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

Notes:
Shashi Shekhar Vempati served as CEO of Prasar Bharati from 2017 to 2022. Prasar Bharati is India’s public service broadcaster. He was the first non-civil servant to head it and introduced reforms in digital broadcasting. He also served as CEO of Rajya Sabha TV. He received the Padma Shri award in 2026 for his contributions to media governance and public broadcasting.

Notes:
The Karnataka Economic Survey 2025-26 reports the services sector accounts for 69.87% of Karnataka’s GSDP at current prices. The total GSDP is estimated at Rs 32.81 lakh crore with a 12.9% growth year-on-year. Services grew at 8.1% in this period. Bengaluru contributes 40.4% of the state’s GSDP, mainly through IT and related services. Industries contribute about 19.36-19.4% and agriculture around 10.8-11% of GSDP.

Notes:
Karnataka’s revenue deficit for Budget 2026-27 is estimated at Rs 22,957 crore, which is 0.7% of its GSDP. This amount is lower than the revised estimate of Rs 25,449 crore for 2025-26 but higher than the original 2025-26 budget of Rs 19,262 crore. The fiscal deficit is targeted between Rs 97,448 crore and Rs 99,449 crore, corresponding to about 2.9-2.95% of GSDP. The deficit increase is due to reduced central grants and GST shortfalls between Rs 10,000-15,000 crore. Karnataka plans to achieve revenue surplus by 2029-30 as per its Medium Term Fiscal Plan.

Notes:
In Karnataka’s 2026-27 budget, SGST accounts for 41% of the state’s own tax revenue. The own tax revenue is estimated at Rs 2,20,000 crore. The total revenue receipts for 2026-27 are Rs 3,15,050 crore, with own resources comprising 75%. SGST is projected to grow 14% over 2025-26 estimates despite a Rs 15,000 crore loss from GST rationalization.

Notes:
Karnataka ranked third in fish production in 2025 with 1.000 million tonnes and 5.13% of India’s total. Andhra Pradesh was first with 5.000 million tonnes and West Bengal second with 2.000 million tonnes. Karnataka’s fishery production includes 66% marine fishing, producing species like pomfret and bangude, and 34% inland carp aquaculture.

Notes:
The Mysore Brothers, Dr. Mysore Manjunath and Mysore Nagaraj, are globally renowned violinists specializing in Carnatic music. Their performances feature exceptional synchronization and improvisation skills. Dr. Manjunath holds a PhD in Music from the University of Mysore. They started performing publicly at ages 8 and 10, making significant contributions to Indian classical music.

Notes:
All three pairs are correctly matched: Hardekar Manjappa is known as the “Gandhi of Karnataka” for spreading Gandhian ideology in the region. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay was a key figure in the Salt Satyagraha at Shiroda. Dr. N.S. Hardikar founded the Seva Dal to train volunteers for the Congress party.

Notes:
‘Jnapaka Chitrashaale’ is a memoir series by D.V. Gundappa containing biographical sketches of Mysore’s personalities. It covers social, political, and cultural history of Karnataka during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The series documents people from royalty to commoners, highlighting Mysore’s heritage.

Notes:
The Kappe Arabhatta inscription dates to around 700 CE and is located on a cliff above the Bhutanatha temple in Badami. It is notable for the earliest recorded use of the Tripadi metre in Kannada literature. The inscription praises Kappe Arabhatta, a local warrior or saint, describing him as both gentle and fierce. The text is in Sanskrit and Old Kannada. Badami is part of Karnataka, where several important inscriptions have been found, including this one.

Notes:
Sonnalige Siddharama, a 12th-century saint from Sonnalige (modern Solapur), used the pen name ‘Kapilasiddha Mallikarjuna’. He was a prominent vachanakara and one of the five prophets of the Lingayat faith. The other listed saints used different pen names, such as Amuge Rayamma (“Amugeeshwara”), Akka Mahadevi (“Chennamallikarjuna”), and Dohara Kakkayya (“Abhinava Channabasavanna”).