Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌦️ Today’s weather: Rainy and breezy.
🧐 Did you know? In 2018, Bengaluru became the first city to receive its own logo.
🧑🍳 The Incredible Chefs Challenge starts today
The Incredible Chefs Challenge (ICC) is an annual culinary contest that unites the best chefs and academia.
About the contest: The contest is arranged by the World of Hospitality (WHO) and the South Indian Chefs Association (Sica). The three-day event begins today and culminate on June 15th. There will be sessions on understanding the latest trends and technologies shaking up the hospitality sector.
- Around 200 chefs and students from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have registered.
- The theme for the event’s final day will be millets. Participants have been encouraged to reinterpret traditional recipes.
Why it matters? ICC is an exciting opportunity for the city’s chefs looking for a chance to earn professional credibility. Constructive feedback from an internationally acclaimed chef jury panel is bound to help too.
🚗 Decongesting Bengaluru
Experts argue that decongesting the city’s roads will not necessarily put a dent in the Transport Department’s tax revenues.
The vehicle problem: Vehicular registrations in Karnataka have seen record-breaking growth after the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2022, 15.3 lakh new vehicles were registered in Karnataka. A 30% year-on-year growth was recorded in the same year. Naturally, the State Transport Department’s tax revenues have been swelling too.
- The department’s 2022 tax revenues were 38% higher compared to 2021. Much of it came from Jayanagar, Kasturinagar, Rajajinagar, Yeshwantpur, and Koramangala.
- The government’s dependence on these sin taxes makes a complicated paradox. Under the Goods and Service Tax (GST) regime, states cannot rationalise the tax rates.
Way out: However, experts argue it isn’t an irresolvable issue. Mobility consultant Satya Arikutharam argues that the loss in tax revenue through vehicles due to a transition to public transport will bring forth growth in the bus manufacturing industry and taxes from shared auto rickshaws and cabs.
- Ashish Verma, Convenor of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Sustainable Transportation Lab, suggests raising the lifetime tax on personal vehicles so that fewer people consider owning cars.
- It could apply to electric vehicles too. However, e-buses should be tax-free to make this transition lucrative.
🧑💻 NTT’s data centre comes to town
NTT, which has data centres across Europe, Africa, and Asia, is set to expand to Bengaluru soon.
Story so far: NTT Ltd is partnering with Prestige Group to launch a 100-megawatt data centre in Bengaluru. The development highlights the Prestige Group’s maiden voyage into India’s data centre industry. Last month, it unveiled its third centre in Navi Mumbai.
- The data centre campus will be spread across one million square feet and comprise multiple buildings. The project, estimated at ₹700 crore, will be completed in three phases.
- The first building will be constructed within a year. Prestige Group will build three data centre buildings of 350,000 square feet each.
India’s data centre industry: There have been significant advancements in the data centre industry in India. Major players such as AWS, Yotta, Web Werks, AdaniConneX, Microsoft, ServiceNow, Princeton Digital Group, Nxtra, and CtrlS have made significant strides. AWS announced the launch of its second data centre in Hyderabad and plans to infuse $4.4 billion in the sector by 2030.
- Airtel’s Nxtra announced plans for a hyperscale Kolkata data centre. CtrlS inaugurated a data centre in Assam.
🧑🔬 Research programme for senior women
The government has introduced a new programme to encourage senior women scientists to pursue research.
About the study: The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has introduced a program called WIDUSHI (Women’s Instinct for Developing and Ushering in Scientific Heights and Innovation) to promote interdisciplinary research among senior women scientists in science and technology.
- The DST has invited proposals from senior women scientists in six disciplines and is open all year.
- It’s applicable for retiring or retired women scientists aged 57-62 years and senior women scientists not employed regularly aged between 45 and 62 years.
Tell me more? Projects can have a maximum duration of five years. Detailed guidelines, including academic requirements, can be found at www.dst.gov.in.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Would you ever like to operate a food truck?
- Yes, I would like to open a food truck.
- No, I wouldn’t want to open a food truck.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Which OTT platforms do you use the most?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- CM Siddaramaiah reviewed Indira Canteens yesterday.
- The government will soon decide on ₹178 crore for the Ejipura flyover project.
- The Karnataka government seeks a report from Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department.
- Kannada actor Roopesh files a cheating complaint against producer brother Girisha.
- Macaw by Stories, a craft brewery and kitchen, launched in Bengaluru.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I read reviews before watching a movie: 84.6% 🏆
- I don’t read reviews before watching a movie: 15.4%
That’s it for today. Have a great day!