for its lighthouse, the Kapu fort which was built by Tipu Sultan and the three Mariamman shrines. The British renamed Kapu as Kaup.

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All four pairs are critical digital infrastructure components used by the Karnataka government to ensure “minimum government, maximum governance” in the primary sector. They support farmers through data management, crop insurance, grievance redressal, and satellite-based crop mapping.

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Manyakheta, now Malkhed, was the Rashtrakuta capital and a major literary hub in early Karnataka. It attracted scholars and poets with royal support. The famous Kannada work “Kavirajamarga” originated here. The court promoted both Kannada and Sanskrit literature. Madurai and Kanchipuram are linked to Tamil regions, while Warangal is associated with the Kakatiya dynasty.

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Karnataka allocated 5.8% of its 2025-26 state budget expenditure to irrigation, which is above the national average of 3.4%. The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) increased the national gross irrigated area share to 55.8%, but this figure is not Karnataka-specific budget expenditure. The percentage reflects Karnataka’s financial prioritization of irrigation projects in that fiscal year.

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Karnataka has 9 operational airports, including 2 international (Kempegowda Bengaluru and Mangaluru) and 7 domestic (Belagavi, Hubballi, Mysuru, Shivamogga, Kalaburagi, Bidar, Ballari). Minor and private airports exist but are not counted as operational major airports. No recent data indicates changes in this count as of 2025-26.

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Upendra directed the Kannada film “Om” in 1995. The film starred Shivarajkumar and became a cult classic for its portrayal of the underworld. Upendra is a filmmaker and actor known for unconventional storytelling and exploring complex themes in Karnataka cinema.

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Sawai Gandharva was a disciple of Ustad Abdul Karim Khan, founder of Kirana Gharana. Abdul Karim Khan established the Kirana Gharana, a prominent school of Hindustani classical music. Sawai Gandharva helped popularize this gharana in southern India, especially Karnataka. He trained musicians like Bhimsen Joshi and Gangubai Hangal, maintaining the tradition of swara purity and detailed raga exposition. Through him and his disciples, the Kirana Gharana’s style continued to flourish and spread.

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Chennaveera Kanavi (1928–2022) coined the slogan “Hesarayitu Karnataka | Usiragali Kannada” from his poem. This slogan was adopted by the Government of Karnataka in 2023 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of renaming the state from Mysore to Karnataka on November 1, 1973. Kanavi was a key poet in the Navodaya and Navya Kannada literature movements and was known as Soujanyada Kavi (Poet of Courtesy).

Notes:
The Guddada Budihal – Hirebidri Conservation Reserve is in Gadag and Haveri districts of Karnataka. It protects the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard by conserving dry grassland habitats essential for the species. This area is one of the few remaining habitats for the bird in Karnataka’s northern semi-arid plains. Ranebennur Blackbuck Sanctuary was earlier a habitat but current conservation focuses here to prevent extinction. The reserve addresses threats like habitat loss and power line collisions which endanger the bustard.