The Roman Catholics from the Mangalore Diocese and the newly formed Udupi Diocese (erstwhile "South Canara" district) and their descendants are generally known as Mangalorean Catholics. The diocese is located on the southwestern coast of India. It comprises the civil districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi in Karnataka state, and Kasaragod in Kerala state. This region was collectively referred to as South Canara during the British "Raj" and then from the partition of India until the States Reorganisation Act of 1956.