India, May 22 -- The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday approved the renaming of Ramanagara district to Bengaluru South District, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar said after the meeting, insisting that the state government did not need the central government's approval before notifying the change.

Shivakumar said the district headquarters would continue to be called Ramanagara.

"Today, the entire cabinet had a discussion. I am very happy to announce that Ramanagara district, which was earlier part of the Bengaluru district, will now be called Bengaluru South District. The district headquarters will remain in Ramanagara," Shivakumar told reporters.

Shivakumar linked the move to asserting the region's identity and development goals. "We (c...