Karnataka records 14,087 out-of-school children; ranks third in South India
Bengaluru: Karnataka has emerged as the third-highest state in South India in terms of out-of-school children, according to the latest data released by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development.
According to a report published by The New Indian Express on Saturday, information provided in Parliament in response to a question raised by Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury shows that during the 2025–26 academic year, Karnataka recorded 14,087 out-of-school children, of whom 6,462 are adolescent girls. The figures mark a sharp increase compared to the previous year.
In 2024–25, there were 9,422 out-of-school children, of whom only 115 were girls. Karnataka ranks 12th nationally, while Gujarat, Assam, and Uttar Pradesh top the chart.
In South India, Andhra Pradesh topped the list with a staggering 46,463 out-of-school children, including 17,584 adolescent girls. Tamil Nadu stood second with 19,897 children, of whom 9,054 were girls. Telangana recorded 4,753 out-of-school children, including 2,006 girls, while Kerala reported the lowest number at 1,773, with 539 girls.
The Ministry reportedly stated that it is providing free education to children through schemes such as Samagra Shiksha, upgradation and operation of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, Morarji Desai Residential Schools, free uniforms and textbooks, and the construction of hostels for SC and ST girl students, among others.
Despite these measures, thousands of children remain out of school due to persistent challenges such as lack of basic infrastructure, including toilets and drinking water, shortage of teachers, child marriage, teenage pregnancies, and the fact that free and compulsory education is mandated only up to the age of 14 and not 18. In Karnataka alone, out of 46,460 schools, around 170 schools still lack toilet facilities.
Kathyayini Chamraj, Executive Trustee at CIVIC, recently submitted a memorandum to Laxmi Hebbalkar, Minister for Women and Child Development, urging the government to introduce mandatory pre-registration marriage certificates.
Instead of police intervention at wedding venues, the government should make pre-registration marriage certificates compulsory through the tahsildar to verify the age of couples, she said, adding that this would help curb child marriages and reduce school dropouts among adolescent girls.
Chamraj also called for extending free and compulsory education to children aged 15 to 18, along with options for vocational education and apprenticeships. She emphasised that it is crucial for multiple government departments to work together, allocate funds, and ensure essential facilities such as toilets and drinking water in schools.
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Karnataka leads in AI: Minister Priyank Kharge at Impact Summit
Bengaluru (PTI): Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday highlighted the state’s leadership in AI and deep technology while engaging with global industry leaders and startups at a four-day summit held in New Delhi, officials said.
During the event, Priyank witnessed the signing of a strategic MoU between H Company and St John’s Medical College & Research Institute, Bengaluru, to pilot advanced enterprise AI for hospital operations and workflow automation, strengthening responsible AI in healthcare, the minister’s office said in a statement here.
Speaking on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit, the minister said Karnataka is ahead of the curve in AI.
“We are already home to leading global AI players such as Harvey AI and Anthropic, and The Walt Disney Company is expanding its AI network in Bengaluru,” he added.
Noting Bengaluru’s position among the top global cities for AI talent, he added, “Under our DeepTech Decade, we are supporting startups with grants of up to Rs 1 crore. We are engaging with global leaders and innovators to ensure responsible AI use, build the right skill sets, create strong incubators, and establish Centres of Excellence that can foster startups and strengthen e-governance.”
The minister also attended a roundtable organised by the US-India Business Council (USIBC), where discussions focused on strengthening technology collaboration, investment partnerships, and innovation-led growth between Karnataka and global enterprises.
He met Timo Harakka, Member of Parliament of Finland, to explore possibilities for collaboration between Karnataka and Finland in AI and deep-tech sectors, including joint research, innovation partnerships, and startup exchanges.
The Karnataka IT Minister also visited the Indian Army showcase at the summit, which featured advanced AI-driven defence and strategic technology applications, highlighting the role of AI in national security and modernisation efforts.
He toured the Karnataka Pavilion and the ArtPark Pavilion, interacting with founders and teams from Karnataka’s innovation ecosystem and reviewing emerging AI and deep-tech solutions, the statement added.
