Serve Kannadigas in Kannada, Karnataka minister tells banks

Karnataka’s Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj S Tangadagi has demanded that all banks operating in the state provide services in Kannada and prioritise candidates proficient in the language during recruitment.“Every bank operating in Karnataka has a responsibility to interact and conduct business with Kannadigas in Kannada. It is their linguistic right,” Tangadagi said.Welcoming Bank of Baroda’s decision to appoint officials who know the local language, he congratulated the Kannada organisations and residents who had campaigned for the move.Tangadagi urged other banks to follow suit and called on the Union Finance Ministry to frame recruitment rules giving priority to Kannada-speaking candidates in the state. “Kannadigas should not face language barriers while accessing banking or any other service in their own land. Receiving services in Kannada is their right, and ensuring this is the duty of every institution,” he said.Tangadagi added that the demand went beyond employment and concerned the linguistic rights and self-respect of Kannadigas.PART OF KARNATAKA’S WIDER LANGUAGE PUSH Tangadagi’s statement comes amid Karnataka’s broader push to increase the use of Kannada in administration and commerce.The government has directed its offices to use Kannada for official correspondence, orders, file notings and public notices under the Karnataka Official Language Act, 1963. Communication with the Union government, other states and the judiciary is exempt.The Kannada Development Authority has, however, reported continued use of English in several departments. The government has warned officials of disciplinary action for non-compliance.KANNADA ON COMMERCIAL SIGNBOARDSCommercial establishments in Bengaluru must reserve 60 per cent of their signboard space for Kannada, a requirement backed by legislation passed unanimously by the Karnataka Assembly.Supporters say such measures are necessary to protect Kannada and ensure that residents can access services in the state language.Critics have objected to coercive enforcement and demands for language-based preference in private-sector recruitment, arguing that promoting Kannada should not restrict the use of other languages or employment mobility.- EndsPublished By: Aprameya RaoPublished On: Sep 1, 2026 21:35 IST