60% Kannada mandatory, Karnataka cabinet okays Ordinance

The Karnataka cabinet on Friday finally gave its nod to the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development (Amendment) ordinance.With this, all the commercial establishments, industries, hospitals, institutions, and organizations will now have to have to use 60 percent Kannada language on the signboards and nameplates. In accordance with the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Act, the stipulation is that the upper half portion of signboards must be in Kannada, while the lower half can be in any other language.
The cabinet as a one-time measure gave also nod to increase the upper age limit by three years to all the eligible candidates who write competitive exams by the Karnataka Public Service Commission to fill vacant seats as per Karnataka Gazzetted Probationers Rule- 1997.The cabinet gave its approval for Rs 45 crore Chamundeshwari Temple Development Scheme, which falls under Central government's Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (Prasad).Additionally, the cabinet made the decision to waive off Motor Vehicle Tax totaling Rs 581.47 crore, applicable to the four state-owned transport corporations, including the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation and the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation.The cabinet approved 43 development projects in Bengaluru city, with a cumulative value of Rs 800 crore, to be undertaken by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). 

(Dr Mysi Patil, State Correspondent)