Thane, May 11 (PTI): A female teacher from a school in Maharashtra's Thane district has died in an accident in Indonesia's Bali during the tour of her school to the archipelagic country, the authorities of the educational institute said on Sunday.

Teacher Shweta Pushkar Pathak of the B K Birla Public School located in Kalyan town died in the accident in the Indonesian province on Saturday, they said, adding that the process to bring her body back was underway.

"Shweta Pathak lost her life in an unfortunate accident in Bali. We are currently handling all formalities with local authorities to bring her body back to India," a source from the school said.

The school also posted a message on its official website.

"It is with deep sorrow and heavy heart that we inform our school community of the untimely and tragic demise of our beloved colleague, Ms Shweta Pushkar Pathak, in an unfortunate accident during a trip at Bali," it said.

"She was more than an educator. She was a guiding light to her students, a supportive colleague, and a kind-hearted soul whose presence brought warmth and inspiration to all who knew her. Her passion for teaching, her insightful contributions, and her unwavering dedication to her students and the school community have left an indelible mark on our hearts," it added.

School Principal Ranjna Jangra and Pathak's husband are currently in Bali coordinating with local officials to bring her body back to India, the statement said.

Further details are awaited.

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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka has proposed a new Information Technology Policy for 2025–2030, offering extensive financial and non-financial incentives aimed at accelerating investments, strengthening innovation and expanding the state's tech footprint beyond Bengaluru.

The Karnataka Cabinet gave its nod to the policy 2025–2030 with an outlay of Rs 445.50 crore on Thursday after the Finance Department accorded its approval.

The policy introduces 16 incentives across five enabler categories, nine of which are entirely new, with a distinctive push to support companies setting up or expanding in emerging cities.

Alongside financial support, the government is also offering labour-law relaxations, round-the-clock operational permissions and industry-ready human capital programmes to make Karnataka a globally competitive 'AI-native' destination.

According to the policy, units located outside Bengaluru will gain access to a wide suite of benefits, including research and development and IP creation incentives, internship reimbursements, talent relocation support and recruitment assistance.

The benefits also include EPF reimbursement, faculty development support, rental assistance, certification subsidies, electricity tariff rebates, property tax reimbursement, telecom infrastructure support, and assistance for events and conferences.

Bengaluru Urban will receive a focused set of six research and development and talent-oriented incentives, while Indian Global Capability Centres (GCCs) operating in the state will be brought under the incentive net.

Incentive caps and eligibility thresholds have been raised, and the policy prioritises growth-focused investments for both new and expanding units.

Beyond incentives, the government focuses on infrastructure and innovation interventions.

A flagship proposal in the policy is the creation of Techniverse -- integrated, technology-enabled enclaves developed through a public-private partnership model inside future Global Innovation Districts.

These campuses will offer plug-and-play facilities, artificial intelligence and machine learning and cybersecurity labs, advanced testbeds, experience centres, and disaster-resistant command centres.

There will also be a Statewide Digital Hub Grid and a Global Test Bed Infrastructure Network, linking public and private research and development, and innovation facilities across Karnataka.

The government has proposed a Women Global Tech Missions Fellowship for 1,000 mid-career women technologists, an IT Talent Return Programme to absorb experienced professionals returning from abroad, and broad-based skill and faculty development reimbursements.

Shared corporate transport routes in Bengaluru and tier-two cities will be designed with Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation and other transport entities to support worker mobility.

The government said the policy is the outcome of an extensive research and consultation process involving TCS, Infosys, Wipro, IBM, HCL, Tech Mahindra, Cognizant, HP, Google, Accenture and NASSCOM, along with sector experts and stakeholder groups.

It estimates an outlay of Rs 967.12 crore over five years, comprising Rs 754.62 crore for incentives and Rs 212.50 crore for interventions such as Techniverse campuses, digital grid development, global outreach missions and talent programmes.