State Cabinet approves Karnataka Innovation Policy with outlay of Rs 518.27 crore
Bengaluru (PTI): The state Cabinet on Thursday approved the Karnataka Innovation Policy 2025–2030 with a total outlay of Rs 518.27 crore over five years, aiming to position the state as a global innovation hub.
Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, state Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil, said the government aims to establish up to 25,000 additional startups, of which 10,000 will emerge from clusters outside Bengaluru.
"The policy is designed to play a vital role in developing a vibrant and supportive ecosystem to position the state as a global innovation hub by nurturing innovations throughout their life cycle and providing the resources, mentorship, and infrastructure required to foster sustainable growth and technological advancement," the minister said.
The Cabinet also approved three major sets of rules, the Maintaining of Record of the Information regarding Arrest of Person Rules, 2025, The Karnataka Submission of Final Form by Police Officer Rules, 2025, and The Karnataka Form and Manner of Information Rules, 2025.
The Cabinet gave administrative approval for purchasing equipment worth Rs 94.50 crore to establish a Peripheral Cancer Centre at the Princess Krishnajammanni Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases Hospital premises under Mysore Medical College and Research Institute in collaboration with the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru.
The facility, the minister noted will facilitate quality treatment at affordable cost to cancer patients in Mysuru, surrounding districts, and neighbouring states, while reducing patient load and treatment delays.
A new Haj Bhavan at Bajpe in Mangaluru taluk at an estimated cost of Rs 20 crore was also cleared. The structure, to be implemented through the Karnataka Housing Board, will provide all essential facilities for Haj pilgrims and will be modelled after the Haj Bhavan in Bengaluru.
The Cabinet approved the merger of 13 villages in Tumakuru district with Koratagere Town Panchayat to form Koratagere Town Municipality, the inclusion of additional areas into Vijayapura City Corporation, and the upgrading of Doranhalli in Yadgir and Rajeshwar in Bidar districts into Town Panchayats.
The Cabinet sanctioned Rs 49.91 crore for five years of operation and maintenance of sewage treatment and pumping stations at Koramangala-Challaghatta Valley, Agaram, and Sarakki under the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).
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Unnao rape case: SC sets aside order suspending Sengar's life term, asks HC to decide plea afresh
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Friday set aside a Delhi High Court order suspending the life sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case and asked it to decide the plea afresh.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi also asked the high court to make endeavours to decide the main plea of Sengar against his conviction and life imprisonment in the case within two months.
It further said that if it was not possible for the high court to decide the main plea expeditiously, then it should pass an order on a plea of Sengar seeking the suspension of the life term in the case before the start of the summer vacation there.
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The bench, which had earlier set aside the HC order granting bail to Sengar after a huge public uproar over the issue, said that it did not express any opinion on the merits of the case and the high court could proceed with it afresh.
The CJI also asked the HC to decide afresh issues like whether an MLA can be treated as a public servant for being prosecuted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Earlier, the top court had deferred to the first week of May the hearing on a petition filed by the CBI challenging the suspension of life imprisonment of the former MLA in the rape case.
On December 29 last year, the top court stayed the Delhi High Court order suspending Sengar's life sentence and said he shall not be released from custody.
In its order dated December 23, 2025, the Delhi High Court had said that Sengar had been convicted under Section 5 (C) (aggravated penetrative sexual assault by a public servant) of the POCSO Act but an elected representative does not fit the definition of a "public servant" under Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code.
The high court had suspended the jail term of Sengar, who was serving life imprisonment in the Unnao rape case, till the pendency of his appeal, saying he had already served seven years and five months in prison.
The high court order has sparked criticism from various sections of society and protests were held by the victim, her family and activists.
