In India’s tech capital, Kannada now gets “prominence” on signboards of businesses

PTI, Mar 14, 2024, 3:48 PM IST

As one goes around India’s tech hub, what catches the eye most these days is how the language of the land, Kannada, gets “prominence” on the signboards of businesses. A far cry indeed from the not-too-distant past when English held sway, thanks to a government directive.

With the deadline for complying with 60 per cent use of Kannada in signboards of businesses and establishments coming to an end, a vast majority of them in the city appear to have obeyed the mandate, with many even going for stopgap arrangements, aimed at ensuring compliance.

A bill mandating 60 per cent use of Kannada in signboards of businesses and establishments was passed by the Karnataka Assembly in February, and the government had warned that non-compliance would lead to the cancellation of the licences of businesses.