Overview The two‑day Fruit and Flower Exhibition‑cum‑Sale was inaugurated on 23 February 2026 at the Sri Sharanabasaveshwara Lake Garden in Kalaburagi, Karnataka. Jointly organised by the Kalaburagi District Administration, Zilla Panchayat, Sri Sharanabasaveshwara Lake Development Authority and the Department of Horticulture , the event attracted large crowds with a striking floral replica of the Indian Constitution as its centerpiece. Key Developments Floral Constitution Replica: Designed by floral artist K. Jagadeesh of Jai Srikrishna Events, the installation used nearly 1.5 lakh flowers (marigold, chrysanthemum, asparagus, etc.) and became the major crowd‑puller. Vegetable Art & Local Heritage: Around the floral Constitution, vegetables such as watermelon, brinjal, bottle gourd, carrot, cucumber and capsicum were artistically arranged. Intricate vegetable carvings depicted Kalaburagi landmarks – Sri Sharanabasaveshwara Temple, Khwaja Bande Nawaz Dargah, Kalaburagi Fort and Buddha Vihar. Farmer Participation & Direct Sales: More than 500 exhibits from all taluks showcased fruits, vegetables and flowers cultivated under various horticulture schemes. Farmers sold produce directly to consumers, including specialty items like banana chips, turmeric products and organic produce. Important Facts Exhibit Highlights: California Queen Berry (Afzalpur), mint & pineapple (Chincholi), mushrooms & palm crops (Kalaburagi), banana & papaya (Aland). Watermelon Carvings: Portrayed national leaders and freedom fighters – Mahatma Gandhi, D.R. Bendre, Bhagat Singh, Rani Lakshmibai, Chandrashekhar Azad, Sangolli Rayanna, Subhas Chandra Bose, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Kittur Rani Chennamma. Women Empowerment: A vegetable rangoli and selfie point prepared by women staff of the Horticulture Department were praised by Regional Commissioner Zahira Naseem and Deputy Commissioner B. Fouzia Taranum . Supportive Initiatives: Raddewadi Krishi Vigyan Kendra sold subsidised terrace and kitchen garden seed kits; the event highlighted innovative cultivation practices under horticulture schemes. UPSC Relevance This exhibition intersects multiple UPSC syllabus areas. In GS Paper II (Polity & Governance) , the Constitution‑themed display underscores the importance of civic awareness and cultural propagation of constitutional values. In GS Paper III (Economy, Agriculture & Rural Development) , the event illustrates government‑driven horticulture schemes, direct farmer‑consumer linkages, and women’s participation in rural enterprises. Questions can be framed on: (i) role of state‑run horticulture departments in agricultural diversification, (ii) impact of farmer‑direct marketing platforms on rural incomes, and (iii) use of cultural events for public outreach on constitutional literacy. Way Forward Future editions could institutionalise the exhibition as an annual platform for showcasing innovative horticultural varieties, encouraging agri‑entrepreneurship, and reinforcing constitutional education through art. Scaling up subsidies for seed kits and expanding women‑centric horticulture training can further strengthen rural livelihoods and gender equity.