Discovery of Ancient Ganga Period Stone Inscriptions in Kottanuru Village, Mysore
Location and Context
- Place: Kottanuru village, near Shasanakere in H.D. Kote taluk, Mysuru district.
- Recent Discovery: A 1200-year-old Ganga dynasty-era stone inscription (Shaasana) has been found.
- Period: Estimated to be from the 8th century CE, during the rule of Ganga kings.
Key Highlights
- The inscription is well-preserved and legible, found in the premises of an old temple near the village.
- The stone is about 5 feet long and 2.5 feet wide, with clear Kannada script engraved.
- Dharmendra, an epigraphist from the Department of Archaeology, confirmed its historical significance.
- The script and language style matches that of Ganga kings, ruling from 4th to 10th century CE.
- The inscription provides details about land grants to temples and Brahmins, a common Ganga administrative practice.
Academic and Research Significance
- The discovery offers insights into the socio-religious setup, temple administration, and land donation practices.
- It reflects the cultural richness of the Ganga period and importance given to education and religious institutions.
- May help in mapping ancient settlements and administrative regions in the Ganga kingdom.
Scholars suggest it can be integrated into research about old Kannada language evolution.
Bike Taxi Operations Halted in Karnataka
Background
- Trigger: Karnataka High Court refused to stay a previous order mandating suspension of bike taxi services.
- Legal Basis: Absence of regulatory norms under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
- Important Dates:
- April 2, 2025: Single judge orders winding up of bike taxi services within 6 weeks.
- June 13, 2025: Division Bench upholds the April 2 order.
- June 15, 2025: Final deadline for compliance.
- June 16, 2025: Ban on app-based bike taxis comes into effect.
Court’s Stand
- Services cannot resume unless a proper regulatory framework is introduced by the state.
- Emphasized that unregulated services pose safety and legal concerns.
Impacted Stakeholders
1. Riders and Gig Workers
- Estimated affected workers: Over 6 lakh,Average monthly income: ₹35,000.
2. Commuters
- Bike taxis offered a cheaper and faster last-mile solution.
- Heavily used by office-goers and students in metro cities like Bengaluru.
- Fare used to be as low as ₹30–₹40.
Bike Taxi Platforms
- Rapido: Agreed to comply with the court’s order from June 16.
- Urging for a balanced, legal, and inclusive policy.
Working to ensure safety of commuters and well-being of gig workers.
Karnataka Tops Wind Power Capacity Addition in FY 2024–25
Key Highlights
- Karnataka added 1,331.48 MW of wind power capacity in FY 2024–25.
- Ranked 1st in India for wind power capacity addition.
- Announcement made during Global Wind Day 2025 event in Bengaluru.
- Theme: “Pawan-Urja: Powering the Future of India.”
Karnataka’s Wind Power Achievements
- Total Installed Capacity: 7,351 MW (as of FY 2024–25).
- Exceeds the combined capacity of countries like South Africa, Portugal, and New Zealand.
- Comparable to wind power capacities of Sweden and Australia.
- States ranked next:
- Tamil Nadu: 1,136.37 MW
- Gujarat: 954.76 MW
Future Expansion Plans
- Karnataka to implement 17 GW of wind projects.
- 5+ GW under the Renewable Energy Cluster Programme.
- Infrastructure development includes:
- 20+ substations
- 400 kV transmission corridors
- Creation of Renewable Energy Reserve Zone
National Context
- India’s Current Wind Capacity: 51.5 GW
- Target by 2030:
- 100 GW from wind (incl. 30 GW offshore)
500 GW total from renewables
