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

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Bengaluru has emerged on top of the Ease of Living Index 2020 and the Municipal Performance Index 2020. In the category with million plus population, Bengaluru emerged as the topper, followed by Pune, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Surat, Navi Mumbai, Coimbatore, Vadodara, Indore, and Greater Mumbai.

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Harshil Mathur is the founder and CEO of Razorpay. The company  offers payment solutions to online merchants from the Indian base market. He co founded the company with Shashank Kumar in the year 2014. It was initially a fintech startup which is now elevated to the unicorn status. He has also featured on Forbes Under 30 Asia List 2021.

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With the help of the Central Government – Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojane – the state will implement the Watershed Development Component 2.0 on 2.75 lakh hectares of rain-fed land. This spans around 57 taluks of the state at a whopping cost of Rs. 642 Crores in the current budget.

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Karnataka’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) contributes 8.2% to India’s GDP. In the last five years, Karnataka’s GSDP has increased by 68%, from Rs 13.33 lakh crore in FY18 to Rs 22.4 lakh crore in FY23.  The latest budget estimates project that Karnataka’s GSDP will reach Rs 23.34 lakh crore by FY24. The projected GSDP for 2023-24 is Rs 25.7 lakh crore, which is a 17.7% growth over the revised estimates of 2022-23.  Karnataka is leading the surge in services exports in India. It is the top rank in software/service exports and fourth in merchandise exports.  Karnataka also has the highest per-capita incomes at Rs.3.01 lakh, which is 77% higher than the national average. Bengaluru Urban is the richest district in the state, with an average per capita GDDP of more than Rs 5.7 lakh.

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Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, and Belagavi are districts in Karnataka that fall within the Western Ghats range. Mysuru, however, is not part of the Western Ghats. The plants for the ‘Western Ghats Block’ at Lalbagh Botanical Garden are sourced from seven districts in Karnataka that are part of this range.

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Goddess Bhuvaneshwari represents Kannada identity. Plans include a 30-foot statue in Bengaluru, part of the golden jubilee celebrations of the state’s renaming.

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The Karnataka state government, led by Industries Minister M B Patil, is exploring options to revive the struggling Mysore Paper Mills in Bhadravati. Among the considered strategies is the privatisation of this state-run paper factory. This approach is being evaluated as a potential solution to address the financial losses and operational challenges faced by MPM.

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The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Karnataka has innovated in the field of sustainable construction by developing 3D-printable materials using industrial by-products like construction wastes and fly ash. These materials not only reduce carbon emissions by incorporating carbon sequestration techniques but also enhance the engineering performance of construction materials, making a significant impact on sustainable building practices.

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Lantana camara, an invasive weed native to the American tropics, has become the most dominant species in the BRT Tiger Reserve, covering a significant portion of the area. It has restructured the open savannah woodland by creating a dense understory, making the forest less navigable for large herbivores and replacing palatable forage with unpalatable Lantana. This change has adversely affected the biodiversity and the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities like the Soligas.

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The Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala, comprising the temples at Belur, Halebid, and Somnathapura, have been recognized by UNESCO for their outstanding universal value. These temples exemplify the architectural brilliance and intricate craftsmanship of the Hoysala period, reflecting a significant chapter in India’s cultural and historical heritage. This recognition underscores the global importance of these sites.