Good morning, Bengaluru!
☀️ Today’s weather: High: 32 ℃ | Low: 20 ℃ | Clear sky
🧐 Did you know? During 2022-2023, Bengaluru airport handled 53,751 metric tonnes of perishable cargo.
🚀 Astronauts for Gaganyaan mission
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the names of the first batch of astronaut-designates for ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission, marking a significant milestone in India’s human spaceflight program.
What’s it about? Nearly five years after the announcement of the Gaganyaan mission, ISRO is gearing up for its first human spaceflight. The astronaut-designates, Group Captains P Balakrishnan Nair, Ajit Krishnan, Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander S Shukla, are currently undergoing training in Bengaluru. Three of them will embark on a historic three-day journey to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) aboard the LVM Mk-3 rocket, which has been re-configured to meet human safety standards.
- The mission is scheduled for a late 2025 launch, with ISRO conducting over 20 tests, including test vehicle flights and unmanned flights with robotic payloads, to ensure the safety and success of the mission.
- The first unmanned flight is set to take place later this year, following the successful test of the crew module’s escape system and parachute safety tests.
Elite club: If successful, India will join the elite group of countries, including Russia, the US, and China, capable of conducting human spaceflight missions. The Gaganyaan mission is not just a testament to India’s growing prowess in space technology but also a symbol of national pride.
🎞️ Film fest to honour Kannada cinema
The 15th edition of the Bengaluru International Film Festival, starting on February 29, will honour 90 years of Kannada cinema and the 50th anniversary of the renaming of the state to Karnataka.
Showcase: The festival will feature 30 Kannada films, including classics like Bhakta Kanakadasa and contemporary hits like Kabzaa. The international section will showcase 180 films from over 50 countries, with a special focus on German cinema.
- The festival will include competition sections for Kannada, Indian, and Asian cinemas, along with masterclasses and workshops on various aspects of filmmaking.
- The opening ceremony will be graced by Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Bangladeshi actress Azmeri Bandhon, and film critic Viera Langerova, with a performance by composer Ricky Kej.
Remembering icons: Tributes will be paid to legends like actor Leelavathi, directors Bhagwan and CV Shivashankar, and singer Vani Jayaram, with centenary tributes to Vijaya Bhaskar and N G Rao.
🏠 Property tax hike
Bengaluru’s property taxes are set to increase as the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) proposes a new system based on the guidance value.
What’s it about? The proposed change aims to align tax collection with the minimum property prices set by the government. This move is expected to raise apartment rentals further, adding to the city’s ongoing rental crisis. The new system will see owners of rented properties paying double the tax compared to those of self-occupied properties.
- The new tax rates will be 0.2% of the guidance values for rented properties and 0.1% for self-occupied ones.
- An annual 5% increase in property tax is proposed from April 1, 2025.
Is it fair? The Karnataka Home Buyers Forum has expressed concerns over the potential financial burden on middle-class homebuyers and has requested the state government to consider the carpet area for tax calculation. The Bangalore Apartments’ Federation warns that the tax increase could be 100% in prime areas, raising questions about the fairness of the guidance value system.
📖 Harish Vasudevan’s Debut Novel “Redemption”
Harish Vasudevan’s debut novel, “Redemption,” set in 2007 Bengaluru, explores the impact of a single day’s events on an ordinary family, delving into themes of power dynamics, crime, and retribution.
The story: Drawing from his marketing background and love for mystery and thriller genres, Harish Vasudevan crafts a narrative influenced by personal experiences and societal injustices. The novel reflects the troubling realities of power misuse and legal failures in India, with a focus on an ordinary family’s resilience in extraordinary circumstances.
- The protagonist, a mother and mobile phone developer, seeks vengeance for a crime against her daughter, set against the backdrop of the early smartphone era.
- Harish faced challenges in character development and narrative expansion, transitioning from blogging to novel writing.
A film adaptation, perhaps: Harish aims to present a narrative of hope and justice, despite the odds. While not initially considering a film adaptation, reader feedback has highlighted the story’s cinematic potential, emphasising the protagonist’s journey from an ordinary person to a figure of resilience.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Do you prefer talking or texting?
- I prefer talking.
- I prefer texting.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Which comedy movie do you like the most?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Moxie, a fun and adorable AI-powered robot from the US designed for kids aged 5 to 10, visited Bengaluru.
- Bengaluru is expected to introduce KYC-less national common mobility cards in early March.
- In Bengaluru’s Whitefield, 19 trees were illegally cut down, resulting in a tech park and a realty firm being booked.
- Metro passengers have expressed their dissatisfaction with the operation of short-loop trains, stating that it causes inconvenience.
- SpaceFields, a space technology startup incubated at the Indian Institute of Science, has raised $800,000 in an oversubscribed seed funding round.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I am a fan of Korean dramas: 27.3%
- I am not a fan of Korean dramas: 72.7% 🏆
That’s it for today. Have a great day!