Karnataka to establish 200-acre Semiconductor Park in new KWIN city
Bengaluru (PTI): Recognising the growing importance of advanced industrial sectors, the Karnataka government will establish a 200-acre semiconductor park in the upcoming KWIN (Knowledge, Wellbeing, and Innovation) city near here, Minister for Large and Medium Industries M B Patil said on Tuesday.
The park will be fully equipped with all necessary infrastructure and facilities required by companies in this domain and will serve as a major innovation hub for the semiconductor industry at both the national and state levels.
The Minister made the announcement at the inaugural session of the three-day Bengaluru Tech Summit, which began at the Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre.
"The Department of Large and Medium Industries has prioritised attracting investments from leading technology companies and major anchor investors. The government aims to channel such investments into various industrial segments, including drones, semiconductor devices, and solar energy. At the same time, the State is also giving serious attention to Industry 5.0 and other modern industrial models," Patil said.
According to the minister, for industries to grow and for Karnataka to remain a preferred destination of investors, a strong research and development ecosystem is essential.
Karnataka is home to over 800 R&D centres, more than 100 chip-design firms, and 18,300 start-ups.
"These centres are engaged in advanced fields such as artificial intelligence, deep tech, quantum computing, and space-tech. Of the 5,000 acres earmarked for the proposed KWIN City, ample space will be reserved for R&D facilities, supported by a well-developed ecosystem."
"We have also demarcated a dedicated Semiconductor Park of 200 acres with all facilities – this will act as the centre of all semiconductor innovation in the state and soon, the country," he added.
Noting that several technology companies in the state are actively working in AI, ML (machine learning), quantum technologies, robotics, advanced manufacturing, and sustainable innovation, the Minister said to encourage such enterprises, the state government has allocated Rs 600 crore.
Karnataka is determined to retain its leadership in both deep science and frontier technologies. In this direction, a Centre of Excellence for AI and Quantum Computing is being planned in Dharwad, he said, adding that industries are also collaborating with educational institutions in areas such as biotechnology and cyber security.
The State has adopted forward-looking policies in ESDM (Electronics System Design & Manufacturing), transportation systems, biotechnology, and start-up promotion, Patil said adding Karnataka is also working closely with countries such as Japan, the United States, Germany, and Singapore.
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Parents fear uncertainty after Karnataka govt rules out age limit relaxation for Class 1 admission
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has ruled out any relaxation of the minimum age limit for admission to Class 1 beginning with the academic year 2026-27. Following the refusal, a group of parents continues to press for leniency.
Parents of children who fall under the age of six by a small margin on the cut-off date have met Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and senior officials from the Department of School Education and Literacy to request an exemption. School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa said that the government will not change its decision, as reported by Deccan Herald.
According to the minister, children must be six years old by June 1 to be eligible for admission to Class 1. beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. He noted that the previous relaxation was a one-time measure that was clearly confined to the 2025-26 academic year.
“If such requests are entertained every year, it will never end. While granting relaxation last year, it was explicitly stated that it applied only to one academic year. From 2026-27 onwards, the rule will be strictly implemented,” Bangarappa was quoted by DH.
Parents argue that the rigid cut-off is affecting children who are short by a few days. One parent was quoted by DH as saying that his daughter would be 12 days short of completing six years on June 1. Such parents would be forced to repeat a year despite being academically ready. Others pointed out that children promoted from LKG to UKG during the 2025-26 academic year are now facing uncertainty over their transition to Class 1.
Few parents also recalled that earlier, admissions were allowed for children aged between five years and 10 months and six years. Parents saw it as a more practical approach, with children born in November and December being disproportionately affected.
The issue of age criterion goes back to a government order issued in July 2022. The order mandated six years as the minimum age for Class 1 admission. Parents of children already enrolled in pre-primary classes, protested against the order and the state deferred implementation, announcing that the rule would come into force from the 2025-26 academic year.
After renewed pressure, the government granted a one-year relaxation for 2025-26, citing the large number of students affected and in consultation with the State Education Policy Commission. While announcing the exemption, the minister had stated that no further concessions would be allowed.
