Udupi: Medha N. Bhat, a student of T.A. Pai English Medium High School, Udupi, is among the eight students, who secured the second place in the State in the SSLC examinations with 624 of 625 marks.

Medha is the daughter of Narsimha Bhat, CEO of a private firm in Manipal, and Shashikala Bhat, a homemaker. She was delighted with her performance. While she expected a high score, she had not expected 624. She used to study for three to four hours daily and about six to eight hours on weekends. She did not take any coaching.

She has joined the Science stream with PCMS at MGM Pre-University College here. “One of my dreams is to do Ph.D. in English literature. I am good at Mathematics and Science. But English is my favourite subject. I will decide after two years whether I should continue with Science or take to English literature,” she said.

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 (PTI) The Karnataka government on Thursday indicated that it may hike the family income limit to obtain a Priority Households (PHH) ration card, considering rising costs.

Karnataka Health & Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao gave this indication in the Legislative Assembly, while replying to a question on behalf of Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa. He was responding to a question by senior BJP MLA C N Ashwath Narayan, during question hour.

"The current family annual income limit of Rs 1.20 lakh was fixed in 2017, it should certainly be accepted that the amount is less. From 2017, we are now in 2026. There is a need to revise this. It must be re-examined," said Rao, who previously served as Food and Civil Supplies Minister.

Noting that the Karnataka Administrative Reforms Commission, headed by senior Congress MLA R V Deshpande, has recommended increasing the income limit to Rs 3 lakh, he said, "The department will look into this."

Raising the issue, Narayan stressed the need for higher income limits as the cost of living in Bengaluru had risen.

Replying to Narayan's statement that 50 per cent of the urban population should get PHH or Antyodaya cards, citing the Food Security Act, the minister said the act meant for the country as a whole, while it varies for states.

Karnataka has 1.24 crore households with PHH ration cards, Rao said. "The Centre has identified 1.09 crore eligible families in Karnataka. But the state has exceeded this by 15.8 lakh families. In some rural areas, 95 per cent of the population is covered."

He also highlighted cases where ineligible people have obtained the card.

"There is demand for this card as it is considered the basis for obtaining other benefits like medical and other things. They don't want it for obtaining ration, but for other benefits," he said.