
B.R. Patil wants Siddaramaiah to lead campaign for MSP legal guarantee
Addressing presspersons in Kalaburagi on Wednesday, Mr. Patil said that Mr. Siddaramaiah made his political debut through a farm movement and also comes from an agricultural background.
He should continue to be the voice of farmers and press the Union government to enact a law for guaranteed buying of their crops at MSP.
Welcoming Mr. Siddaramaiah's decision to withdraw a move to acquire 1,777 acres of fertile agricultural land in 13 villages of Channarayapatna hobli of Devanahalli taluk in Bengaluru Rural district, Mr. Patil reiterated that the Congress is standing by farmers to protect their interest and it will continue to support them.
The BJP government during its tenure in 2010 acquired 1,500 acres of agricultural land in the villages of Honna Kiranagi, Nadi Sinnur and Firozabad in Kalaburagi district for establishing a thermal power plant. But it failed to bring any mega project or industry, he said.
Mr. Patil demanded that the government establish an agriculture university on the acquired land.
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First Post
21 minutes ago
- First Post
In numbers: How women lead India's startup revolution
Women entrepreneurs are driving a transformative wave across India's startup ecosystem, putting the country prominently on the global map of startup ventures read more India is witnessing a quiet yet powerful transformation — one that is being led by women entrepreneurs across the length and breadth of the country. Union Minister Jitendra Singh has said that of the 1.7 lakh startups currently operating in India, nearly 76,000 are led by women. This milestone is more than symbolic as it signals a structural shift in how innovation, economic participation and leadership are being reshaped across India's entrepreneurial landscape. Collectively, these startups have generated over 17 lakh jobs, contributing meaningfully to India's employment base and economic development. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This transformation is not limited to India's metropolitan hubs. The Indian minister pointed out that smaller towns, particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 urban clusters in poorer states such as parts of Bihar, are emerging as fertile grounds for women-led ventures. These new entrepreneurial hotspots show the expanding reach of India's startup ecosystem into areas that were historically left out of the innovation discourse. Where women found and flourished Data from the Startup India digital map reveals that states such as Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh host the highest number of women-led startups. Maharashtra alone accounts for nearly 13,700 of these ventures, demonstrating how infrastructural advantages and capital access can fuel female entrepreneurship. Southern states such as Telangana and Kerala also show strong numbers, suggesting the influence of state-level policies designed to foster inclusive growth. However, the data also reflect disparities. 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Despite a 25 per cent decline from 2023's funding figures, the early-stage investment segment actually grew by six per cent, reflecting increased investor confidence in newer women-led ventures. Still, the need for sustained capital support remains critical, especially as fewer startups progress beyond Series A funding. Bengaluru: India's startup capital for women Among Indian cities, Bengaluru stands as the unequivocal leader in both the number of women-led startups and total funding secured. It is followed by Mumbai and the Delhi-NCR region. This dominance reflects not only access to capital and talent but also the presence of supportive ecosystems that encourage risk-taking and innovation by women founders. Bengaluru's startup culture — long heralded for its openness to diversity and experimentation — has provided a conducive environment for many prominent women-led companies further strengthening its position as a launchpad for entrepreneurial success. Sectoral impact: Beyond traditional boundaries Women-led startups are not confined to a narrow band of sectors. The Tracxn report reveals that these ventures span diverse industries, with the retail sector leading in cumulative funding at $7.8 billion. Edtech follows at $5.4 billion, while enterprise applications claim $5 billion. This diversification signals a maturity in the ecosystem—women founders are not just participating, they are innovating across verticals that were once considered male-dominated. Emerging sub-sectors such as fashion tech, Internet-first consumer brands and B2C ecommerce are seeing increased activity by women founders, redefining what entrepreneurial leadership looks like in India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Unicorns, IPOs and the journey ahead India's women-led startup ecosystem has already produced multiple unicorns, with notable spikes in 2021 when eight new unicorns emerged. 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India now boasts over one-third of its CSIR laboratories headed by women scientists. Women are playing vital roles in space missions, defence and policy-making—reshaping perceptions and realities at the highest levels. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Inclusive and bold India's women-led startup revolution is more than a statistical phenomenon. It is a powerful indicator of what inclusive, equitable growth can look like. From Bengaluru's tech corridors to the grassroots of Bihar, women are shaping a new economic narrative grounded in creativity, resilience and impact. Yet, the journey is far from complete. Funding gaps, regional disparities and a lack of late-stage capital remain significant hurdles. Closing these gaps will require not only public sector commitment but also proactive support from investors, incubators and industry leaders. As India looks toward its Viksit Bharat@2047 vision, one thing is increasingly clear: the future of Indian innovation is not just inclusive, it is female-led. And in that future, numbers don't just tell a story; they tell a revolution in progress.


Time of India
21 minutes ago
- Time of India
Giriraj Singh targets oppn, says those questioning Bihar SIR lack constitutional knowledge
Giriraj Singh, a Union minister, has responded to the opposition's concerns regarding the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of Bihar electoral rolls. He stated that those who question it lack constitutional knowledge. Singh suggested their concern lies more with foreign nationals than Indian voters. He defended the Election Commission's duty. The opposition fears the revision will disenfranchise eligible voters. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Union minister Giriraj Singh on Monday countered the opposition's objections to the Election Commission 's ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar electoral rolls , saying those questioning it lack basic constitutional knowledge and seem more concerned about foreign nationals than Indian to reporters outside Parliament here, Singh said the Election Commission (EC) is doing its duty and asked why should this make anyone uncomfortable."I think those raising such questions should have some understanding of the Constitution. The Election Commission is simply doing what the Constitution mandates," he 22 years, the EC is carrying out SIR in Bihar to weed out ineligible people from the electoral rolls and to ensure that all eligible citizens are included in the list. It will also help remove duplicate entries of voters who have enrolled themselves in multiple places, according to the poll opposition, however, has claimed that the exercise will disenfranchise crores of eligible people who fail to produce relevant these fears, Singh said the EC is only performing its constitutional said, "They (EC) have asked for just two things: whether the person is an Indian citizen or not, and whether the documents are genuine or fake. Why is that making anyone uncomfortable?""Are they (opposition leaders) worried about foreigners? Whether it is Rohingyas or Bangladeshis, is that where their concern lies? Such people cannot be called patriots," the minister about the opposition's assertion that even constitutional institutions can be questioned, Singh said, "They can ask questions, but one should at least have enough knowledge to know that only an Indian citizen has the right to vote. If someone is not (an Indian citizen), their name will be removed. Why are they restless about this?" PTI UZM DIV DIV DIV


Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
BJP demands CBI probe in stampede case
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