Tulu Gets Additional
Official Language Status in Karnataka
Prelims:
Constitution and Polity, Indian languages
Mains:
GS Paper I- Indian Society, GS Paper II- Constitution and Polity, Governance,
Current relevance:
The Karnataka
Cabinet, in its meeting held in Mangaluru on 18 September 2026, decided to
accord additional official (administrative) language status to Tulu.
Highlights:
About Tulu language:
1.
Background:
§
In January
2023, the then Karnataka Minister for Kannada and Culture, V. Sunil
Kumar, constituted a committee headed by M. Mohan Alva to study
declaring Tulu as the second official language.
§
The initiative
could not be completed during that government because the 2023 Assembly
election Model Code of Conduct came into effect, followed by a change in
government.
§
The subsequent
Congress government constituted another committee headed by K. M. Gayatri,
Director of Kannada and Culture.
§
This committee
studied the procedure adopted by Andhra Pradesh for granting additional
language status to Urdu.
2.
Constitutional
and Legal Procedure:
§
Article 345
of the Constitution allows a State
Legislature to adopt one or more languages in use in the State, or Hindi, as
the language or languages for official purposes of the State, subject to
Articles 346 and 347.
§
Karnataka would need to amend the Karnataka
Official Language Act to incorporate Tulu as an additional administrative
language in the concerned districts.
§
After the
amendment is approved by the appropriate authority, including the Governor,
the government would issue a notification.
§
The Cabinet
decision would then come into force through the prescribed legal process.
3.
Linguistic
Status:
§
Tulu is commonly spoken in Dakshina Kannada, southern
parts of Udupi in Karnataka, and northern parts of Kasaragod in
Kerala.
§
The Registrar
General and Census Commissioner recognise Tulu as an independent
language of India.
§
Census reports
provide separate statistics for Tulu speakers as a linguistic community.
§
Tulu is
considered an important non-scheduled language.
§
However, Tulu
is not included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
4.
Administrative
Use:
If implemented, Tulu
could be used in various local administrative forums:
§
Elected
representatives could speak in Tulu during meetings of Gram panchayats, Taluk
panchayats, Zilla panchayats.
§
Tulu could
also be used in meetings of City corporation councils, City municipal councils,
Town municipal councils.
§
Government
circulars and orders issued
in the two districts would also contain Tulu.
§
People could submit
applications to government departments in Tulu.
§
Officials who
do not know Tulu may need to depend on translations, translators or basic
Tulu training.
5.
Significance:
§
Provides
greater scope for Tulu-language use in local administration.
§
Can improve
communication between Tulu-speaking citizens and government institutions.
§
Provides
greater recognition to the language within regional governance.
§
Creates
institutional requirements for translation, training and official language
usage.
§
May contribute
to the preservation and continued use of Tulu in public life.
Source: THE HINDU - https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/tulu-as-additional-official-language-of-dakshina-kannada-and-udupi-districts-in-karnataka-explained/article71484444.ece