GENRE: Explainers

Salt is the most underrated ingredient, but by far the most important when you think of food. Important enough to be worshipped by the Greeks, to have battles fought over it, to be used as currency and to make international headlines- thanks to Mahatma Gandhi’s ‘Salt Satyagraha’! Used widely to give the ‘salty’ flavor to dishes, it is said that a pinch of salt added to sweet dishes tends to make the dish sweeter! Pic: http://bharatcs.blogspot.in It is one of the most precious natural compound and found naturally in saltwater and in the mineral halite. Salt or ‘table salt’ is…

Only one more day left to go to the voting booth and cast your vote. All the leading parties have presented their manifesto. Their candidates have toured the city of Bengaluru trying to sell their ideas for the city and nation by large. Now it’s your turn. Step out and vote. For many who are still in a dilemma about which Parliamentary constituency you belong to, here is where you can figure it out: Which Parliament Constituency does your ward fall in? Who are the candidates? Once you know to which parliamentary assembly constituency you belong to, check out who…

It is that time of the year when people in Bengaluru start rushing to pay property tax to avail discounts. All of us would have paid the taxes for all the previous years (2008-14) by filling the appropriate form (Form I-for properties with PID no./ Form II-for  properties having only Khatha no./ Form III-for properties with neither PID nor Khatha no.) and have come to the stage of paying the taxes for the current year. Here’s a guide on how to do it.  This time, there are of two different types – White (form IV) in bilingual and Blue (Form…

General Observer of 24-Bangalore North S K Agarwal, I.A.S. General Observer is staying at the Executive Development Center, Institute of Hotel Atria, Palace Road, Bangalore. He is available on landline number: 080-22211292. His local Mobile Number is 9845983381. General Observer of 25-Bangalore Central Alok Nigam, I.A.S. General Observer is staying at the Executive Development Center, Institute of Hotel Management, SJP Campus, Sheshadri Road, Bangalore-560001, Karnataka, India. He is available onlandline number: 080-61265555. His local Mobile Number is 94806-83057. He will also be available at Room No. 111, 1st Floor, BBMP Head Office, Main Building, N.R. Square, Bangalore-560002. Office: 080-22975534 between…

You live in Yelahanka and always thought you belong to Bengaluru - but no, you can’t vote for any candidate from Bangalore - your area falls under Chikballapur constituency! There are many areas like this in Bangalore. Knowing the boundaries of the Parliamentary constituencies is important - because some of the wards that fall in BBMP limits actually belong to Bangalore Rural or Chikballlapur when it comes to Parliamentary voting, which is totally different when we consider the profile of the urban and rural areas. https://opencity.in/explainer/how-to-find-your-constituency-in-bengaluru/ Here’s a list of the Assembly constituencies and wards that fall in each Parliamentary…

The High Court of Karnataka has noted in the recent hearing of Chalet Hotels v/s HAL case that the investors who have put their money into Raheja Vivarea would have to sacrifice their interest if the court decides that the height of Raheja Vivarea cannot be allowed beyond 45 metres. This brings us to the question: What exactly went wrong in this case? And what is that you - the property buyer - have to keep in mind? There have been cases of wrong height certificates submitted which gave the builders permission for extra floors in high rises illegally. Pic:…

BDA Flats in Nandini Layout (1 BHK EWS Quarters). Pic: Ganga Madappa Namma Bengaluru, with its burgeoning population, is witnessing a sea change in the kind of housing that is available for its citizens. Even in as recently as 2005, those looking to invest or set up base in Bangalore, preferred to buy a site and build their house from scratch. The reality now is different. While people will probably always prefer to own an independent house, the lack of space has made it necessary for them to look upwards. The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) in 2012, in line with…

Namma Bengaluru is home to people from across the country. While a good number of people depend on public transport or company-arranged travel to commute around the city, there’s likely to be an equal number driving around in their own vehicles. Given the fact that Bangalore has a sizable migrant population, there are many vehicles from other states entering the city now and again. Getting your own vehicle from your home state is perfectly all right, provided all your documents are in place, you get the vehicle  re-registered in Karnataka and pay the prescribed tax. The Karnataka Motor Vehicles Act…

After reading lot of blogs and articles on Aadhar enrollment, I thought would share my own experiences at two centers in Bangalore. I enrolled in Malleshwaram center and my family members did at Basavangudi center (both are Karvy's center). I enrolled in December 2013. My family members in January 2014. Address: 337, Karuna Complex, Sampige Road , Opp. New Vegetable Market, Malleshwaram Landmark: VGP showroom (1st floor). You can see the Board Aadhar enrollment centre in front of building. 1) I went in at about 9:30 am (on a Monday) and hence could not find much crowd. 2) I filled…

There were days when you had to call and book an appointment, wait in long queues and go through harrowing ordeals to get a passport. Now, with online appointments and professionalised services like Saakala, the experience of getting a passport has changed in Bengaluru. Here's how you can apply for a normal passport. Why do you need a passport? Why would you need a passport? To be eligible for foreign travel of course. It also holds good as a valid government-approved ID card, it acts as a proof of address, it is a reminder of your heritage and can also…