Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to elevating the Kannada language, culture, and heritage to the global stage, announcing that new policies will soon be introduced to promote the use of Kannada in emerging technologies.

Speaking after inaugurating the 70th Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations organized by the Department of School Education and Literacy at the Sree Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium in Bengaluru, the Chief Minister said there is an urgent need to preserve Karnataka’s rich history and traditions while nurturing awareness among the younger generation.

“Kannada has a glorious history spanning thousands of years. However, the neglect of the language in education has created several challenges. Children in developed countries think and dream in their mother tongue, but our students are being distanced from theirs,” Siddaramaiah said. He emphasized the need for laws ensuring that primary education is imparted in the mother tongue.

He urged the youth to transform challenges into opportunities and make Karnataka a leading state on the global stage. “Building a nation is not just about constructing roads and bridges, but also about nurturing the mental, physical, and emotional growth of our children,” he said.

Referring to the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence, Siddaramaiah said the government is committed to ensuring that technology does not result in job losses. “We are preparing our language to meet new technological challenges,” he added.

The Chief Minister also praised Bhanu Mustak and Deepa Bhasthi for bringing global recognition to Kannada through their Booker Prize win, noting that such achievements highlight the language’s literary strength.

Marking the 69th anniversary of Karnataka’s unification, Siddaramaiah paid homage to stalwarts including Aluru Venkata Rao, Andanappa Doddameti, Gudleppa Hallikeri, Siddappa Kambli, R.H. Deshpande, and Kengal Hanumanthaiah, whose sacrifices led to the formation of modern Karnataka.

Education Sector Initiatives

Highlighting major reforms, Siddaramaiah announced that the government will spend ₹2,500 crore to upgrade 800 government schools into Karnataka Public Schools, each equipped with modern infrastructure at an estimated cost of ₹4 crore. Around 3,000 century-old schools will also be strengthened under this initiative.

To bring minority communities into the mainstream, Kannada is being taught in 180 madrasas this year, with plans to expand it to 1,500 across the state. Additionally, ₹483 crore has been allocated to develop 100 Urdu schools on the Karnataka Public School model. The state has allocated over ₹65,000 crore for education this year.

More than 8.36 lakh students are receiving quality education in residential schools and hostels. Separate residential schools for children battling cancer have also been established, integrating education with medical support.

He announced the recruitment of 14,499 primary school teachers in 2024, including 5,267 in the Kalyana Karnataka region, with another 18,000 posts to be filled soon. The government has also approved 5,000 teaching posts for aided schools.

Siddaramaiah further highlighted that Karnataka has overtaken Maharashtra in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in 2024–25, attracting ₹50,107 crore, accounting for over 51% of India’s FDI share between the two states.

Kannada Must Be Protected from Linguistic Domination: DCM Shivakumar

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stressed that Kannada is not merely a language but a way of life and must be safeguarded from the dominance of English and Hindi. “Kannada is our inner voice, a symbol of our identity,” he said, urging students to read the works of great writers such as Pampa, Basavanna, Allama Prabhu, Kanakadasa, Purandaradasa, Kuvempu, and Bendre.

He stated that all commercial establishments must ensure at least 60% Kannada on their signboards as mandated by the government. He also called on people to uphold the dignity of the state’s flag, anthem, and cultural symbols.

Kannada Is Our Culture and Breath: Minister Madhu Bangarappa

Minister for School Education and Literacy Madhu Bangarappa said Kannada is one of the world’s oldest languages and the only Indian language to have won eight Jnanpith Awards. He said 51,000 guest teachers have been appointed, and their honorarium increased by ₹2,000.

He noted that 79.71% of SSLC and 85.19% of PUC students passed their exams following the introduction of the new three-tier examination system. Infrastructure projects worth ₹850 crore are in progress, and a statewide teachers-parents conference will be held on November 14, 2025, as part of Children’s Day celebrations.

Students presented a march-past and cultural programs, after which Chief Minister Siddaramaiah distributed certificates to participants.

Among those present were Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti, CM’s Political Secretary Naseer Ahmed, legislators Rizwan Arshad and Ganesh Hukkeri, MLCs Hanumanth Nirani and B.R. Patil, and DG-IGP Dr. M.A. Saleem.