- विज्ञापन -
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, announced on Friday that Bangalore City University will be renamed after former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. The new name will be Dr. Manmohan Singh Bengaluru City University. As part of the initiative, Government Arts College and Government R.C. College will be incorporated as constituent colleges of the university to elevate it to a model institution.
In his budget speech for the financial year 2025-26, CM Siddaramaiah highlighted several initiatives in education and social welfare. He announced that the program providing eggs and bananas to 53 lakh schoolchildren to combat malnutrition would be expanded from two to six days a week, with support from the Azim Premji Foundation, costing Rs 1,500 crore.
Additionally, the government will extend the distribution of Sai Sure Ragi Health Mix powder to schoolchildren five days a week, in collaboration with the Shri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust, with an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore, of which 25% will be borne by the state.
Siddaramaiah also mentioned the expansion of Karnataka Public Schools, with plans to start 500 new schools at a cost of Rs 2,500 crore, supported by the Asian Development Bank. The monthly honorarium for cooks working in government schools will be increased by Rs 1,000.
He further announced the extension of the AI-based ‘Kalika Deepa’ program to 2,000 schools, aiming to improve Kannada and English language skills, as well as early mathematical abilities. The ‘Vidya Vijeta’ program, designed to provide CET/NEET/JEE coaching to 25,000 students, will continue with Rs 5 crore allocated for the current year.
To enhance women’s education, the state will upgrade the infrastructure of 26 women’s higher education institutions with Rs 26 crore. Additionally, Karnataka will introduce a pioneering policy focused on preventing and treating burn injuries among women, marking a first-of-its-kind initiative in India.
