Context:

On January 28, 2026, Karnataka Minister Shivraj Tangadagi informed the Legislative Assembly that the state government is in favour of declaring Tulu as Karnataka’s second additional official language. The announcement came in response to a question by Puttur Congress MLA Ashok Kumar Rai during Question Hour.

Background and Regional Demand:

Tulu is predominantly spoken in the coastal districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada. Legislators across party lines, including Speaker U T Khader, have long demanded official recognition. Tulu has a 3,000-year history, its own script, is included in Google Translate, and is studied internationally in Germany and France. Thirteen legislators from Tulu-speaking districts unanimously support the move, asserting that it would not impose any financial burden on the government.

Process to Declare an Additional Official Language in a State

An additional official language in an Indian state is declared through the passage of an express law by the State Legislature under Article 345 of the Constitution. Key aspects:

• • • Legislative Authority: The state legislature can adopt one or more languages for official purposes.
    • Constitutional Basis: Article 345 allows the state to supplement the primary official language; Article 347 permits the President to direct recognition if a significant proportion of the population desires it.
    • High Court Use: The Governor, with Presidential consent, may authorize the language for High Court judgments, decrees, or orders.
    • Scope: Languages need not be in the Eighth Schedule, but must be in use within the state.
    • Example: Urdu was declared the second official language in Uttar Pradesh through this procedure.

Official Language Framework in India:

• • • Constitutional Basis: Articles 343–351 (Part XVII) define official language policy. Article 343 declares Hindi in Devanagari script as the Union’s official language, with Article 351 promoting its use.
    • No National Language: India does not have a national language; it has official languages for Union and state use.
    • Eighth Schedule: Recognises 22 regional languages, including Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam.
    • Official Languages Act, 1963: Enables continued use of English alongside Hindi for Union purposes.

Significance of Tulu Recognition:

Declaring Tulu as an additional official language would:

• • • Preserve and promote a linguistic heritage of 3,000 years.
    • Enhance administrative access and cultural representation for Tulu-speaking regions.
    • Align Karnataka with other states like Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, which officially recognize regional languages alongside the primary state language.

Conclusion:

Karnataka’s move reflects growing acknowledgment of India’s linguistic diversity within constitutional provisions. The Tulu recognition process is underway, balancing cultural preservation, administrative feasibility, and legislative procedure.