Background

The Legislative Assembly passed the Bill in February 2017 to put the traditional sport out of the ambit of PCA Act. Governor then referred the Bill to the President for his assent. In April, the Union Home Ministry suggested modifications or omit the phrase “subject to such other conditions as may be prescribed”, which would open the window for inclusion of more such sports so returned it to the State.

• Resuming Kambala, the traditional slush-track buffalo race of the coastal districts are cleared with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2017, finally getting Presidential assent.

Kambala buffalo race

• Annual Buffalo Race held traditionally under the sponsorship of local land lords and households, in coastal Karnataka, India.
• The Kambala season generally starts in November and lasts till March.
• Currently, more than 45 races are held annually in Coastal Karnataka, including smaller remote villages like Vandaru, Gulvadi etc.
• Kambala is traditionally a simple sport which essentially, to entertain rural people of the area and track used for Kambala is a slushy paddy field.