Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Oct 30: The Karnataka government has announced the prestigious Rajyotsava Awards for the year 2026 to honour eminent personalities who have rendered remarkable service across various fields. The awards are being conferred as part of the 71st state Rajyotsava celebrations.
The official order was issued on October 30, 2026, by the Department of Kannada and Culture. Several distinguished individuals from the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts have been selected for the state honour this year.
The awardees from Dakshina Kannada are:
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Vishwanath Suvarna in the field of media and photography.
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A C Bhandary of the Akhila Bharata Tulu Okkuta in the field of social service.
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Dr Indira Hegde in the field of literature.
The awardees from Udupi are:
In total, the government has selected 71 achievers across multiple disciplines, including folk arts, science and technology, administration, education, sports, and agriculture. The official notification was issued by the under secretary to the government, Kannada and Culture department.
Dr G S Chandrashekar selected for Rajyotsava awards from Udupi
Three eminent personalities from Udupi district – Gopal Ganiga, B V Acharya and Dr G S Chandrashekar – have been selected for the prestigious Karnataka Rajyotsava Awards 2026 in recognition of their outstanding contributions to their respective fields.
Gopal Ganiga, a veteran Yakshagana Bhagavatha and guru from Udupi, has been selected for the award in the field of Yakshagana. He is widely recognised for his expertise in traditional Yakshagana singing and his deep knowledge of traditional dance movements and performance styles. He has played a significant role in preserving and passing on the traditional Kunjalu style of singing to the next generation. His selection for the state honour is a moment of pride for the Yakshagana fraternity and the people of Udupi.
B V Acharya, a senior advocate of the Karnataka High Court, has been selected in the field of judiciary. He has served as the advocate general of Karnataka and gained national prominence for his role in the disproportionate assets case against former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa. His distinguished contribution to the legal and judicial field has now been recognised with the prestigious state award.
Dr G S Chandrashekar, a noted senior doctor, healthcare entrepreneur and medical director of Adarsha Hospital, Udupi, has been selected in the field of social service. He has been actively serving the medical sector in coastal Karnataka for over 36 years. The founder of Adarsha Hospital, Udupi, he is a specialist in general medicine, cardiology and diabetology. His contributions to healthcare and society have earned him recognition through the state honour.