February 2024

Taxing temple donations upto 10%

Congress Govt amends Hindu Religious Institutions & Charitable Endowment bill, allowing non-Hindus on Temple trust & taxing Temple donations up to 10%.

The Congress government has imposed 10% Jizya tax on 90% Hindus of Karnataka.

March 2024

445 crores from temples - 330 crores to Churches and Mosques

Congress in Karnataka has collected Rs.445 crores from Temples and given away Rs.330 crores (75%) from it, to Churches and Mosques.

May 2024

Non - Hindu Nawaz to oversee Brahmotsavam event

Congress government in Karnataka appoints non-hindu 'Nawaz' to oversee the Brahmotsavam event at the Shri Avimukteshwara Swamy Temple in Hoskote. Twitter

July 2024

Lithium deposits found

Lithium deposits have been found in the Mandya and Yadgiri districts of Karnataka.

Mughal era painting showing Mughals crossing Indus River with tonnes of Lithium from Uzbekistan which they later buried in Karnataka. - Historian Romila Thappar

September 2024

Withdrawn general consent to CBI

Karnataka government has withdrawn the general consent granted to the Delhi Police Special Establishment for CBI inquiries. This move appears to be an attempt to shield the corrupt from the CBI's investigations and protect Siddaramaiah, who is currently accused in the Mysuru Development Corporation scam.

October 2024

Withdraws old Hubbali Police Station riots case

• Karnataka Govt withdraws Old Hubbali Police station riots case overruling Law dept and Police dept opinion.

• Case was filed in Oct 2022 against AIMIM leaders Mohammed Arif and others accused of leading a large mob of Muslims that attacked the police, threatened to storm the police station.

• Dy CM DK Shivakumar had recently written to the govt requesting the case to be dropped.

• A number of Policemen were seriously injured in the ensuing stone pelting and rioting.

Karnataka BJP against withdrawing cases

• Karnataka BJP will write letter to Union Law Minister, President and PM Modi against Congress Govt's decision to revoke cases filed against AIMIM rioters in Huballi violence.
• Meanwhile, Police detained BJP leaders and party workers who were gathered to give a memorandum to Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah in Huballi.

August 2024

Permission for prosecution in MUDA land scam granted by Governor

Governor v. State Government

• Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah faces prosecution in 'MUDA land scam case as the Governor gives his permission.
• Siddaramaiah's wife allegedly benefited from MUDA land swaps.
• Chief Minister didn't disclose wife's land in poll affidavit. According to the report, the total scam is 4 thousand crores
• 13 years ago then Karnataka Governor HR Bharadwaj had allowed prosecution against then BJP sitting CM Yeddyurappa ji.

October 2024

Fee on aggregator platforms

• The Karnataka government is likely to impose a fee of 1-2 percent on every transaction that takes place on aggregator platforms such as Zomato, Swiggy, Flipkart, Amazon, Ola, Uber, Urban Company (UC), and several others.

• The amount collected by these aggregators will be transferred directly to a welfare board, which will eventually use the funds to introduce social security measures for gig workers engaged in delivery services for these platforms.

November 2024

Congress lies about 40% commision allegations against BJP

• No proof in key complaint: Lokayukta exposes Congress’ lies against previous BJP Karnataka govt

• 40% commission allegations against previous BJP gov proven false in Lokayukta investigation

• Congress wasn’t able to present evidence for their allegations!
  X

December, 2024 (17.12.2024 - The Hindu)

Lingayat - Panchamsali demanding OBC reservation

• Lingayat - Panchamsali people demanding the community’s inclusion under the 2-A category of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation list.

• The protest was undertaken under the seer of Lingayat Panchamasali Peeth, Sri Basava Jaya Mrutyunjaya Swami, who was earlier actively involved in the movement for independent religion status for Lingayat faith.

Categories 2C and 2D

• The then BJP government led by Basavaraj Bommai, carved out two more categories — 2-C and 2-D — to appease Panchamasalis and also the Vokkaligas.

• The government also sought to scrap the 4% reservation given to Muslims under the 2-B category and redistribute it between these two communities.

• In the Supreme Court, the then BJP government filed an affidavit that it will not implement the order on the new reservation categories.

Legal hurdles in the demand

Three legal hurdles in fulfilling the demand

1. PIL writ petition filed by Raghavendra D.G. against the State of Karnataka and Others: The government would not alter the existing composition of the 2-A category either by addition or by deletion of any caste.
2. The afidavit filed by the Karnataka government in the Supreme Court in March 2023 that any changes in the 2-A category or any addition or deletion will not be implemented without further approval of the Court.
3. The interim report of the Backward Classes Commission of Karnataka, which recommended against any change in the composition of 2-A and abolition of 2-B.

Wayforward:

Lingayat-Panchamasali community is to approach the Permanent Backward Classes Commission with their demand for inclusion in the 2-A category Any such demand on reservation should be routed through the Commission, which is mandated under a provision of Article 340 of the Constitution.

December 2024

3500 crores loan from World Bank

The state government seeks 3500 crore loan from world bank for civic works.

Bangalore water supply and sewerage board has sought 1000crore, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike sought 2000 crore and Revenue department sought 500crore.

January 2025

Increase in bus fare

Now bus fare 15% increase from January 5. DGP

Increase in metro fare

• Bengaluru Metro is planning a 40-45% fare hike, marking the first increase in eight years.
• If implemented, the maximum ticket price will increase from Rs 60 to Rs 85.
• 

Fair increase

• Uniforms haven't reached kids, Fuel by ₹3, Milk by ₹5, Guidance Value by 30%, Stamp Duty by 500%, SSLC Pass % has been lowest.
• Property registration fees – 600%
• Property guidance values – 30%
• Vehicle registration fees – 10%
• Hospital service charges – 5%
• State-run college fees – 10%
• Bengaluru Metro fares – 50%
• Electric vehicle tax – 10%
• Electricity tariffs – 14.5%
• Water tariffs – 30%
• Property tax – 25%
• Seed prices – 60%
• Beer prices – 45%
• Milk prices – 15%
• Bus fares – 15%

February 2025

Increase in birth and death certificates

• Prices increased multifold from Rs 5 to Rs. 50 in Karnataka

Spent 1 lakh crore rupees to improve traffic

• Dy. CM D.K Shiva Kumar said that the government plans to spend Rs. 1Lakh crores to improve the Bengaluru's traffic.

March 2025

High level probe into honey trap scandal

A senior Congress Minister and 48 others got snared in a honey trap. Minister Rajanna spills the beans, claiming that 48 CDs implicate Congress leaders, including national leaders, in the scandal.

April 2025

15% hike in private bus fares from May as diesel price and toll rise

The Private Bus Owners Association announced its decision to raise ticket prices by approximately 15 per cent—with an increase of Rs 2 per stage—to come into effect from May 2025.

Karnataka is already seeing large-scale protests against rising prices, led by various transport and trade groups.

The Lorry Owners Association, has called for a bandh and the Private Bus Owners Association has supported it. India Today

June 2025

Workday may stretch to 10 hours under the current proposal

• Government proposed to amend the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishment act, 1961 and Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishment rules, 1963.
• The act governs a large number of shops and commercial establishments including hotels, pubs, bars, restaurants, offices, IT and ITES industries.
• To increase the daily working hours to 10 hours from 9 hours, besides allowing over time hours.
• This adds to 48 hours a week, including the over time of up to 12 hours.
• A similar amendment has been brought in Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand
• The amendment also removes the shops and commercial establishments that employ less 10 person from its purview. That is they are exempted from filing annual returns. ¹

References

Footnotes

1. 18.06.2025 - the Hindu ↩