Second official language status to Tulu

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In March 2026, a high-level committee officially recommended that the Karnataka government grant Tulu the status of the state’s second official language.
This move is a major step toward fulfilling a decades-old demand from the Tulu-speaking population, primarily concentrated in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.

Key Developments in the Recognition Process

Committee Recommendation: A six-member panel led by K.M. Gayatri, former Director of the Kannada and Culture Department, submitted its report to the Secretary of the Kannada and Culture Department on March 4, 2026.
Adoption of the Andhra Pradesh Model: The committee specifically studied the administrative and legal framework used by Andhra Pradesh to grant Urdu second official language status to ensure a smooth implementation for Tulu.
Constitutional Basis: The state aims to accord this status under Article 345 of the Constitution of India, which allows state legislatures to adopt one or more languages for official purposes.

Significance and Impact

The move aims to protect the linguistic heritage of Tulu, which has a documented history of over 2,500–3,000 years and its own distinct script.

Official status would:

Improve Administrative Access: Facilitate the use of Tulu in government offices, public interfaces, and education within the coastal regions.
Boost Cultural Preservation: Provide more institutional support for Tulu literature, research, and development.
Support Federal Demands: Strengthen the long-standing push to include Tulu in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

Affected Regions

The recognition is most significant for the “Tulu Nadu” region, which includes:

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