The fame of Mudhol Hound shoots up after PM Modi names it in his 'Mann Ki Baat'
Bagalkot: Mudhol hound; the native canine breed has already made waves among dog lovers for its amazing sniffing skills, exemplary obedience and inimitable hunting capacity with agility, but after the mention of its name by Prime Minister Narendrea Modi in his latest ‘Mann ki Baat’ series, it has added another feather in the crown of this ‘Desi’ breed.
During his recent address in ‘Mann ki baat’, Modi had not only praised the services of Indian breed of dogs, but had also appealed to people to adopt Indian dogs over the foreign breed.
Taking names of some of the known Indian breed of dogs, he had mentioned Mudhol hound also in his speech.
This breed of dog could run at the speed of around 50 km/hour, and could sniff any object from the distance of 3 km. This ability has grabbed the attention of the Armed Forces which have shown interest in absorbing this native canine breed in their service.
The Mudhol hound has its own history. Sources said that the dogs were used by Maratha King, Chhatrapati Shivaji during the wars.
The names given to the dog as ‘Mudhol’ after the erstwhile princely state of Mudhol, which was part of the Bombay Presidency during British rule. The last king of the state, King Malojirao Ghorpade said to have presented a pair of these puppies to King George V when he visited the UK and it was the English emperor who names the dogs as Mudhol hounds.
Mudhol hound is being raised at Canine Research and Information Centre (CRIC) in Mudhol taluk of Bagalkot district. The lone such centre in the country that is dedicated to the raising of Mudhol hounds, comes under Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU), Bidar.
After knowing its different hunting and sniffing skills, the Indian Army has already adopted the breed for various acts including detecting explosives or in Naxal-affected areas of the country.
The Army has made these dogs undergo vigorous training that lasts for around nine-month training at the Remount Veterinary Corp in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.
These dogs are serving in border areas of India, including Kashmir and Rajasthan. Besides the armed forces, even police departments of States such as Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan have taken Mudhol dogs for security.
The Army is already using different breeds of dogs including Labrador, German Shepherd, and Belgian Shepherd for security purposes. However, the officials of the centre believe that Mudhol hound is better compared to other dogs in sniffing and running abilities. These abilities of the dog promoted the armed forces to adopt Mudhol hounds.
After the Armed Forces, even the elite security agency of the country; the National Security Guard (NSG), the country’s premier counter-terrorism force, showed interest in the breed and took some puppies for training and adopting in their service.
Besides the centre, even the local farmers also raise the puppies for additional earning. These puppies are purchased largely by farmers to protect their crop against stray animals or security of farm houses. Some raise it as pets at their homes.
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.
Bengaluru: A new health report has revealed that over 75% of Karnataka's population screened in 2024 is either obese or overweight, highlighting an alarming rise in lifestyle-related health issues.
According to the Health of the Nation 2025 report by Apollo Hospitals, as cited by The New Indian Express on Tuesday, 56% of those screened were diagnosed as obese, while another 21% were classified as overweight.
The report underscores a growing public health crisis, driven by sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition, and undiagnosed chronic conditions that often do not show visible symptoms. The annual report, which examined health data from over 2.5 million preventive screenings conducted across the Apollo ecosystem in India, reveals that symptom-based healthcare is increasingly insufficient to address these hidden health risks.
In Karnataka, the report found that 28% of the individuals screened were hypertensive, with half of them classified as pre-hypertensive. Diabetes was found in 20% of the population, with an additional 25% falling into the pre-diabetic category. These figures reflect the rising metabolic stress among asymptomatic individuals, many of whom are unaware of their conditions.
Additionally, the report noted that 84% of the screened individuals in the state had low vitamin D levels, which can negatively impact bone health and immunity. Furthermore, 64% exhibited reduced flexibility, affecting musculoskeletal wellness.
Dr Prathap C. Reddy, Chairman of Apollo Hospitals, emphasised the need for India to shift towards a preventive health culture. "Early screening, personalised interventions, and health education should become integral to our homes, schools, and workplaces," TNIE quoted him as saying.
The report also highlighted several other health threats, including fatty liver disease, post-menopause health risks, and childhood obesity. Of the 2.5 million people screened nationally, 65% had fatty liver with 85% of those cases being non-alcoholic. Heart disease signs were present in 46% of asymptomatic individuals, while post-menopausal women saw a sharp increase in both obesity (from 76% to 86%) and diabetes (from 14% to 40%).
Childhood obesity is also becoming a significant concern, with the report revealing that 28% of college students were either overweight or obese, and 19% showed signs of prehypertension.
Mental health issues, often under-reported, emerged as another area of concern, with 7% of women and 5% of men screened nationwide showing symptoms of clinical depression, particularly among the middle-aged population.
