Here are the big stories from Karnataka today

1. Karnataka governor asks State to “re-examine” switch from marks to grades for third language in SSLC

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has called for a comprehensive examination of concerns over the State government’s decision to award only grades, without marks, for the third language in the SSLC examination, following a representation highlighting its potential impact on academic engagement and linguistic diversity.

The representation by the Association for Preservation of Local Languages, Bengaluru, forwarded to state Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh by Secretary to Governor R. Prabhu Shankar, cautioned that a shift to a grading-only system may inadvertently diminish the academic importance of the subject and affect students’ motivation to engage seriously with it.

2. Yettinahole project: MoEFCC gives in-principle approval for diversion of forest land in Hassan, Tumakuru districts

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) of Government of India has accorded in-principle (stage-1) approval for diversion of 111.02 hectares of forest land in Hassan and Tumkur districts for the Yettinahole Drinking Water Project, targeted to provide water to drought-prone areas in Karnataka.

In a letter dated April 1, 2026, the Forest Conservation Division of the MoEFCC informed the Additional Chief Secretary (Forest, Ecology and Environment) in Karnataka that the Centre accorded the stage-1 approval under the Van (Samrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Abdhiniyam, 1980, for diverting the land to construct a gravity canal passing through the two districts.

3. Mysuru civic body withdraws Motor Vehicle Infrastructure Cess

Days after introducing the Motor Vehicle Infrastructure Cess in the city, the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) announced withdrawal of the levy in view of strong objections and resistance from people. The MCC had issued a notification to collect the levy, along with property tax, which had been revised by 3% for the financial year 2026-27.

The MCC’s General Council had resolved to levy an annual cess on each vehicle at the rate of ₹100 for two-wheelers, ₹200 for three-wheelers, and ₹500 for four-wheelers, to support road traffic management and infrastructure development in the city. It drew widespread criticism with people complaining that linking the motor vehicle cess with property tax was unscientific.

4. YouTuber attempts self-harm on Facebook Live, alleges harassment by Bidar Superintendent of Police 

A YouTuber attempted to take his own life during a Facebook Live session, alleging continuous harassment by Bidar Superintendent of Police and other police officials, on April 2. Salman Khan, who runs the YouTube channel ‘Media in Truth’, is being treated at Bidar Institute of Medical Sciences (BRIMS) hospital. His condition was reported to be critical on April 2 night.

During the live broadcast, Mr. Khan claimed that SP Pradeep Gunti and other senior police officials were targeting him for his journalistic work. According to Mr. Khan, the harassment escalated after he posted videos concerning the police department. He alleged that officials pressured him to delete specific videos, and demanded he shut down his YouTube channel.