Karnataka Cabinet approves new space, IT policy and LEAP
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Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday approved the Karnataka Space Technology Policy, Information Technology Policy and Local Economic Accelerator Programme (LEAP).
Briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said approval has been accorded for Karnataka Space Technology Policy 2025-30.
Considering economic opportunities, the potential to enhance overall scientific temperament in the State, and challenges faced by the sector, the policy will have five strategic pillars -- skill development initiatives, investment incentives, infrastructure creation, innovation, and adoption and awareness, he said.
The government has resolved to implement the ‘Karnataka Information Technology Policy 2025–2030’ with an estimated budget of Rs 445.5 crore over five years, as concurred by the Finance Department.
The new policy aims to promote emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Quantum Computing, Green-IT, and advanced Cybersecurity.
“The policy aims to seamlessly integrate AI with the State’s already robust IT sector, making Karnataka a global AI hub, thereby unlocking new economic opportunities, promoting innovation, and improving public service delivery,” the minister said.
Patil explained that the policy emphasises balanced growth by nurturing clusters in emerging cities like Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, Tumakuru, Kalaburagi, and Shivamogga.
Further, under the Local Economic Accelerator Programme (LEAP), the Cabinet decided to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Defence Technology and Industry at a total budget of Rs 18.00 crore over five years, and to designate Dhaarati Foundation, IIT Dharwad, as the implementation partner for establishment and operation of the CoE; informed the Minister for Law and Tourism.
A grant of Rs 200.00 crore has been provided in the current financial year for the LEAP Programme, which aims to generate five lakh new jobs across the State, according to Patil.
Innovation ecosystems will be developed in Mysuru, Mangaluru, Udupi-Manipal, Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, and Kalaburagi.
The life-cycle approach will be followed for setting up incubators, accelerators, Centres of Excellence, and Global Technology Centres (GTCs).
A corpus fund of Rs 100.00 crore for DeepTech development and a Fund of Funds (FoF) of Rs 300.00 crore will be established. Six CoEs will be set up outside Bengaluru, the Minister added.
Besides, a decision was taken to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Quantum Artificial Intelligence and Computing at IIIT Dharwad under LEAP, at an outlay of Rs 18 crore over five years, and to designate IIIT Dharwad’s Research Park Foundation as the implementation partner.
A grant of Rs 200 crore has been allotted in the current financial year for LEAP, which aims to generate five lakh new jobs across the State.
The same set of initiatives—development of innovation ecosystems in Mysuru, Mangaluru, Udupi-Manipal, Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, and Kalaburagi; establishment of incubators, accelerators, CoEs, and GTCs; a Rs 100 crore corpus for DeepTech, Rs 300 crore Fund of Funds, and six CoEs outside Bengaluru—will be undertaken, the Minister said.
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Two arrested in K'taka for assaulting minors, uploading CSAM content
Bengaluru (PTI): Two men were arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two minor girls, recording the acts on mobile phones and uploading the videos online as child sexual abuse material, police said on Thursday.
The accused have been identified as Kiran Kumar (29), hailing from Chitradurga district, and Aditya M K (20), hailing from Shivamogga district, they said.
A probe was initiated after information was received from the NCRP portal regarding a suspected instance of creation of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) for online dissemination, police said.
Accordingly, a case was registered at Kaggalipura Police Station under relevant sections of the IT Act on May 10, they added.
Investigation revealed that two minor girl victims were exploited and videos were created and uploaded to the internet. The child victims have subsequently recorded their statements as per procedure and further necessary legal steps have been taken, Pronab Mohanty Director General of Police, Cyber Command, said in a statement.
Based on the statements of the victims, the accused persons, who allegedly assaulted the minors, recorded the acts on mobile phones and uploaded the videos online, were arrested, he said.
Following the probe, sections 65(2) (rape) and 70 (gangrape) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant sections of the POCSO Act, have been added to the FIR, police said.
Officials collected relevant information and on May 12, arrested the accused persons and seized three mobile phones belonging to them, in which the videos had allegedly been recorded, he said.
The accused were later produced before the court and taken into police custody for further investigation, he added.
According to him, in CSAM cases, police usually apprehend offenders who have downloaded such content or have kept them in their possession after obtaining them from elsewhere, usually the internet.
"The present case is one of the very few instances where content creators and uploaders have been apprehended," Mohanty added.
