Karnataka: Cabinet grants Tulu additional official language status in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi

Mangaluru: The Karnataka Cabinet on Friday decided to accord Tulu the status of the state’s second additional official language in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, meeting a long-pending demand from the coastal region.

The decision was taken at the first Cabinet meeting held in Mangaluru, chaired by Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. The Cabinet also approved projects worth Rs 32,611 crore, including the Coastal-Malnad Karnataka Tourism Policy 2026 and a 150-acre fisheries park.

Tulu gets official recognition

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Shivakumar said the government had respected a demand that had been pending for several years.


“The demand to make Tulu an additional official language has been there for a long time in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi,” he said, adding that the decision would apply to both districts.

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He recalled the efforts of former minister Ramanath Rai and credited Minister UT Khader, Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai and other elected representatives for pursuing the demand.

Tulu will now be Karnataka’s second additional official language, with its official use limited to Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, Shivakumar said.

Rs 32,611 crore projects cleared

Of the total projects approved, around Rs 16,000 crore would be spent on rural roads, rural development and infrastructure, while the remaining amount would cover projects in coastal districts, Shivakumar said.

The Cabinet also approved Rs 549 crore for a medical college at Puttur. The government has been responding to demands for institutions such as the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology and Jayadeva Hospital in the coastal region, he said.

Shivakumar said the government wanted to address both regional aspirations and people’s day-to-day needs.

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“We do not do politics only on emotions. We work on people’s lives. Society cannot be built only on emotions. We must give people social and economic strength and help them build a better life,” he said.

Tourism policy, fisheries park

The Cabinet approved the Coastal-Malnad Karnataka Tourism Policy 2026, under which tourism projects in the coastal and Malnad regions will be treated as infrastructure projects.

Shivakumar said the policy would provide greater support to investors, including longer loan repayment periods and other incentives to encourage investment.

The government also decided to establish a Fisheries and Blue Economy University. The intake at the existing fisheries college will be increased from 60 to 200 seats.

A 150-acre fisheries park was among the projects cleared by the Cabinet.

Public opinion on district renaming

On the demand to rename Dakshina Kannada district as Mangaluru, Shivakumar said the government would first seek public opinion.

A draft notification will be issued, giving people one month to submit their views. The final decision will be taken after considering the public response, he said.

“Mangaluru has international recognition,” Shivakumar said.

10-12 Cabinet meetings outside Bengaluru

Shivakumar said the government plans to hold Cabinet meetings at 10-12 locations across Karnataka over the next 15 months, depending on local requirements and financial and legal considerations.

He said that the government would extend development initiatives taken in Dakshina Kannada to other parts of the state, he said.

Describing Dakshina Kannada as an important centre for education, healthcare, commerce and ports, Shivakumar said the district had given six nationalised banks to the country.

He also said public consultations on the Kasturirangan report would be held in Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru, while he would participate in a meeting on the report at Hebri in Udupi district.