Karnataka grants Tulu official language status and moves to rename Dakshina Kannada

The Karnataka government has officially recognised Tulu as the second additional official language for the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, answering a demand that has simmered in the region for years.

The decision was made during a three-hour cabinet meeting in Mangaluru on Friday, the first such meeting held outside Bengaluru since Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar took office.

Under the new status, Tulu will be used for administrative purposes alongside Kannada in the two coastal districts, with the respective local administrations tasked with implementation. Shivakumar announced that the state will release Rs 82 lakh annually to fund translation services, staff training, and language promotion.

Renaming Dakshina Kannada

In another significant move, the cabinet approved a proposal to rename Dakshina Kannada district to Mangaluru.

Shivakumar said the historical and international recognition of Mangaluru far outweighs the current district name, which does not fully capture the identity of the local population. However, the government is not pushing the change through immediately. It will first issue a draft notification inviting public objections and suggestions over the next month before making a final decision.

A Rs 32,611 crore development push

Beyond cultural and identity politics, the cabinet cleared a massive Rs 32,611 crore investment package.

About half of this amount—around Rs 16,000 crore—is earmarked for rural roads, infrastructure, and rural development across the state. The remaining half will fund specific initiatives in the coastal and Malnad regions.

Among the approved projects is a new medical college in Puttur, costing Rs 549 crore. The government also greenlit the Coastal-Malnad Karnataka Tourism Policy 2026, which classifies tourism ventures in these rain-heavy districts as infrastructure projects. This classification allows investors to access longer loan repayment terms and financial incentives to offset the impact of the region's prolonged monsoon season.

Fisheries and marine biology

The cabinet also turned its focus to the state's blue economy. It approved the Karnataka Marine Biotechnology Policy 2026-31 and gave the go-ahead to upgrade the Mangaluru Fisheries College into a dedicated Fisheries, Marine and Blue Economy University.

The upgrade will increase the institution's annual student intake from 60 to 200. Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said the state will initially allocate Rs 11 crore to get the university running under a newly appointed special officer. A 150-acre fisheries park was also approved as part of the wider coastal development package.

Taking the government on the road

The Mangaluru meeting is the start of a broader strategy. Shivakumar announced plans to hold ten to twelve cabinet meetings outside the state capital over the next 15 months to address regional grievances directly.

Friday's session began with a public display of momentum. The Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues paraded through the streets of Mangaluru in an open-top bus, greeted by cultural troupes and party supporters.

The high-profile visit to the coastal belt—traditionally a stronghold for the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)—carried clear political undertones. While Shivakumar insisted the government does not "do politics on sentiments, but on improving people’s life", local political observers noted the heavy symbolism of the trip, which included temple visits and roadshows in a highly contested political territory.