Karnataka delegation to visit UK for 3 days from Nov 24 to attract investments
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister for Large and Medium Industries M B Patil on Thursday said that he will visit London with a high-level delegation from November 24 to 26 to attract investments from leading UK-based companies.
He held discussions with Seema Malhotra, the UK Minister for Commonwealth Affairs and Development, and Linda Cameron, the British High Commissioner to India, who met him here.
Patil noted that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed between India and the United Kingdom earlier this year has created a favourable environment for investment.
During his London visit, the delegation will meet the heads of major companies such as Element-6, ARM, Linde, Martin-Baker, Fido AI, Oxford Space Systems, Green Jets, Nanopore Tech, Group Rhodes, The Senator Group, The Latos Group, Samco Holdings and others, he was quoted as saying by his office in a release.
Karnataka aims to strengthen economic ties by encouraging UK companies to invest in the State, the minister said, key focus sectors include higher education, technology exchange, high-tech manufacturing, aerospace, defence, electric vehicles, clean energy, and research-driven industries.
As part of this effort, the delegation will participate in a meeting organised by the UK-India Business Council on November 25, he added.
Officials from the UK informed the minister that The King's School, Canterbury--one of Britain's oldest educational institutions--will open its Bengaluru campus from the 2026 academic year. Similarly, RGS Guildford, which has partnered with the Mumbai-based Ryan Educational Group, will start its campus in Bengaluru from 2028. Both institutions will follow the 12-year British curriculum.
Patil said that it is heartening that the University of Liverpool has already opened its campus in Bengaluru, and expressed confidence that many more universities will set up their presence in Karnataka in the coming years.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
SC slams freebies culture, says states should open avenues for employment
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Thursday slammed the freebies culture, saying it was high time to revisit such policies that hamper the country's economic development.
Taking note of the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd's plea, which proposed to provide free electricity to all irrespective of financial status of consumers, the top court said it was quite understandable if states hand-hold the poor.
“Most of the states in the country are revenue deficit states and yet they are offering such freebies” overlooking development, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said.
ALSO READ: SC grants bail to filmmaker Vikram Bhatt in cheating case
The bench said economic development of the nation gets hampered with this kind of largesse distribution and states should work to open avenues for employment instead of giving free food, cycles, electricity to all.
The top court, however, issued notice to Centre and others on the plea of the DMK government-led power distribution firm which proposes to provide free electricity.
The power firm has challenged a rule of the Electricity Amendment Rules, 2024.
“What kind of culture are we developing in India? It is understandable that as part of the welfare measure you want to provide to those who are incapable of pay the electricity charges,” the bench asked.
“But without drawing a distinction between those who can afford and those who cannot, you start distributing. Will it not amount to an appeasing policy,” the CJI asked.
The bench asked as to why the Tamil Nadu firm suddenly decided to loosen the purse strings after the electricity tariff was notified.
“The states should work to open avenues for employment. If you start giving free food from morning to evening then free cycle, then free electricity then who will work and then what will happen to the work culture,” the CJI said.
The bench said states, instead of spending on development projects, do two jobs - paying salaries and distributing such largesse.
