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

Notes:
Haft Gumbaz is located in Gulbarga. Gulbarga is a city in Karnataka. It is officially known as Kalaburagi. It is the administrative headquarters of Gulbarga district. It is the largest city in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region of North Karnataka.
Haft Gumbaz are a group of tombs of the rulers and military commanders of the Bahmani Kingdom. The tombs were built during the 14th and 15th centuries. It is an example of Indo-Islamic architecture. There are seven tombs in total.  The tomb complex is maintained by the Archeological Survey of India. The tomb complex is part of the “Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate”, which is an ensemble of various structures added to the tentative list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Notes:
Kempe Gowda I was the architect of the Bangalore Fort. He was a vassal of the Vijaynagar Empire and the founder of Bangalore. Kempegowda’s birth anniversary celebrations are organized by the state government every year across Karnataka from 27 June 2017, and is seen as Kempegowda day or ‘Kempegowda Jayanthi’.
The construction of Bangalore Fort began in 1537 as a mud fort. It was renovated in 1751 with granite stones by Hyder Ali and  it was further improved by his son Tipu Sultan in the late 18th century.

Notes:
Basavakalyana fort was built in Karnataka during the reign of Kalyani Chalukya dynasty. Basavakalyana fort was earlier known as Kalyana fort, It is located in Bidar district of Karnataka.
Basavakalyana with its fort was the centre of a great social and religious movement  in the 12th century because of Basaveshwara, the social reformer. It became a seat of learning. Basaveshwara  fought against casteism and orthodoxy in Hinduism.
The Western Chalukya Empire is also called as Kalyani Chalukya Dynasty which is a Kannadiga dynasty. They ruled most of the western Deccan, South India, between the 10th and 12th centuries.

Notes:
Prakash Raj, an actor known for his work in Kannada and other Indian cinemas, was honored with the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in 2025. The award is given annually by the Karnataka government to recognize notable contributions in various fields including the arts. Prakash Raj has won multiple National Film Awards and is recognized for his diverse roles across several Indian film industries. The Karnataka Rajyotsava Award is the second-highest civilian honor presented by the state of Karnataka on November 1 every year, the Karnataka state formation day.

Notes:
Channapatna toys are traditionally manufactured in Ramanagara district of Karnataka. The craft involves using ‘Doodhi wood’ (Aale Mara) and non-toxic vegetable dyes. These toys date back to Tipu Sultan’s era, who invited Persian artisans to train local craftsmen. The craft received a GI tag in 2005.

Notes:
Karnataka’s own tax revenue for 2026-27 is projected at Rs 2,20,000 crore, showing 14% growth over the 2025-26 revised estimate. State GST and Sales tax/VAT are expected to increase by 14%, while state excise is projected to grow by 10%. The projected GSDP for 2026-27 is Rs 33,05,500 crore, with 7% growth, raising tax revenue as a percentage of GSDP from 6.2% to 6.7%.

Notes:
As of 2025, Karnataka hosted more than 19,000 startups recognized by DPIIT. The Economic Survey 2025–26 reported that Karnataka accounted for 39% of India’s GenAI startups, leading the country. Karnataka’s startup ecosystem ranked third nationally in 2026 per DPIIT. Over 5,000 active tech investors support its growth. Government schemes like ELEVATE contribute to startup support, though detailed figures are unavailable.

Notes:
Masti Venkatesha Iyengar received the Jnanpith Award in 1983. He was the fourth Kannada writer to earn this honor. He got the award for his historical novel “Chikkaveera Rajendra,” published in 1956, about the last ruler of the Kodagu kingdom. The Jnanpith Award is one of India’s highest literary honors, established in 1961 to recognize outstanding Indian authors. Masti’s career spanned over seven decades with more than 120 published works. He is known as the “Father of the Kannada Short Story.”

Notes:
Dr. D.N. Shankara Bhat authored the book ‘Kannada Bhasheya Bagge Nivenu Balliri.’ He is a linguist known for his research on Kannada’s grammar and linguistic history. The book examines Kannada language structure and corrects common misconceptions about its grammar and usage. Dr. Shankara Bhat has also written other notable works, including ‘Kannada Nudi Nadeedu Banda Dari.’

Notes:
Kadakola Madivalappa, a 19th-century saint from Kalaburagi, composed Tatvapadas in the Dasa-Pantha tradition. His spiritual poems emphasize inner silence and humility. His works are popular in North Karnataka’s folk and spiritual gatherings.