Cabinet decides to give Karnataka Ratna Award to actors Vishnuvardhan, Saroja Devi posthumously
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday decided to bestow the Karnataka Ratna award on Kannada film actors Vishnuvardhan and B Saroja Devi posthumously.
A resolution was also passed to send a letter to the Centre that Rashtra Kavi (poet) Kuvempu should be given Bharat Ratna, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said.
"The cabinet today decided that Karnataka Ratna be conferred on Vishnuvardhan and Saroja Devi," Patil told reporters here.
Born as Sampath Kumar on 18 September 1950, the actor (Vishnuvardhan) had acted in over 220 films.
The actor, who had earned the title of ‘Saahasa Simha’, had also acted in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films. He passed away on December 30, 2009.
Saroja Devi was also a multi-lingual actress who made a mark in all the southern films and left an indelible imprint on the Hindi film industry with her movie ‘Sasural’ with Rajendra Kumar.
She is remembered for her lead role in the Kannada period film ‘Kittur Rani Chennamma’.
Born on January 7, 1938 and died on July 14, 2025, she had acted in over 200 movies.
Vishnuvardhan and Saroja Devi will be the 10th and 11th recipient of this prestigious honour.
Actor and former minister Jayamala, and actors Shruthi and Malavika Avinash had met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday, requesting him to confer the Karnataka Ratna award on actors Vishnuvardhan and Saroja Devi.
Karnataka Ratna was last awarded to late actor Puneeth Rajkumar posthumously in 2022.
Kanadda thespian Rajkumar was among the first recipients of Karnataka Ratna award in 1992, along with noted poet Kuvempu.
Other recipients of the award are S Nijalingappa (Politics), CNR Rao (Science), Bhimsen Joshi (Music), Shivakumara Swamiji (Social Service), Virendra Heggade (Social Service), and Dr J Javaregowda (Education & Literature).
Minister Patil said the cabinet also decided to hold a special cabinet meeting on September 16 on Upper Bhadra Irrigation Project, which involves acquisition of 75,000 acres of land.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said that the compensation amount for land acquired under the Upper Krishna Irrigation Project will be finalised at the cabinet meeting to be held on September 11.
However, Patil clarified that there are many technical and legal matters to be resolved, which will require discussions.
"Against this backdrop, today the state cabinet on various points discussed, but we could not complete the discussions. Hence, a special cabinet meeting will be held on September 16," Patil said.
He added that a meeting chaired by CM Siddaramaiah took place in the presence of Shivakumar with the farmers and other stakeholders.
"To complete the project, 75,000 acres will be submerged. If this project has to be completed, we have to take farmers into confidence," he underlined.
Patil said there were no discussions on holding the local body election using ballot papers.
"We took note of the media reports, which said that the matter would be taken up for discussion to bring an amendment to the law, but the matter was not before the cabinet today. The state government would discuss and consider it (later)," the minister added.
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Railways: FM Sitharaman allocates Rs 2.77 lakh crore for capital expenditure
New Delhi (PTI): Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday allocated Rs 2,77,830 crore to the Ministry of Railways for capital expenditure in the financial year 2026–27.
The Budget allocation includes the construction of new lines and the purchase of locomotives, wagons, and coaches, among other works.
The ministry had received Rs 2,52,000 crore in FY 2025–26. The current allocation for the upcoming financial year is 10.25 per cent higher, making it the highest ever. Besides, the ministry will get Rs 15,000 crore from Extra Budgetary Resources, the document showed.
According to the Budget document, the railways’ total earnings are projected at Rs 3,85,733.33 crore, while expenditure is estimated at Rs 3,82,186.01 crore, resulting in a surplus of Rs 3,547.32 crore at the end of the financial year.
"Since the railways' earnings are too meagre to fund asset creation and support new works, it receives funds from the government. Accordingly, the ministry has been allocated Rs 2,77,830 crore to undertake activities such as laying new lines, converting narrow gauge to broad gauge, and constructing double lines on single-line routes," a railway official said.
The Budget document has earmarked funds from the Rs 2,77,830 crore allocation for various construction and asset creation projects. These include Rs 36,721.55 crore for new lines, Rs 4,600 crore for gauge conversion, Rs 37,750 crore for doubling, Rs 52,108.73 crore for rolling stock (locomotives, wagons, etc.), and Rs 7,500 crore for signalling and telecom, among others.
The allocation under the signalling and telecom head is significant as the automatic train protection system, Kavach, falls under this department. The ministry has laid strong emphasis on expanding Kavach coverage across the rail network.
The document also presents the actual earnings and expenditure of the railways in 2024–25. During the year, railways earned Rs 3,35,757.09 crore and spent Rs 3,32,440.64 crore, recording a surplus of Rs 3,316.45 crore. The budgetary allocation for the year stood at Rs 2,51,946.56 crore.
"As far as FY 2025–26 is concerned, the actual figures for earnings and expenditure will be available only after the financial year ends,” an official said, adding that largely earnings and expenses are on expected lines with minor changes.
Out of the total expenditures of the railways, the biggest share goes on paying pensions to its employees.
According to Budget documents, expenditure on pensions was Rs 58844.07 crore in 2024-25, which is expected to rise to Rs 74500 crore in 2026-27.
