The Muzrai Department has banned devotees from touching the ancient stone idol of Maha Ganapati in Gokarna to prevent further erosion. Assistant Commissioner Sudha Talwar issued the order, stating that only the priest on shift duty is allowed inside the sanctum sanctorum. Devotees and VIPs must now offer prayers and view the deity from a distance. This decision follows requests from locals and devotees to preserve the thousands-of-years-old idol from wearing away due to constant contact. https://www.kannadaprabha.com/karnataka/2026/Jul/23/now-no-touching-idol-at-gokarna-temple-while-praying

Karnataka Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar described the Central Government's move to discuss the education system and student protests as a hopeful sign. Speaking after the Bengaluru Tech Summit CEO breakfast meeting, he emphasized working for the future of students. He also addressed queries regarding a letter from the Tamil Nadu CM and cabinet expansion, stating that while details aren't ready for disclosure, the government is open to collaboration for progress. https://www.justkannada.in/cm-d-k-shivakumar-16/

Food Minister K.H. Muniyappa announced that the Karnataka government is taking steps to increase the annual income limit for BPL cards from ₹1.20 lakh to ₹3 lakh, following recommendations from the Administrative Reforms Commission. He clarified that no ration cards will be cancelled; instead, they will be shifted to the APL category during verification. The government also plans to distribute Indira Kits worth ₹6,000 crore within two months. To prevent black marketing, CCTV cameras in warehouses and GPS in transport vehicles are being made mandatory. Fair price shops are instructed to operate from 6 AM to 10 PM. https://www.prajavani.net/news/karnataka-news/karnataka-bpl-card-income-limit-increased-to-three-lakh-4147181

Indian cricketers Shubman Gill and Sachin Tendulkar have reacted to the ongoing NEET paper leak protests at Jantar Mantar, Delhi. Gill expressed support for peaceful protestors and emphasized that education shapes the nation's future, calling for empathy and respect. Sachin Tendulkar shared a message about the importance of hard work over shortcuts and cheating. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi also commented on the issue, stating that the students' frustration is understandable and collective efforts are needed to prevent such incidents in the future. https://tv9kannada.com/sports/cricket-news/neet-protest-jantar-mantar-gill-tendulkar-appeal-peace-students-1216300.html

Veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has warned selectors against dropping Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli based on recent poor form. Ashwin emphasized that both legends have contributed immensely to Indian cricket, with Rohit alone scoring nearly 12,000 ODI runs. He stated that dropping them would trigger massive public outrage across the country and suggested they should remain part of the team until the upcoming ODI World Cup, after which they might retire. https://tv9kannada.com/sports/cricket-news/rohit-sharma-virat-kohli-are-untouchable-r-ashwin-blasts-critics-1214691.html

A screenshot claiming that actor Shah Rukh Khan posted in support of the CJP protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar has gone viral. However, fact-checks reveal that the superstar has made no such post on his official social media accounts. While other Bollywood stars like Salman Khan and Alia Bhatt expressed support, the viral image attributed to SRK is fabricated. The actor is currently busy filming his upcoming movie 'King', scheduled for a 2026 release. https://kannada.news18.com/news/entertainment/fake-screenshot-of-x-post-showing-in-name-of-bollywood-actor-shah-rukh-khan-is-viral-dvp-2455124.html

The Delhi government has cancelled the leaves of all police personnel and ordered them to report for duty to maintain law and order in the capital. This decision comes in response to massive protests at Jantar Mantar by students demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak issue. The order applies to all district DCP offices, the IGI airport unit, and even trainees. No weekly offs will be granted until further orders, except in emergency cases. https://www.prajavani.net/news/india-news/delhi-police-leave-cancelled-neet-protest-4145855

Famous activist Sonam Wangchuk responded to critics after ending his 26-day hunger strike in support of students protesting exam irregularities. Facing allegations of a 'deal' with the central government because he broke his fast in the presence of Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh, Wangchuk questioned why anyone would suffer for 26 days and lose 11kg for a deal. He stated that a deal could have been struck in an AC room instead of the scorching heat of Delhi's streets. While he has ended his fast due to deteriorating health and organ damage, the CJP group confirmed that their protest against exam scams will continue. https://tv9kannada.com/national/sonam-wangchuk-ends-26-day-fast-addresses-criticism-refutes-deal-claims-1216556.html

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has taken action against 41 restaurants, including Barbeque Nation and Chaayos, for levying mandatory service charges. Following instructions from Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, fines were imposed for violating consumer rights. The CCPA reaffirmed that service charges are voluntary and should only be paid if the customer chooses to. Consumers are encouraged to report violations to the National Consumer Helpline at 1915. https://tv9kannada.com/national/ccpa-penalises-41-restaurants-after-pralhad-joshi-instructions-for-levying-service-charges-by-default-1214058.html