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Karnataka

State in southern India / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Karnataka (/kərˈnɑːtəkə/; ISO: Karnāṭaka, Kannada: [kɐɾˈnaːʈɐkɐ], also known as Karunāḍu), formerly Mysore State /mˈsɔːr/, is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, and renamed Karnataka in 1973. The state was part of the Carnatic region in British terminology. Its capital and largest city is Bengaluru (Bangalore).

Quick facts: Karnataka, Country, Region, , Before was...
Karnataka
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Etymology: Land of Kannadigas
Nickname: 
"IT Capital of India"
Motto: 
Satyameva Jayate (Truth alone triumphs)
Anthem: Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate
(Victory to You Mother Karnataka, Daughter of Mother India)[1]
The map of India showing Karnataka
Location of Karnataka in India
Coordinates: 12.97°N 77.50°E / 12.97; 77.50
CountryFlag_of_India.svg India
RegionSouth India
Before wasMysore State
Formation1 November 1956
Capital
and largest city
Bangalore
Largest metroBangalore
Districts31 (4 divisions)
Government
  BodyGovernment of Karnataka
  GovernorThawar Chand Gehlot
  Chief ministerSiddaramaiah (INC)
  Deputy chief ministerD. K. Shivakumar (INC)
  Chief secretaryVandita Sharma
State LegislatureBicameral
  CouncilKarnataka Legislative Council (75 seats)
  AssemblyKarnataka Legislative Assembly (224 seats)
National ParliamentParliament of India
  Rajya Sabha12 seats
  Lok Sabha28 seats
High CourtKarnataka High Court
Area
  Total191,791 km2 (74,051 sq mi)
  Rank6th
Dimensions
  Length750 km (470 mi)
  Width400 km (200 mi)
Elevation
460 m (1,510 ft)
Highest elevation1,925 m (6,316 ft)
Lowest elevation−1 m (−3 ft)
Population
 (2011)[5]
  TotalNeutral increase 61,130,704
  Rank8th
  Density320/km2 (800/sq mi)
  Urban
38.67%
  Rural
61.33%
Demonym(s)Kannadiga (gender neutral)
Kannadati (feminine)
Language
  OfficialKannada[6][7]
  Official scriptKannada script
GDP
  Total (2021–22)Increase20.5 trillion (US$260 billion)
  Rank5th
  Per capitaIncrease305,000 (US$3,800) (5th)
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (IST)
ISO 3166 codeIN-KA
Vehicle registrationKA
HDI (2022)Increase 0.706 High[9] (15th)
Literacy (2011)Increase 75.36%[10] (23rd)
Sex ratio (2011)973/1000 (6th)
Websitewww.karnataka.gov.in
Symbols of Karnataka
Seal_of_Karnataka.svg
SongJaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate
(Victory to You Mother Karnataka, Daughter of Mother India)[11]
Foundation dayKarnataka Formation Day
BirdIndian roller
FlowerLotus
MammalIndian elephant[12]
TreeSandalwood
State highway mark
SH_IN-KA.png
State highway of Karnataka
KA SH1 - KA SH188
List of Indian state symbols
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Karnataka is bordered by the Lakshadweep Sea to the west, Goa to the northwest, Maharashtra to the north, Telangana to the northeast, Andhra Pradesh to the east, Tamil Nadu to the southeast, and Kerala to the southwest. It is the only southern state to have land borders with all of the other four southern Indian sister states. The state covers an area of 191,791 km2 (74,051 sq mi), or 5.83 percent of the total geographical area of India.[13] It is the sixth-largest Indian state by area.[13] With 61,130,704 inhabitants at the 2011 census, Karnataka is the eighth-largest state by population, comprising 31 districts. Kannada, one of the classical languages of India, is the most widely spoken and official language of the state. Other minority languages spoken include Urdu, Konkani, Marathi, Tulu, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kodava and Beary. Karnataka also contains some of the only villages in India where Sanskrit is primarily spoken.[14][15][16]

Though several etymologies have been suggested for the name Karnataka, the generally accepted one is that Karnataka is derived from the Kannada words karu and nādu, meaning "elevated land". Karu Nadu may also be read as karu, meaning "black" and nadu, meaning "region", as a reference to the black cotton soil found in the Bayalu Seeme region of the state. The British used the word Carnatic, sometimes Karnatak, to describe both sides of peninsular India, south of the Krishna.[17]

With an antiquity that dates to the paleolithic, Karnataka has been home to some of the most powerful empires of ancient and medieval India. The philosophers and musical bards patronised by these empires launched socio-religious and literary movements which have endured to the present day. Karnataka has contributed significantly to both forms of Indian classical music, the Carnatic and Hindustani traditions.

The economy of Karnataka is the fifth-largest of any Indian state with 20.5 trillion (US$260 billion) in gross domestic product and a per capita GDP of 305,000 (US$3,800).[8] Karnataka has the fifteenth-highest ranking among Indian states in Human Development Index.[9]