Karnataka secures seat on Hub Governing Board of National Quantum Mission
Kalaburagi: Karnataka has secured representation in the Hub Governing Board (HGB) of the National Quantum Mission (NQM), following sustained efforts by Raichur MP G. Kumar Naik.
The Hindu reported that Naik had raised the matter in the Lok Sabha on August 11 under Rule 377, stressing the need for active participation of States in the mission’s development and governance. Responding to his intervention, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh assured that State Governments would be involved in the highest-level decision-making process.
In a letter dated August 26, he confirmed that a communication had been sent to Karnataka’s Chief Secretary to nominate a senior officer.
Acting on the directive, the State Government on August 31 nominated Ekrup Caur, Secretary of the Department of Information Technology and Biotechnology (ITBT), as the nodal officer for the HGB, which will be based at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) in Bengaluru. The order was issued by Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh.
Naik termed it “a significant step towards cooperative federalism and shared progress.” He said Karnataka, with its strong research ecosystem, thriving startups, and skilled talent base, was “fully prepared to co-create India’s quantum future.”
Naik also commended Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar for their leadership, noting the State’s ₹1,000 crore Quantum Fund and vision for quantum technology development. He further appreciated Science and Technology Minister N.S. Boseraju for conceptualising and executing the Quantum India Summit 2025, which brought global experts together in Bengaluru.
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BJP using women's quota bill as front to pass Delimitation Bill that will break India: Mamata
Cooch Behar (WB) (PTI): Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday alleged the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre was using the proposed amendment to the women's quota law in Parliament as a front for the Delimitation Bill that would "break the country into pieces".
The TMC will fight this Central government's move at every step, she asserted at her party's poll rally here.
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill to tweak the women's quota law, along with the Delimitation Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, to implement the proposed amended women's quota law, in the Union territories of Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir, were introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
According to the Constitution amendment bill, Lok Sabha seats will be increased to a maximum of 850 from the current 543 to "operationalise" the women's reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census.
Seats will also be increased in state and Union territory assemblies to accommodate 33 per cent reservation for women.
Opposing the Centre's move, Banerjee alleged that "the BJP brought the Delimitation Bill while keeping the women's reservation bill at the front".
"The BJP is trying to increase the number of seats in the Lok Sabha to nearly 850 through the Delimitation Bill. It will break the country into pieces," the TMC supremo said.
She also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not speaking the truth about the development of north Bengal at a BJP rally last week.
"The prime minister said nothing was done for the development of north Bengal. But we spent Rs 1.72 lakh crore on the development of the region," Banerjee said and asked Modi to cross-check data before making such remarks.
