Karnataka to recruit 15 wildlife veterinarians soon, says Forest Minister after mass blackbuck death
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has given in-principle approval to create a separate cadre for wildlife veterinarians and recruit 15 doctors soon, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre said on Tuesday.
He held a video conference with heads of all nine zoos after 31 blackbucks died under unusual circumstances at the Kittur Rani Chennamma Mini Zoo in Belagavi. He directed zoo officials to take immediate preventive measures with the help of available veterinary staff until new wildlife doctors are appointed.
Veterinarians have confirmed that an infection caused by bacteria led to the blackbuck deaths. Khandre instructed officials to study whether the infection spread through air, water, food or handlers, and to ensure that it does not reach other animals.
The minister also asked the Zoo Authority to prepare a Standard Operating Procedure for handling such disease outbreaks, along with guidelines for managing wild animals in zoos and rescue centres. He said the SOP must be followed strictly.
Khandre directed that whenever animals die in zoos or wildlife centres, officials must not delay post-mortem examinations and must send reports to the government immediately. He said the deaths of 31 blackbucks serve as a warning, and added that the remaining seven blackbucks are also infected and require urgent treatment. All zoos in the state have been asked to take precautionary measures.
Referring to the recent death of a gaur that was being transported from Bannerghatta to a neighbouring state, he said complaints indicated negligence by officials. A team will be formed to investigate the incident, and staff will be given training in handling wild animals.
Zoo Authority of Karnataka chairman Hadya Rangaswamy, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) P.C. Rai and senior officials took part in the meeting.
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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.
