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

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S.G. Susheelamma is a social worker from Bengaluru who founded Sumangali Seva Ashrama in 1975. The organization works for abandoned women, orphans, and marginalized groups. It provides education, healthcare, and adult literacy programs. She received the Padma Shri award in 2026 for her social service efforts.

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Ranna, one of the three gems of Kannada literature, wrote Gadayuddha. It narrates the mace duel between Bhima and Duryodhana from Mahabharata. He was patronized by Western Chalukya rulers. Vikramarjuna Vijaya is by other authors, Kavirajamarga is an earlier Kannada classic, and Harivamsha is an ancient Sanskrit text.

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The 2021–23 Special Bulletin on Maternal Mortality by the Office of the Registrar General of India reports Karnataka’s MMR as 68 deaths per 100,000 live births. This rate is the highest among South Indian states, exceeding the regional average of 42. In 2025, the state recorded a 24% reduction in maternal deaths in the first ten months, with 366 deaths compared to 483 in the same period of 2024. Karnataka also allocated Rs 139.53 crore funding for a high-level committee to reduce preventable maternal mortality.

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The K.C. Valley project is a unique irrigation initiative that treats secondary sewage water from Bengaluru and pumps it to fill dry tanks in the semi-arid districts of Kolar and Chikkaballapur, thereby recharging groundwater primarily in these two districts.

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Karnataka ranks third in sugar production in 2025-26 with a total of 4.84 million tonnes nationally. Hassan district is one of the notable sugar production areas in Karnataka, contributing significantly to the state’s sugar output. Karnataka’s sugar industry plays a critical role in the economy, producing around 6.35 million tonnes according to ISMA projections. Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh lead the sugar production, with Maharashtra producing over 10 million tonnes. Sugarcane cultivation in Karnataka is mainly concentrated in districts like Hassan, Mandya, and Belagavi, with Hassan recognized for its consistent sugar output during the 2025-26 season.

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Karnataka ranks 8th among Indian states in MSME count as of 2025 with approximately 12 lakh MSMEs. Maharashtra is ranked 1st with 37.12 lakh MSMEs, followed by Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh. Karnataka’s share is about 5.67% of total MSMEs nationwide. The Udyam registrations show a total of 7.16 crore MSMEs in India as of November 2025.

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Karnataka ranks 3rd in the 2026 DPIIT startup ecosystem ranking. It hosts over 19,000 DPIIT-recognized startups as of 2025 and raised $3.8 billion in funding. The Bengaluru-Karnataka region was ranked #14 globally in the 2025 Startup Genome Global Startup Ecosystem Report with 32 unicorns from 2020-2024.

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Gangubai Hangal was a prominent Kirana Gharana vocalist trained under Sawai Gandharva. Sawai Gandharva was a disciple of Abdul Karim Khan. She became a leading female vocalist in Hindustani classical music, especially known in Karnataka. Her training under Sawai Gandharva shaped her powerful style preferred for khayal singing.

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Karnataka is divided into Seismic Zones II and III according to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Zone II covers the Mysore Plateau and cities like Bengaluru and Mysore, categorized as low damage risk. Zone III includes parts of the state with moderate seismic risk such as coastal areas and northern districts like Mangalore, Karwar, and Dharwad.

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Percy Brown, a British art historian, called Aihole the “Cradle of Indian temple architecture” in his book Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods). Aihole was used between the 5th and 8th centuries CE by the Early Chalukyas as a site for experimenting with temple styles. It contains over 125 stone temples showing evolution from rock-cut caves to freestanding temples. Temples like Lad Khan and Durga Temple display early Nagara and Dravida shikhara styles, representing significant architectural development in Indian temple construction.