Current Affairs - State

Karnataka has granted Tulu the status of a second additional administrative language in the Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. The decision was announced following a state Cabinet meeting in Mangaluru on September 18, 2026. Tulu is mainly spoken in these two Karnataka districts and also in Kerala’s Kasaragod district. The language is a Dravidian language with a distinct linguistic and cultural identity. The Karnataka government also approved a new tourism policy for coastal and Malnad areas and the Karnataka Marine Biotechnology Policy 2026–31, aimed at promoting investment, education, fisheries, marine biotechnology and the blue economy.

Maharashtra approved an interest subsidy of Rs 738.51 crore for cooperative sugar mills to help them clear Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) dues for the 2025-26 sugar season. Under the scheme, the state government will bear interest costs of up to 10 percent for a loan period of seven years. The subsidy is intended to provide financial support to sugar mills and help them manage their outstanding FRP-related payments. To continue receiving the benefits, the concerned mills are required to submit a loan utilisation certificate by July 2027.

Odisha will receive a Rs 3,406-crore silicon carbide chip project to be established by Tamil Nadu-based SiCSem Private Limited. The semiconductor unit will be located at IDCO Infovalley-II in Khordha. The facility will manufacture silicon carbide diodes and MOSFETs for both domestic consumption and export markets. The project is expected to strengthen Odisha’s semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem and contribute to India’s growing electronics and chip industry. It is also projected to generate Rs 4,523 crore in foreign exchange over a period of five years, making the investment significant for industrial development, technology manufacturing, employment and export-oriented economic activity in the state.

Madhya Pradesh released the 40th instalment of the Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana on September 13, 2026. Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav transferred ₹1,835 crore directly into the bank accounts of more than 1.25 crore eligible women beneficiaries. The scheme was launched in June 2023 with a monthly assistance of ₹1,000, which was later increased to ₹1,250 and then to ₹1,500 from November 2025. The scheme aims to support women’s financial independence and improve their health and nutrition. Since its inception, more than ₹65,000 crore has been transferred to women beneficiaries under the scheme.

Karnataka officially declared September 15 as Engineers’ Day and permitted engineers in the state to use the professional prefix ‘Er.’ before their names from 2026. The order was issued on September 15, 2026, to recognise the contributions of engineers and associate the observance with the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya. Engineers’ Day is celebrated across India on September 15 every year. Sir M. Visvesvaraya was a renowned civil engineer and administrator who contributed to irrigation, flood control and industrial development. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1955.