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

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:
Mysore Ganjifa cards are hand-painted playing cards used in traditional card games. They flourished under Wodeyar III in Karnataka and feature mythological themes. These cards have a GI tag to protect the art form. The decks often contain multiple suits and are part of Karnataka’s cultural heritage.

Notes:
Karnataka ranked 4th in GSDP for 2023-24 at ₹25,007 crore. Maharashtra ranked 1st, Tamil Nadu 2nd, and Uttar Pradesh 3rd. Karnataka’s economy is driven largely by the services sector, which comprises nearly 70% of its GSDP. For 2025-26, Karnataka’s GSDP rose to ₹32.81 lakh crore, a 12.9% increase over 2024-25, contributing 9.19% to India’s GDP.

Notes:
The Union Budget 2025-26 revised MSME classification criteria and modified the Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme to facilitate better credit access. Nationally, guarantees under CGSMSE between January and November 2025 were Rs 3.77 lakh crore, not Rs 5,000 crore. The Cabinet approved Rs 5,000 crore equity support for SIDBI, with Rs 3,000 crore allocated for 2025-26. There is no specific MSME credit flow data released for Karnataka for 2025-26 in the available information.

Notes:
Karnataka’s fiscal deficit for Budget 2026–27 is targeted at 2.9%–2.95% of GSDP, amounting to about Rs 97,448–97,449 crore. The target aligns with the Karnataka Fiscal Responsibility Act, which limits the fiscal deficit to under 3% of GSDP. This target is slightly lower than the revised estimate of 3% for 2025–26. The total budget outlay for 2026–27 is Rs 4.48 lakh crore with liabilities at Rs 8.24 lakh crore, approximately 24.94% of GSDP.

Notes:
Karnataka ranks 4th in cotton production for 2025-26 Kharif season with about 6% share. It produces approximately 19.15 lakh bales. Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Telangana rank above Karnataka. India’s total output is forecasted at 32-34 million bales. USDA data confirms these figures. Karnataka’s production reflects increased cotton acreage in southern India during this season.

Notes:
The M.B. Singh Committee was formed by the Government of Karnataka to study challenges faced by small and medium newspapers. It recommended welfare measures like increased advertisement rates, pension schemes, health insurance, and simplifying empanelment with the Department of Information and Public Relations.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
The Arab traveller Sulaiman visited the Rashtrakuta court in 851 CE during Amoghavarsha I’s reign. He described four great monarchs globally, including the Rashtrakuta king, referred to as Balhara. This title was derived from the Sanskrit Vallabha Rai, used by Rashtrakuta rulers. Amoghavarsha was known for justice, stable administration, and a strong army based at Manyakheta, the Rashtrakuta capital.

Notes:
In 2017, Karnataka declared the Southern Birdwing (Troides minos) as its state butterfly. It is the largest butterfly in India with a wingspan of 140–190 mm and is endemic to South India. Karnataka was the second Indian state after Maharashtra to officially designate a state butterfly.