Ramesh Babu, Arathi Krishna, K. Shivakumar, Jakkappanavar nominated to Karnataka Legislative Council
Bengaluru: The state government has issued an order nominating four members to the vacant positions in the Karnataka Legislative Council.
The nominees include KPCC Communication and Media Cell president Ramesh Babu, NRI Forum vice-president Dr. Arathi Krishna, senior journalist Dr. K. Shivakumar, and Dalit leader F.H. Jakkappanavar.
The vacancies arose following the completion of terms of Congress leaders U.B. Venkatesh and Prakash K. Rathod in October 2024, and JD(S) leader K.A. Tippeswamy in January 2025. Additionally, C.P. Yogeshwar resigned to contest the Channapatna bypoll, leaving another seat vacant.
Ramesh Babu, a former JD(S) MLC who later rebelled against the party’s leadership and joined the Congress, currently serves as a party spokesperson.
Dr. Arathi Krishna, daughter of senior Congress leader and former minister Begane Ramayya, has long been associated with the party. She served as the first chairperson of the KPCC NRI Cell and worked in the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C. as a community development officer. She also served as an advisor at the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs’ India Development Foundation. Through her NGO, Krishna Foundation, she has worked to improve education in rural Karnataka. She holds a Master’s in Political Science from Mysore University and a Master’s in International Commerce and Public Policy from George Mason University, Washington. She has also been awarded an honorary doctorate by Kuvempu University.
Dr. K. Shivakumar, originally from Bangarpet in Kolar district, is the son of Krishnappa and Eramma. Currently the Resident Editor of The New Indian Express, he began his journalism career with Andolana daily before joining The Indian Express. He holds a Ph.D. and has had a distinguished career in journalism.
F.H. Jakkappanavar, a prominent Dalit leader, has been nominated to the Council as well. He is a trade union president and has previously served as the state president of the Congress Dalit Cell.
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Budget allocation to AYUSH Ministry sees 20% rise
New Delhi (PTI): Budget allocation for the AYUSH ministry saw 20 per cent increase, from Rs 3,671.82 crore (revised estimates) in FY 2025-26 to Rs 4,408.93 crore in FY 2026-27.
The government has also announced the setting up of three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda to strengthen research in the field.
Presenting the Union Budget 2026-27, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, "Ancient Indian Yoga, already respected in several parts of the world, was given a mass global recognition when the Prime Minister took it to the United Nations."
Stating that post-Covid Ayurveda has gained similar global acceptance and recognition, Sitharaman said exporting quality Ayurvedic products could help farmers who grow the herbs and the youth who process them.
To meet the global demand, she proposed setting up of three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda, upgrading AYUSH pharmacies and drug-testing labs for higher standards of certification ecosystem, making available more skilled personnel, and upgrading the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar to bolster evidence-based research, training and awareness on traditional medicine.
Among the Centrally sponsored schemes, the allocation for the National AYUSH Mission has been increased from Rs 780.96 crore in FY 2025-26 to Rs 1,300 crore in FY 2026-27, registering 66.5 per cent hike.
The allocation for the All India Institute of Ayurveda has been reduced by 12 per cent.
Funding for the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda has also declined from 279.24 crore to 219.05 crore.
