Karnataka The Country's Leading Tech And Startup State Is On A Roll

Karnataka has moved on from being India’s leading software exporter. Today, its capital Bengaluru is one of the world’s hottest tech startup hubs. The state leads India in solar PV installations, and the state government is going all out to turn Bengaluru into a global ESDM hub. The government needs to improve the ease of doing business ranking, though, and address waste management and traffic woes in its cities.

- Baishakhi Dutta

Bengaluru is the capital of the south Indian state of Karnataka, which is known for its technology-based industries, expansive gardens, and globalised character. Nicknamed the ‘Silicon Valley of India’, Bengaluru leads the country in the IT outsourcing and software business, being one of the biggest software exporters in India and the world. It also boasts of a dynamic ecosystem that fosters one of the densest pools of startups in India.

According to the last census of 2011, Bengaluru’s population was 8.5 million; it is now estimated to be around 10.1 million. As the city experiences good weather all year round, it draws people from all over India and also from across the globe. Temperatures reach an average high of 34°C during the summer in April, dropping down to 15°C in January. The city gets heavy rainfall during the monsoons from June to September.

Bengaluru has widespread transport services. The Kempegowda International Airport is located about 40km from the city centre. The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus services and a range of taxi services (Ola, Uber, Mega Cabs, Meru Cabs, and KSTDC taxis) are available from all parts of the city. Namma Metro (subway) services cater to some parts of the city, though penetration in certain key localities is yet to happen. Auto-rickshaws are the other local means of transportation.

Ease of doing business

According to India’s Business Reform Action Plan, 2017 – a joint initiative between the World Bank and the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) – the state of Karnataka ranks No. 6 in terms of ease of doing business, up from a rank of 13 in 2016.