Karnataka Government's Decision on Tulu Language and Other Cabinet Approvals
Tulu Language as an Official Language
- The Karnataka government has decided to grant additional official language status to the Tulu language.
- This decision was made during a cabinet meeting held in Mangaluru on September 18, 2026.
- Tulu is primarily spoken in the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.
- The new language status will apply to administrative matters in these districts.
- A funding of ₹82 lakh annually will be allocated for translation, training, and language usage.
Background and Implementation
- The decision fulfills a longstanding demand from the people of coastal Karnataka.
- A committee led by educationist M. Mohan Alva previously studied the feasibility of making Tulu an official language.
- The previous government's inability to act on the committee's report delayed the decision.
Other Cabinet Approvals
- Approval was given to upgrade the Mangaluru Fisheries College to Fisheries University.
- The intake of students will be increased from 60 to 200 annually.
- A special officer will oversee the college's upgrade, with an initial funding of ₹11 crore.
- Overall, the cabinet approved proposals amounting to ₹32,611 crore, with ₹16,000 crore earmarked for rural development.
Renaming of Dakshina Kannada District
- There is a proposal to rename Dakshina Kannada district to Mangaluru district.
- The name change reflects local and national recognition of the region as Mangaluru.
- A draft notification will be published to gather public feedback within a month.
This comprehensive decision-making by the Karnataka government aims to address regional demands and promote local culture and development.
