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Global Innovation Alliance Expands to 35+ Nations, Strengthens Tech Diplomacy

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Karnataka Organises Global Collaboration Meet to Boost International Partnerships for Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025

Bengaluru, July 21, 2025:
The Department of Electronics, IT, and Biotechnology, Government of Karnataka, hosted the Global Collaboration Meet today at the Four Seasons Hotel, Bengaluru, under the Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) initiative. The event served as a strategic platform to engage with international partners and promote the upcoming Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025 (BTS 2025), scheduled from November 18–20 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC).

Key government officials, including Dr. Ekroop Caur, IAS, Secretary, Department of Electronics, IT, BT, and S&T; Shri Rahul Sharanappa Sankanur, IAS, Managing Director, KITS; and Shri Daljeet Kumar, IAS, Deputy Secretary, Department of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T, graced the event. Representatives from over 20 countries, including the UK, USA, Germany, Japan, France, Israel, South Korea, Singapore, Netherlands, Australia, and others, were also in attendance.

The Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) was launched in 2017 to build partnerships with top innovation ecosystems worldwide. Since its inception, the alliance has grown from 10 member nations to over 35 by 2025.

The meet focused on fostering deeper international cooperation and encouraging GIA partner countries to actively participate in BTS 2025 through country delegations, national pavilions, and focused sessions. Dr. Caur emphasized the summit’s significance in showcasing advancements in emerging technologies, fostering global collaboration, and promoting Karnataka’s innovation leadership.
“The Bengaluru Tech Summit is now one of Asia’s premier platforms for technology and innovation. With BTS 2025 set to take place at BIEC for the first time, we invite our partner nations to leverage this opportunity to exhibit their innovations, engage with Indian startups and industries, and explore joint initiatives in research, technology, and policy,” Dr. Caur stated.



This year’s edition is expected to attract over 1,00,000 attendees, including 20,000+ startup founders, 1,000+ investors, 600+ speakers, and 15,000+ delegates, along with participation from 60+ countries and all 36 Indian States and Union Territories.

With the central theme ‘Futurise’, BTS 2025 will feature 10 conference tracks covering areas such as DeepTech, Semiconductor Technology, Biotech, Digital Health, AI, Fintech, Defence & Spacetech, and Climate Tech. The Future Makers Conclave will highlight changemakers from various fields including entrepreneurship, spirituality, art, and exploration, attracting over 2,000 startup leaders.

The Startup Springboard initiative will offer high-growth ventures access to investor pitching, mentorship clinics, global networking, and international exposure. A dedicated Startup Pavilion, thematic sessions on scaling and fundraising, and the prestigious Startup Awards will further strengthen startup engagement.

Additional programmes such as the Rural IT Quiz, Bio Quiz, Bio Posters, and Exhibitor & Innovation Awards, along with a Global Leaders’ Reception, will enrich the summit experience.

To learn more, visit: http://www.bengalurutechsummit.com

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बेंगलुरु के व्यापारियों ने छोटे व्यवसायों के लिए टैक्स अनुपालन आसान बनाने हेतु फ्लैट डिजिटल टैक्स मॉडल का सुझाव दिया

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बेंगलुरु, 19 जुलाई 2025:
बेंगलुरु होलसेल कपड़ा व्यापारी संघ के अध्यक्ष प्रकाश पिरगल ने नेशनल ट्रेडर्स वेलफेयर बोर्ड (NTWB) द्वारा देश के व्यापारिक समुदाय—विशेष रूप से सूक्ष्म और लघु व्यापारियों—के हित में किए जा रहे सतत प्रयासों के लिए आभार प्रकट किया है।

उन्होंने बोर्ड की ओर से अनुपालन प्रक्रिया को सरल बनाने, वित्तीय समावेशन को बढ़ावा देने और व्यापारियों के हितों की रक्षा करने के कार्यों की सराहना की। हालांकि, उन्होंने एक बढ़ती हुई चिंता की ओर इशारा किया कि बेंगलुरु सहित कई शहरों में छोटे विक्रेता अब पुनः नकद लेन-देन की ओर लौट रहे हैं, खासकर GST जांच के डर के कारण जो UPI और अन्य डिजिटल भुगतान से जुड़ी होती हैं।

“यही व्यापारी थे जिन्होंने नोटबंदी और UPI क्रांति के दौरान राष्ट्रहित में डिजिटल भुगतान को उत्साहपूर्वक अपनाया था,” पिरगल ने कहा। “लेकिन अब कर जांच के डर से वे फिर से नकदी की ओर लौटने लगे हैं।”

इस प्रवृत्ति को रोकने और डिजिटल अर्थव्यवस्था को सशक्त बनाने के लिए संघ ने एक भविष्यवादी समाधान प्रस्तावित किया है:

सूक्ष्म व्यापारियों (₹5 करोड़ तक टर्नओवर) के लिए फ्लैट डिजिटल ट्रांजैक्शन टैक्स मॉडल

प्रस्ताव की मुख्य बातें:

डिजिटल भुगतान प्राप्ति के समय 0.3% से 0.5% तक का फ्लैट डिजिटल ट्रांजैक्शन टैक्स (DTT) स्वतः कटौती के साथ लागू किया जाए।

इस योजना में शामिल होने वाले व्यापारियों को GST, आयकर रिटर्न, ऑडिट और अन्य जटिलताओं से पूर्ण छूट दी जाए।

प्रस्तावित पायलट परियोजना को भारतीय डिजिटल करेंसी (CBDC) के साथ जोड़ा जाए, ताकि पारदर्शिता बढ़े और नकदी पर निर्भरता घटे।

सरकार के लिए सुनिश्चित, सुलभ और कम लागत वाला राजस्व तंत्र तैयार हो।

एक ऐसा तंत्र जो डिजिटल लेन-देन में विश्वास बढ़ाए और वास्तविक व्यापारियों को स्वेच्छा से भागीदारी के लिए प्रेरित करे।


पिरगल ने कहा कि RBI की डिजिटल रुपया पहल के विस्तार के साथ यह मॉडल एक पारदर्शी और सरल व्यापारिक डिजिटल इकोसिस्टम के निर्माण में मील का पत्थर साबित हो सकता है।

उन्होंने NTWB से आग्रह किया कि इस प्रस्ताव को वित्त मंत्रालय, GST परिषद और RBI के समक्ष विचार-विमर्श हेतु प्रस्तुत किया जाए। उन्होंने सुझाव दिया कि चुनिंदा शहरी और ग्रामीण बाजारों में इसका पायलट प्रोजेक्ट शुरू कर भारत की व्यापारी-हितैषी डिजिटल प्रगति को दुनिया के सामने प्रस्तुत किया जा सकता है।

“यह पहल छोटे लेकिन महत्वपूर्ण व्यापारियों के लिए ‘व्यवसाय करने में आसानी’ को हकीकत में बदल सकती है,” पिरगल ने कहा।

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Bengaluru Cloth Traders Suggest Flat Digital Tax to Simplify Compliance for Small Businesses

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Bengaluru, July 19, 2025:
Prakash Pirgal, President of the Bangalore Wholesale Cloth Merchant Association, expressed gratitude to the National Traders’ Welfare Board (NTWB) for its continued commitment to addressing the concerns of India’s trading community—particularly micro and small traders who play a vital role in the informal economy.

In a public statement, Pirgal praised the NTWB for its initiatives in simplifying compliance frameworks, enhancing financial inclusion, and protecting the interests of traders. However, he flagged an emerging challenge: a growing number of small vendors in Bengaluru and other cities are returning to cash transactions due to fears of regulatory scrutiny, especially involving GST probes linked to UPI and other digital payments.

“These traders were among the first to adopt digital transactions with patriotic enthusiasm during demonetization and the UPI movement,” Pirgal noted. “Unfortunately, fear of tax inquiries is now pushing them back into cash-based dealings.”

To counter this trend and strengthen India’s digital economy, the association has proposed an innovative, future-ready solution:

Proposed Model: Flat Digital Transaction Tax for Micro Traders (Up to ₹5 Crore Turnover)

Key elements include:

Introduction of a flat Digital Transaction Tax (DTT) between 0.3% and 0.5%, automatically deducted at the point of digital receipt.

Exemption from GST, income tax filings, audits, and other compliance burdens for businesses opting into the scheme.

A pilot project aligned with India’s push for the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) to encourage transparency and reduce dependence on cash.

Assured, low-cost revenue collection for the government with minimal enforcement effort.

A system that builds digital trust and promotes voluntary participation from genuine micro enterprises.


Pirgal emphasized that with the RBI’s Digital Rupee pilot progressing, this model could serve as a milestone in building a simplified and inclusive digital trade ecosystem.

He appealed to the NTWB to recommend the proposal to the Ministry of Finance, the GST Council, and the RBI for broader consultation. A pilot in targeted urban and rural markets, he said, could showcase India’s ability to lead the world in trader-centric digital innovation.

“This initiative could bring the vision of ‘Ease of Doing Business’ to life for millions of small traders who are the foundation of our economy,” Pirgal concluded.

City Today News 9341997936

Zee Launches ‘Z What’s Next’ to Usher in a New Era of Content and Innovation

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Bengaluru, July 18, 2025:
Zee Entertainment has announced the launch of ‘Z What’s Next’, a forward-looking initiative designed to showcase the network’s transformation into a content-tech powerhouse. The initiative coincides with the unveiling of Zee’s new brand identity and the promise, “Yours Truly, Z”.

With a reach of over 854 million viewers across 208 million households, Zee aims to highlight its growing focus on culturally rooted storytelling combined with cutting-edge technological innovation. ‘Z What’s Next’ serves as a recurring industry platform to present new ideas, programming strategies, and the brand’s evolving vision in the digital age.

The company also reiterated its belief in the enduring relevance of television as a storytelling medium, even as it adapts to viewers who increasingly consume content across platforms. Zee continues to develop stories and formats that transition fluidly between TV, OTT, and digital media.

As part of the event, the network announced two new hybrid channels—Zee Power for the Kannada-speaking audience, and Zee BanglaSonar for the Bengali market. Both channels are scheduled to go on air in August 2025, with large-scale multimedia campaigns planned across respective states.

Zee Power is positioned as a bold, high-energy channel catering to younger and semi-urban audiences in Karnataka. The programming lineup includes five fiction series, a daily non-fiction show, and movie slots, including occasional world television premieres.

Commenting on the initiative, Ashish Sehgal, Chief Growth Officer, ZEEL, said, ‘India’s entertainment landscape is shifting to an omni-platform world, and at Zee, we’re shaping that change by leveraging television’s enduring trust and reach alongside the agility of digital. With new launches like Zee BanglaSonar and Zee Power, we’re backing TV to go deeper into regional markets with fresh, differentiated content – giving brands more meaningful, targeted ways to connect with Bharat’s diverse audiences.’

Siju Prabhakaran, Chief Cluster Officer – South and West, ZEEL, said the launch reflects Zee’s dual-channel strategy for Karnataka. “While Zee Kannada continues to engage family audiences, Zee Power will bring in fresh, grittier content for younger viewers seeking a more contemporary experience,” he said.

Zee BanglaSonar, meanwhile, targets Bengali-speaking viewers with a diverse slate of fiction, non-fiction, films, and new formats. Designed for a culturally grounded yet modern audience, the channel will also include content specially curated for male viewers.

Samrat Ghosh, Chief Cluster Officer – East, North & Premium Cluster, ZEEL, said the Bengali television market is ripe for innovation. “Zee BanglaSonar complements Zee Bangla and allows us to tap into new audience segments through differentiated storytelling,” he added.

Kartik Mahadev, Chief Marketing Officer, ZEEL, summed up the initiative, saying, “With ‘Z What’s Next’, we are reimagining entertainment by integrating culture, creativity, and technology. The new channels reflect Zee’s commitment to shaping the future of Indian entertainment by staying in tune with changing viewer preferences.”

Through this initiative, Zee aims to reinforce its position as a cultural mainstay while leading innovation in the Indian media and entertainment space.

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Hazari Prasad Foundation Launches Medical Aid Scheme for Artists

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Bengaluru, July 18:
In a notable step towards supporting the artistic community, the Hazari Prasad Foundation, a unit of Rhythms Academy of Fine Arts, has launched ‘SPANDANA’, a healthcare support initiative offering subsidized medical treatment to artists across Karnataka.

The foundation was established in memory of Late Sri K.S. Hazari Prasad, father of Dr. Vishwanath Prasad H, Founder-Chairman of Rhythms Academy. Since its inception in 2004—marked by an inauguration by Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and then Karnataka Governor Sri T.N. Chaturvedi—the foundation has been actively engaged in promoting the welfare of artists.

Under SPANDANA, the foundation has tied up with M.S. Ramaiah Medical College Hospital to facilitate affordable medical care for musicians, dancers, and other performing artists. Beneficiaries can reach out to the trust’s Social Welfare Office at Sanjay Nagar, Bengaluru, via phone at 99802 85896.

The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Press Club of Bangalore. Present on the occasion were Dr. Vishwanath Prasad, Chairman-Founder Trustee of the foundation; Smt. Shubha Dhananjay, Chairperson of the Karnataka Sangeetha Nritya Academy; Karnataka Kalashree awardee and renowned tabla artist Dr. Pandit Sathish Hampiholi; and Dr. Lakshmi Narayan, Head of Social Welfare and Public Relations, M.S. Ramaiah Medical College Hospital.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Vishwanath Prasad noted that many artists face financial hardship, especially regarding healthcare. He described SPANDANA as a “first-of-its-kind support system for the artistic community” and urged artists to make full use of the facility.

City Today News 9341997936