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The Karnataka government is committed to preparing Kannada for the challenges of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) era to ensure that technological advances do not lead to job losses in the State. Speaking on November 1 at the 70th Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations organised by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the government’s focus is on strengthening Kannada’s role in the digital age. “The age of information technology is now transforming into the age of AI. We are committed to preparing Kannada for the new technological challenge so that our people are not left behind in the AI revolution. This will ensure employment opportunities in our land are not lost. Scholars and technical experts must come forward to make Kannada a language of modern technology,” he said. Think, learn, dream in Kannada Mr. Siddaramaiah expressed concern that English and Hindi have gradually weakened children’s creativity by distancing them from their mother tongue. “In advanced countries, children think, learn and dream in their own languages. But here, our children are forced to think in English or Hindi, which has adversely affected their imagination and intellectual development. It is high time that the Centre enacts suitable laws to ensure education in the mother tongue,” he said. He said the State Government is working on a new policy to elevate Kannada, its heritage and culture to global standards. As part of the initiative, 800 Kannada medium and 100 Urdu medium schools will be developed as Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) with upgraded infrastructure at an estimated cost of ₹2,500 crore, he said. He announced that Kannada will be taught in 180 madrasas across the State from this year, a move that will be expanded to all 1,500 madrasas in the coming years. To support this, the government has sanctioned ₹483 crore to upgrade 100 Urdu schools under the KPS model. “We want children from all communities to learn Kannada and be part of the mainstream,” he said. Linguistic harmony Mr. Siddaramaiah reiterated that neglecting Kannada in education had created social and intellectual gaps. “Building a nation is not just about roads and bridges. It is also about nurturing emotional, cultural and linguistic harmony among our children,” he said. Paying homage to the leaders of the unification movement, the Chief Minister recalled that Karnataka, formed on November 1, 1956, has completed 69 years and entered its 70th year. ‘Step-motherly attitude’ Reiterating that the Union Government is adopting a ‘step-motherly attitude’ towards Karnataka, the Chief Minister said, “While the State contributes over ₹4.5 lakh crore in taxes, it is being denied its fair share of funds and grants. Hindi and Sanskrit receive generous support, but Kannada and other regional languages are neglected,” he said. He noted that Karnataka had overtaken Maharashtra to emerge as the top State in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in 2024–25, with over ₹50,107 crore of inflows, accounting for 51% of India’s total FDI share. The State’s per capita income has risen by 101% in the last decade, while the unemployment rate stands at just 2.5%, compared to the national average of 7%. Progressive legacy The Chief Minister urged the youth to carry forward Karnataka’s progressive legacy. “Our youth must lead the way in building a rational, scientific and humane society. We must draw inspiration from the world’s most advanced nations while developing our own models of growth and inclusion.”
