Karnataka Nataka Academy Annual Awards Announced (2025-26)
Key Highlights:
- The Karnataka Nataka Academy has announced its 2025–26 annual awards and honorary recognitions for contributions to the field of drama.
- The decision was made under the leadership of Chairman B. Shridhar Adapa.
Important Points:
Lifetime Achievement Award (Jeevan Gaurava Puraskar):
Awarded to:
- Shridhar Adapa
- S. Mohan
- Muralidhar Badiger
- Mutthuraj
State Drama Awards – Total 34 Recipients:
- Awards will be given for achievements in various drama-related fields such as:
- Acting,Directing,Playwriting,Music,Technical expertise,Contributions to regional theatre forms
For the Year 2024–25:
- Total: 50 Awards (including all categories)
- 25 awards to be presented at district-level programs
List of Award Recipients:
(Sample names as per the article – total of 34 awardees)
- S. Mohan (Bangalore)
- Muralidhar Badiger (Gadag)
- Shridhar Adapa (Director & Theorist)
- Pramila Prakash (Bangalore – Children’s Theatre)
- Rathnakar Savadatti (Belagavi)
- Mutthuraj (Makeup artist)
Shankar Bhat (Senior artist)
GTFS and Namma Transit – A New Era in Urban Mobility
Key Terms
- GTFS (General Transit Feed Specification):
A global standard for publishing public transport data such as schedules and routes in a machine-readable format. - IUDX (India Urban Data Exchange):
A government-supported platform enabling secure and seamless urban data sharing.
Key Speakers and Institutions
- Raghu Krishnapuram
- Emphasized how GTFS has transformed urban transit navigation.
- Shan M.S.
Co-founder, Namma Yatri- Described the features of the Namma Transit app, including live tracking and real-time journey planning.
- Tejasvi Surya
MP, Bengaluru South- Unveiled Mobility Blueprint 2030.
Namma Transit Feature
- Developed by Namma Yatri as part of the #EnRoute Innovation Challenge
- Supported by:
- World Resources Institute (India)
- Mercedes-Benz R&D India
- Villgro
📱 Key Features:
- Real-time journey planning across metro, auto, and cab.
- Live tracking, platform details, and prompts for smooth mode-switching.
- Currently in beta testing, wider rollout planned soon.
Mobility Blueprint 2030 – Goals
- 70% Public Transport Mode Share
- Reduce commute time & emissions by 50%
Develop robust multimodal infrastructure in partnership with private sector
23% rise in women’s employment in city after Shakti
About Shakti Scheme:
- Launched: June 11, 2023
- Objective: Free bus travel for women in Karnataka across 4 transport corporations:
- KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation)
- BMTC (Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation)
- NWKRTC (North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation)
- KKRTC (Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation)
Key Findings from the Study:
- 23% increase in women’s employment in Bengaluru
- 21% increase in Hubballi-Dharwad
- 27% of women in both cities shifted to bus travel due to the scheme
Study Details:
- Report Title: Beyond Free Rides: A Multi-State Assessment of Women’s Bus Fare Subsidy Schemes in Urban India
- Sample: 2,500+ surveys across 10 cities in Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, and West Bengal
Expert Opinions:
- Mitali Nikore (Chief Economist, Nikore Associates):
- “Shakti scheme improves access and reduces cost barriers for women.”
- Ramalinga Reddy (Transport Minister):
- “Scheme benefits working women from lower and middle-income families.”
Sectors impacted: Healthcare, Hospitality, Retail, Manufacturing, Domestic Work
