The Karnataka Cabinet on Friday, 18 September 2026, recognised Tulu as the state's second additional administrative language alongside Kannada, limited to Udupi and Dakshina Kannada (Mangaluru) districts, and approved development projects worth ₹32,611 crore for the coastal region. The historic decisions were taken at a special Cabinet meeting held in Mangaluru — the first time such a meeting has been convened outside Bengaluru.

Tulu Recognised as Administrative Language

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, addressing the media alongside Cabinet colleagues, said the decision was unanimous and fulfilled a long-standing demand from Tulu-speaking communities, organisations, and elected representatives. The recognition is restricted to Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts, where the language is most prominently spoken.

Shivakumar acknowledged the role of former minister Ramanath Rai in first raising the demand, and credited MLA Ashok Kumar Rai and other elected representatives for sustaining pressure on the issue. 'Tulu is spoken prominently in the coastal districts. We will not discuss why the previous government did not take this decision. We will not do politics based on emotions,' Shivakumar said. He added that the government's focus was on strengthening people's social and economic power rather than playing on sentiment.

Notably, Shivakumar recalled that Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai's very first question in the Assembly after being elected was about the Tulu language. 'I was surprised. His first sentiment was for the language,' the Chief Minister said. This is the first time a Karnataka government has formally conferred administrative-language status on Tulu, despite decades of advocacy by coastal communities.

Dakshina Kannada District to Be Renamed Mangaluru

The Cabinet also initiated the process of renaming Dakshina Kannada district as Mangaluru district. The government will issue a draft notification and invite public opinion and objections over a period of one month before any final decision is taken. 'People recognise Mangaluru at the international level. People have expressed their wish in this regard. We have to follow the prescribed procedure,' Shivakumar said. The renaming, if finalised, would align the district's official name with the city that serves as its headquarters and is widely known globally.

₹32,611 Crore Coastal Development Agenda

On the development front, the Cabinet approved projects totalling ₹32,611 crore for the coastal belt, including ₹16,000 crore earmarked for rural development. Among the notable approvals:

The Cabinet greenlit the development of 12 islands across Mangaluru, Udupi, and Karwar districts to transform the region into a global tourism destination. A new Coastal and Malnad Karnataka Tourism Policy was also cleared, which will classify tourism projects as infrastructure, providing investors with greater support including extended loan repayment periods.

The region will get a dedicated Fisheries and Blue Economy University, and the intake at the existing fisheries college will be raised from 60 to 200 seats. A medical college in Puttur has been approved at a cost of ₹549 crore.

Cabinet Meetings to Travel Across Karnataka

Responding to journalists, Shivakumar said the government plans to hold Cabinet meetings at 10 to 12 locations across the state over the next 15 months, replicating Friday's model. 'Cabinet meetings will be held wherever there is the capacity and a need,' he said, framing the outreach as part of a goal to build 'an integrated and prosperous Karnataka.'

The coastal development package and the language recognition together represent the most significant political and administrative intervention in Karnataka's coast in recent memory; the full implementation timeline for the Tulu language order and the district renaming process will become clearer in the weeks ahead.