Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌧️ Today’s weather: High: 32 ℃ | Low: 20 ℃ | Partly cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers.
🧐 Did you know? Bengaluru’s municipal governance began on 27 March 1862, when nine prominent citizens formed a Municipal Board under the 1850 Improvement of Towns Act. A similar board was also established for the Cantonment area.
🏎️ Off-road racing thrills
Bengaluru’s Unite off-road racetrack hosted an exhilarating weekend of off-road racing, marking the debut edition of an autocross league organised by Chetan Shivram Motorsports.
Event highlights: The race began with the ‘Time Attack Showdown’, an autocross event for drivers of all levels, followed by the ‘Clash of the Moto Clans’ league event. The event attracted nearly 230 participants, including seasoned racers and newcomers, offering a platform for showcasing talent and fine-tuning vehicles.
- The league features ten teams, each with at least one female driver, promoting inclusivity in motorsports.
- The franchise-based league format has made participation more accessible and affordable.
Future prospects: Chetan Shivram expressed optimism about the event’s growth, aiming for a larger and more robust presence next year. The league’s success reflects the rising visibility and interest in motorsports in India.
✍🏼 CBSE results analysis
The CBSE results showed a slight decline in Class 12 performance in Bengaluru, while Class 10 results improved marginally.
Regional performance: The Bengaluru region achieved a 96.95% pass rate in Class 12 and 99.26% in Class 10, ranking fourth nationally. Last year, the region held the second position with 98.64% in Class 12 and 99.18% in Class 10. The Trivandrum region topped the list with 99.91% in Class 12 and 99.75% in Class 10. Nationally, the pass rates were 87.98% for Class 12 and 93.6% for Class 10.
- Many Bengaluru schools achieved 100% results, with numerous students scoring 99% or higher.
- Karnataka saw 20,353 out of 20,993 Class 12 students pass and 83,029 out of 83,647 Class 10 students pass.
Student achievements: Top scorers like Stuti Almal (99.2% in Commerce), Asmita Goswami (99% in Humanities), and Saanvi Jain and M Monica (98.8% in Science) exemplify the region’s academic excellence. Girls continued to outperform boys, with a 97.75% pass rate for Class 12 girls compared to 96.25% for boys, and 99.53% for Class 10 girls compared to 99.03% for boys.
🛫 Bengaluru international network expansion
Indian carriers are set to enhance their international networks from Bengaluru over the next 12-18 months, according to Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL).
Airline developments: IndiGo, now the leading international carrier out of Bengaluru, has increased its flights by 57% year-on-year, surpassing Emirates in seat deployment. New routes, like the non-stop flight to Bali, and future plans for long-haul direct routes by Air India, indicate significant growth. Akasa Air is also in discussions to launch international routes from Bengaluru.
- International traffic grew by 23.5% in FY24, reaching 4.67 million passengers.
- Popular destinations included Dubai, Singapore, Doha, Bangkok, and Abu Dhabi.
Additional services: Australian carrier Qantas will increase flights between Sydney and Bengaluru from mid-December, expanding from five services per week to daily, adding 12,000 seats over four months. This expansion caters to the high demand for travel between India and Australia, particularly during the holiday period, enhancing connectivity and supporting family reunions.
🏥 HCG expands cancer care
Healthcare Global Enterprises Limited (HCG) is expanding its cancer care network in Bengaluru with two new state-of-the-art centres in Whitefield and North Bengaluru, set to open in early 2025.
New facilities and services: HCG, India’s largest cancer care network, aims to deliver advanced cancer treatment through these strategically located centres, which will add a combined capacity of 125 beds. These facilities will offer comprehensive cancer care, including high-precision diagnosis and personalised treatment. The North Bengaluru centre will feature an MRI linear accelerator (LINAC) radiation system, enhancing radiation therapy with improved outcomes and reduced side effects.
- HCG currently operates 21 comprehensive cancer centres and 24 hospitals across India and Africa.
- The network also includes three existing daycare centres in Bengaluru, with plans to add two more to improve accessibility for frequent treatments like chemotherapy.
Strategic growth: CEO Raj Gore highlighted the focus on new infrastructure and advanced treatments to bring quality services closer to patients. Executive Chairman B S Ajaikumar emphasized the sustainable growth of their network and the deep-rooted connection to Bengaluru, ensuring high-quality cancer care is accessible to the local community.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Do you like watching the Indian Premier League?
- I like watching the Indian Premier League.
- I don’t like watching the Indian Premier League.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Who should be the next captain of the Indian cricket team across formats?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Qantas plans to add more flights between Bengaluru and Sydney.
- “Turning Pages Together: Bengaluru’s Literary Legacy” explored Bengaluru’s vibrant book culture and its impact on community reading spaces.
- Bengaluru Traffic Police has set an 80 km/h speed limit on Airport Road.
- BMTC electric bus drivers employed by Tata Motors are protesting over unpaid salaries.
- Bengaluru and Chennai will host the women’s all-format cricket series between India and South Africa.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I have a tattoo: 16.7%
- I don’t have a tattoo: 83.3% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What’s the best thing about the summer season?
Simon: “Mangoes”
Dharna: “Mangoes”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!