The Karnataka Cabinet has approved Tulu as an additional administrative language in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, fulfilling a long-standing demand of Tulu-speaking communities. The decision was announced following a Cabinet meeting in Mangaluru on 18 September 2026. Tulu is a Dravidian language widely spoken in coastal Karnataka and holds deep cultural and historical significance. The move aims to promote the use of Tulu in local administrative communication, strengthen linguistic recognition, and preserve the region’s cultural heritage, while Kannada remains the state’s primary official language.