The establishment of the Council for the Social Development of Concert Workers follows the state government’s decision to introduce social measures for concert workers through a specialized statutory body. | Photo credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN
1. Karnataka Labor Department introduces Gig Workers’ Welfare Board
On 27 January 2026, the Government of Karnataka issued a notification introducing the Karnataka Platform Workers Social Development Board under the Social Security and Social Development Act, 2025. According to the notification, the Labor Minister will be the ex-officio chairman of the board. The establishment of the council follows the state government’s decision to introduce social measures for concert workers through a specialized statutory body.
Senior officials from the Department of Labour, Department of IT and Department of Commercial Taxes were included as ex-officio members. Representatives of Porter, Zomato, Uber and Amazon have been appointed as members of the aggregators. The committee also includes trade unions including United Food Delivery Partners Union, App-based Transport Workers Federation of India, All India Trader Union Congress (AITUC) and Ola Uber Drivers and Owners Association.
2. Lok Bhavan chalo: All Gram Panchayat offices in Karnataka will be named after Mahatma Gandhi
The Congress government in Karnataka has decided to name all the 6,000 Gram Panchayat offices in the state after Mahatma Gandhi. This was announced by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar during the party’s protest against the introduction of the VB-G Ram G Act by scrapping MGNREGA.
At the ‘Raj Bhavan Chalo’ protest, Mr Siddaramaiah said the Union government’s decision was a testament to the antipathy of the BJP and its affiliates to the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and the spirit of decentralization enshrined in an earlier law named after him. “At the behest of the RSS, the BJP-led central government is canceling all pro-poor policies,” he said.
3. BJP-JDS legislators seek Excise Minister’s resignation, move against those who ‘misbehaved’ with Governor
Opposition lawmakers from the BJP and JD(S) staged a dharna in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, demanding the resignation of Excise Minister RB Thimmapura over alleged corruption and crackdown on Congress lawmakers who allegedly misbehaved with the Karnataka governor during a joint session of the legislature.
“The Excise Dealers Association estimates the corruption to be around ₹ 6,000 crore and has decided to petition Congress President Rahul Gandhi in this regard,” Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashok said. He termed the Congress government in Karnataka as a ‘goonda dispensation’ which was proved by the behavior of its legislators during the governor’s recent speech.
4. Bandepalya rowdy-sheeter Shabbir murder: 11 accused arrested, KCOCA to be invoked by Bengaluru police
Bandepalya police have cracked the murder of notorious troublemaker Shabbir in Bengaluru and arrested 11 accused. Considering the gravity of the crime, the police are expected to use the Karnataka Organized Crime Control Act against them.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Electronics City Division) M. Narayan said the murder was the result of a long-standing feud involving extortion and a civil property dispute between the accused and the deceased.
Published – 27 Jan 2026 18:58 IST
