Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Friday that all products manufactured in Karnataka, by private or public entities, will soon be required to feature Kannada labels alongside English. The initiative, revealed during the 69th Kannada Rajyotsava Award ceremony in Bengaluru, aims to promote the use of Kannada and strengthen the cultural identity of the state.
In addition to the labelling mandate, the Chief Minister shared plans for a Kannada Museum in Mysuru, to be established at the Old Deputy Commissioner’s office. “The museum will celebrate Karnataka’s rich language, history, and culture, offering future generations a place to connect with the state’s heritage,” he said.
The Karnataka Rajyotsava Awards, presented annually, recognised 69 individuals this year, honouring contributions across fields such as environmentalism, journalism, and public service. Among the recipients was environmentalist Almitra Patel, with 10 women represented in the list. CM Siddaramaiah praised the awardees’ achievements, encouraging them to view the honour as a source of motivation to further contribute to society.
As part of the golden jubilee celebrations marking the renaming of Mysore State to Karnataka, the government also introduced the Karnataka Suvarna Sambhrama—50—Golden Jubilee Award. This new award recognises 50 men and 50 women achievers from various fields for their exceptional contributions, underscoring the importance of this historic milestone.
During his address, CM Siddaramaiah criticised the former BJP government for failing to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the state’s renaming, highlighting his own role in initiating a year-long celebration to honour Karnataka’s heritage.
Notable Awardees
This year’s Rajyotsava Award recipients include former Chief Minister Veerappa Moily, sculptor Arun Yogiraj, responsible for the Ram Lalla statue in Ayodhya, former Chief Secretary SV Ranganath, and Senior Special Correspondent of The New Indian Express Ramakrishna Badseshi.