International Yoga Day: Mangaluru hosts unique 'Jala yoga' event in swimming pool
Mangaluru, June 21 (PTI): As the 11th International Yoga Day is being celebrated with much fanfare everywhere on Saturday, the coastal city of Mangaluru celebrated the occasion with a distinctive aquatic twist—through Jala yoga, or water yoga.
Held at the Mangaluru City Corporation Swimming Pool, the event saw around 40 members of an amateur swimmers’ group perform yoga postures such as Padmasana and Shavasana while floating in 16-feet-deep water.
The organisers of the event highlighted how water yoga—a blend of traditional yoga postures, breathing techniques, and meditation practiced in water—can enhance both physical fitness and mental relaxation.
Adding a creative note to the celebrations, retired Dean of the Mangalore University of Fisheries, S M Shivaprakash, wrote a postcard to Prime Minister Narendra Modi while swimming.
“Dear Modiji, Happy International Yoga Day. I am writing this postcard while swimming in the pool. Fit India – Shivaprakash, Mangaluru,” read the handwritten note that drew attention at the event.
Speaking to reporters, Shivaprakash said, “Prime Minister Modi has taken yoga to the global stage. Yoga is about harmony between the body, mind, and soul. I swim daily, and today I wanted to honour Yoga Day in my own way.”
The event was organised by the amateur swimmers’ group in collaboration with the city’s public swimming pool, under the theme of this year’s Yoga Day: One Earth, One Health.
One of the participants, Chandrahass Shetty, said it was the first time such an aquatic yoga demonstration had been attempted in the city.
Participants reported feeling lighter and more flexible while performing asanas in water, attributing it to reduced pressure on the muscles. They also noted that the buoyancy made it easier to maintain poses for longer durations.
The event, blending physical discipline with creativity and environmental awareness, offered a fresh perspective on yoga and its adaptability. Organisers said the event is aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle and demonstrating India’s evolving innovations in wellness practices.
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Karnataka offers extensive incentives in its proposed IT policy
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka has proposed a new Information Technology Policy for 2025–2030, offering extensive financial and non-financial incentives aimed at accelerating investments, strengthening innovation and expanding the state's tech footprint beyond Bengaluru.
The Karnataka Cabinet gave its nod to the policy 2025–2030 with an outlay of Rs 445.50 crore on Thursday after the Finance Department accorded its approval.
The policy introduces 16 incentives across five enabler categories, nine of which are entirely new, with a distinctive push to support companies setting up or expanding in emerging cities.
Alongside financial support, the government is also offering labour-law relaxations, round-the-clock operational permissions and industry-ready human capital programmes to make Karnataka a globally competitive 'AI-native' destination.
According to the policy, units located outside Bengaluru will gain access to a wide suite of benefits, including research and development and IP creation incentives, internship reimbursements, talent relocation support and recruitment assistance.
The benefits also include EPF reimbursement, faculty development support, rental assistance, certification subsidies, electricity tariff rebates, property tax reimbursement, telecom infrastructure support, and assistance for events and conferences.
Bengaluru Urban will receive a focused set of six research and development and talent-oriented incentives, while Indian Global Capability Centres (GCCs) operating in the state will be brought under the incentive net.
Incentive caps and eligibility thresholds have been raised, and the policy prioritises growth-focused investments for both new and expanding units.
Beyond incentives, the government focuses on infrastructure and innovation interventions.
A flagship proposal in the policy is the creation of Techniverse -- integrated, technology-enabled enclaves developed through a public-private partnership model inside future Global Innovation Districts.
These campuses will offer plug-and-play facilities, artificial intelligence and machine learning and cybersecurity labs, advanced testbeds, experience centres, and disaster-resistant command centres.
There will also be a Statewide Digital Hub Grid and a Global Test Bed Infrastructure Network, linking public and private research and development, and innovation facilities across Karnataka.
The government has proposed a Women Global Tech Missions Fellowship for 1,000 mid-career women technologists, an IT Talent Return Programme to absorb experienced professionals returning from abroad, and broad-based skill and faculty development reimbursements.
Shared corporate transport routes in Bengaluru and tier-two cities will be designed with Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation and other transport entities to support worker mobility.
The government said the policy is the outcome of an extensive research and consultation process involving TCS, Infosys, Wipro, IBM, HCL, Tech Mahindra, Cognizant, HP, Google, Accenture and NASSCOM, along with sector experts and stakeholder groups.
It estimates an outlay of Rs 967.12 crore over five years, comprising Rs 754.62 crore for incentives and Rs 212.50 crore for interventions such as Techniverse campuses, digital grid development, global outreach missions and talent programmes.
