Karnataka Seeks Official Status for Red-and-Yellow State Flag

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced on November 1, 2026, that the Karnataka government is seeking to officially recognize the red-and-yellow Kannada flag as the state flag. Speaking during the 71st Rajyotsava celebrations, Shivakumar stated the government intends to introduce a legal framework to ensure the state flag is hoisted alongside the national flag on all government buildings.

The proposal is scheduled for discussion during the legislature's winter session in Belagavi, running from November 30 to December 11. Shivakumar noted that while the Union government's Ministry of Home Affairs rejected a previous proposal for a tricolor flag in 2018, the current red-and-yellow design is the one accepted by the people. He characterized the flag as a symbol of Kannada culture, heritage, and the self-respect of Kannadigas.

To implement this transition, the government plans to issue an order this month allowing private institutions to fly the flag and is considering making the practice compulsory for state-supported institutions. Alongside the flag initiative, Shivakumar detailed broader efforts to preserve the Kannada language, including the recruitment of 15,000 teachers and the introduction of AI training for students starting in Class 6.