Here are the big stories from Karnataka today

Published 20 July 2026 · local

1. Progressive groups, writers and artists from Karnataka rally behind protesting students, Sonam Wangchuk Members of progressive groups, students’ organisations, Dalit groups, writers, activists and

1. Progressive groups, writers and artists from Karnataka rally behind protesting students, Sonam Wangchuk Members of progressive groups, students’ organisations, Dalit groups, writers, activists and progressive thinkers from across Karnataka staged protests in solidarity with students and activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was on a hunger strike in Delhi and had called for a ‘Parliament Chalo’ protest on July 20, 2026. The city of Mysuru witnessed a one-day hunger strike at Gandhi Bhavan on the University of Mysore campus on July 20 in support of educationist and environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk, Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, and others demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and abolition of the Testing Agency (NTA). In Shivamogga, protesters gathered in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in the city and raised slogans against the Central government, expressing support for Mr. Wangchuk and the protesting students. They condemned the alleged use of police force against peaceful protesters instead of engaging with them in dialogue In Vijayapura, in a rally held on July 19, protestors condemned the police action against Mr. Wangchuk, and sought his immediate discharge from the hospital.

Mr. Wangchuk was peacefully protesting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, but police have taken him to a hospital without his consent, they said. 2. Karnataka tourist suffers multiple fractures after fall from zipline at Dandeli resort In a shocking incident, which has come to light belatedly, a tourist from Vijayapura suffered multiple fractures after he fell during a zipline ride at a resort in Dandeli in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. The mishap occurred on July 3, 2026, when Kuber Surapur from Vijayapura was holidaying in Sterling Rover Resort of Dandeli. In the video that was captured by his brother, which has subsequently gone viral, Kuber is seen falling from a height of around 40 feet after the safety equipment on the zipline snapped. He suffered multiple fractures and, after initial treatment at Dandeli, was shifted to a private hospital in Vijayapura for treatment. Subsequently, he underwent surgeries at a hospital in Miraj.

3. TH Impact: Students of Morarji residential school in Bhadravati taluk get chicken for lunch after menu deviation highlighted Students of the Morarji Desai Residential School at Hanchina Siddapura, in Bhadravati taluk of Shivamogga district, were served chicken for lunch on July 19. The school, run under the Social Welfare Department, had reportedly been denying non-vegetarian food to the children, though it was part of the official hostel menu, due to a custom imposed by local villagers. As a result, parents had occasionally brought home-cooked non-vegetarian food, and served it to their children on the school premises. The Hindu carried a report on July 17 on this issue, after activists of the Karnataka Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (KDSS) demanded that the children be given the nutritious food they were entitled to. 4. 500 homestay owners applied for registration, says Karnataka Tourism Commissioner Registration of homestays operating in Karnataka has received an encouraging response with more than 500 homestay owners applying for registration so far.