The Karnataka cabinet has approved 'Sandhya Kiran', a new contributory cashless health insurance scheme for retired government employees under 70 years of age. The scheme provides coverage up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary healthcare. Around 4.93 lakh beneficiaries, including dependents, are expected to benefit. Retired employees will contribute 1.25% of their basic pension, while the state government will cover 30% of the treatment costs. Additionally, the government is considering extending free treatment facilities to APL cardholders in government hospitals. https://kannada.timesnownews.com/news/sandhya-kiran-scheme-karnataka-over-3-lakh-pensioners-to-benefit-from-new-healthcare-plan-article-155609941

India's 80th Independence Day celebration in New York, held alongside the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, set a Guinness World Record. The event featured a display of over 1,300 American flags surrounded by Indian tricolors to form the number '250'. Organized by the Federation of Indian Associations and supported by Zoho, the event at Veterans Memorial Park in Parsippany highlighted the strong bilateral ties and the diaspora's role in bridge-building between the two nations. https://www.prajavani.net/news/world-news/new-york-india-independence-day-guinness-world-record-4199045

The Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district has declared a public holiday on August 17 in observance of the Nagara Panchami festival. This holiday applies to all educational institutions, including schools and colleges, as well as government offices across the district, according to an official notification from the DC office. https://www.prajavani.net/district/dakshina-kannada/nagarapanchami-dakshina-kannada-district-holiday-announcement-4199948

It is crucial to update ration cards and add new family members like newborns or spouses to ensure continuous government benefits. The process can be done online through the Food and Civil Supplies Department website or offline at local offices and CSC centers. Updated cards allow users to access free or subsidized food grains under BPL/APL schemes. Additionally, ration cards serve as ID proof and are required for educational aid, crop insurance, housing schemes, and free gas connections. https://kannada.timesnownews.com/lifestyle/having-a-ration-card-is-not-enough-it-is-also-important-to-update-it-on-time-know-the-details-article-155693130

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that if the Central Government had not revoked the special status and statehood of J&K in 2019, people from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) would have sought to merge with India. Speaking at an Independence Day event in Srinagar, he highlighted the turmoil in PoK and defended the decision of his ancestors to join India in 1947. He reiterated his government's commitment to restoring statehood. The BJP criticized his comments as 'irresponsible' and political. https://www.kannadaprabha.com/nation/2026/Aug/15/pok-would-have-joined-jk-if-jammu-and-kashmir-cm-omar-abdullahs-statehood-pitch

The Transport Department has increased the testing fees for vehicle emission certificates in Bengaluru due to rising operational costs. Only computerized centers are authorized to collect the revised fees. Strict guidelines have been issued, including mandatory holograms on online certificates and stickers for tested vehicles. Failure to comply with these rules will result in the suspension or cancellation of the testing center's license. https://www.prajavani.net/news/karnataka-news/emission-test-fee-hike-karnataka-transport-department-4200089

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has identified seven key sectors, termed 'Saptadhara', to drive India's next phase of growth towards becoming a developed nation. These sectors include Manufacturing, Agriculture (Farmers), Technology, Gati Shakti (Infrastructure), Defense, Green Energy, and Soft Power. He emphasized making India a global manufacturing hub, advancing to 6G technology, achieving self-reliance in defense through drone tech, and promoting India's cultural heritage and tourism globally. https://www.prajavani.net/news/india-news/modi-speech-sapthadhare-india-growth-pillars-4197184

Minister Priyank Kharge has made a surprising statement regarding the recent encounter of hunters in Chamarajanagar. His remarks have sparked curiosity and discussion within political circles concerning the investigation and the circumstances of the incident. https://kannada.news18.com/videos/chamarajanagar/priyank-kharge-on-chamarajanagar-encounter-case-psp-2470295.html

Deputy CM DK Shivakumar responded to the encounter of three hunters in the Chamarajanagar forest area. He stated that the government is reviewing the incident involving forest department officials and will take appropriate action based on the full report. He assured that legal procedures will be followed regarding the exchange of fire. https://kannada.news18.com/videos/chamarajanagar/cm-dk-shivakumar-chamarajanagar-3-hunters-encounter-psp-2470163.html

In Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, AI technology helped save the life of a police head constable, Puran Sikarwar, who was bitten twice by a venomous snake while sleeping. Fellow officers photographed the snake and used an AI tool to identify the species and its toxicity. This information was shared with doctors in advance, allowing them to prepare the correct anti-venom before the patient arrived at the hospital. Thanks to the timely intervention and accurate data provided by AI, the constable is now out of danger. https://kannada.asianetnews.com/viral/venomous-snake-bites-mp-police-constable-twice-ai-technology-helps-save-his-life/articleshow-usbnv29