Isabella Carter
India's linguistic diversity is well-known, with 121 languages and 270 mother tongues. The Indian Constitution, adopted in 1950, initially recognised 14 languages in its Eighth Schedule. This schedule lists the official languages of the Republic of India. Over the years, amendments have been made, and as of 2024, 22 languages are now officially recognised. English, though not listed in the Eighth Schedule, continues to be used alongside Hindi for official purposes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Indian languages in the Constitution | 22 |
| Number of Indian languages in the Constitution at the time of its adoption | 14 |
| Official language of the Union | Hindi |
| Official script of the Union language | Devanagari |
| Number of Classical languages | 6 |
| Number of mother tongues | 270 |
| Number of languages spoken in India | 1,600+ |
| Number of languages on the official website of the Indian Prime Minister's Office | 12 |
| Number of languages in the Press Information Bureau | 15 |
| Number of languages selected by the Staff Selection Commission | 14 |
Explore related products
![American Indian Tribal Law: [Connected eBook] (Aspen Coursebook Series)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81KetKmayRL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
The Indian Constitution and its Amendments
The Indian Constitution, which came into effect in 1950, initially recognised 14 languages in its Eighth Schedule. These were: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya (later changed to Odia), Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India lists the official languages of the Republic of India.
The Indian Constitution has been amended several times to include more languages in its Eighth Schedule. The 21st Amendment in 1967 added Sindhi, and the 71st Amendment in 1992 added Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali. The 92nd Amendment in 2003 added Bodo, Dogri, Santali, and Maithili, bringing the total number of recognised languages to 22.
The Official Languages Act of 1963, which came into effect on 26 January 1965, provided for the continued use of English for official purposes, alongside Hindi. This was despite the original intention for English to be phased out 15 years after the Constitution came into effect. The Act was amended in 1967 to state that English would continue to be used until a resolution was passed by the legislature of every state that had not adopted Hindi as its official language.
The Indian Constitution contains directives to protect the interests of linguistic minorities and promote the development of the Hindi language. For instance, it states that a representation submitted by an aggrieved person cannot be rejected on the grounds that it is not in an official language. It also states that state and local authorities should provide adequate facilities for instruction in the mother tongue at the primary level of education for children from linguistic minority groups.
There are currently demands for the inclusion of 38 more languages in the Eighth Schedule, with proponents arguing that it would help preserve and promote cultural heritage and linguistic identity, ensure the use of these languages in government administration and education, and increase funding and resources for language development and promotion.
Indian Constitution: A Quasi-Federal Document Explained
You may want to see also
Official Languages recognised by the Government of India
India's rich cultural and linguistic diversity is reflected in its Constitution, which recognises 22 official languages through the Eighth Schedule. The Eighth Schedule, which initially included 14 languages, has been expanded over the years through various constitutional amendments. The recognition of these languages is significant as it ensures their use in government administration and education, promoting cultural preservation and linguistic identity.
The 22 official languages recognised by the Government of India are:
- Assamese
- Bengali
- Bodo
- Dogri
- Gujarati
- Hindi
- Kannada
- Kashmiri
- Konkani
- Malayalam
- Manipuri
- Marathi
- Maithili
- Nepali
- Odia (formerly Oriya)
- Punjabi
- Sanskrit
- Santhali
- Sindhi
- Tamil
- Telugu
- Urdu
The process of selecting an official language for India was not without its challenges. Following independence, the Constituent Assembly was divided on the language issue, with various factions advocating for different scripts, numerals, and languages. Some favoured declaring Hindi written in Devanagari as the national language, while others wanted to continue using English. Eventually, a compromise was reached, envisioning a phased transition from English to Hindi over 15 years.
To facilitate this transition, the Indian government has taken several steps to promote the use of Hindi. Regional Hindi implementation offices have been established to monitor the use of Hindi in Central government offices, and annual targets for Hindi correspondence are set by the Department of Official Language. Additionally, the Official Language Act stipulates that the Union government use both Hindi and English in administrative documents intended for the public.
Despite these efforts, there are still demands for the inclusion of additional languages in the Eighth Schedule. As of 2024, there were calls for the inclusion of 38 more languages, highlighting the ongoing evolution of language recognition in India.
Democratic Principles of the Indian Constitution
You may want to see also
The use of English in the Supreme Court and High Courts
The Indian Constitution, adopted in 1950, declared Hindi in Devanagari script to be the official language of the union. The Constitution also envisaged that English would be phased out in favour of Hindi over a 15-year period. However, this led to alarm in non-Hindi-speaking areas of India, and so the Official Languages Act of 1963 provided for the continued use of English for official purposes.
The Constitution of India recognises the importance of the use of English in the higher judiciary. Article 348(1)(a) states that all proceedings before the Supreme Court and in every High Court shall be conducted in English. This is further supported by Article 348(2), which states that the Governor of a state may, with the previous consent of the President, authorise the use of Hindi or any other language for proceedings in the High Court. However, judgements, decrees, and orders must be delivered in English. This is to ensure that litigants are able to understand and participate in the courtroom proceedings, as per their right under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The language used in Indian courts has evolved over the centuries, with a shift from Urdu to Persian and Farsi scripts during the Mughal period. The British introduced a codified system of law with English as the official language, which continued even after independence. While Hindi is now the official language of the union, English continues to be widely used in the judicial system, particularly in the Supreme Court and High Courts, due to its role in unifying the country across different languages.
The Indian Constitution's Cabinet: A Comprehensive Overview
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The promotion of the Hindi language
The Indian Constitution of 1950 declared Hindi in Devanagari script to be the official language of the union. It also stated that the use of English for official purposes would be phased out 15 years after the constitution came into effect, i.e. on 26 January 1965. However, this led to protests from non-Hindi-speaking states, and as a result, the Official Languages Act of 1963 was enacted, providing for the continued use of English for official purposes along with Hindi.
The Indian government has taken various steps to promote the use of Hindi extensively. The Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha, headquartered in Chennai, was formed to spread Hindi in the South Indian states. Regional Hindi implementation offices have been established in several cities to monitor the implementation of Hindi in Central government offices and PSUs. Annual targets are set by the Department of Official Language regarding the amount of correspondence carried out in Hindi. The governmental body that makes policy decisions and establishes guidelines for the promotion of Hindi is the Kendriya Hindi Samiti.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has also been active in promoting the use of Hindi. In 2017, the MHA accepted most of the recommendations contained in the 2011 report of a parliamentary standing committee on Hindi. These included proposals for railway tickets to be bilingual, with Hindi as one of the languages, and for announcements at railway stations in non-Hindi-speaking states to be made in Hindi. The MHA has also written to the External Affairs Ministry to promote the use of Hindi in official work in banks, public sector undertakings, embassies, and other government offices located in foreign countries.
The National Education Policy 2020 emphasises multilingualism and proposes a three-language formula in schools, with at least two of the languages native to India. The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the MHA, has developed a digital dictionary that includes commonly used words in various regional languages, including terms from technology and banking. Higher education institutions are also offering engineering courses in six Indian languages across 10 states from 2021-2022.
The Lengthy Indian Constitution: A Comprehensive Document
You may want to see also
The status of classical languages
India has a rich cultural heritage and a diverse linguistic landscape, with 22 official languages recognised by the constitution. Of these, 11 languages have been accorded the status of classical languages.
The Indian government began designating languages as "Classical Languages" in 2004 to acknowledge and preserve their ancient legacy. Classical languages are unique because of their age and their impact on various elements of Indian culture, including literature, philosophy, religion, art, and science. They are custodians of the nation's rich cultural heritage, representing key historical and cultural milestones for their communities.
The recognition of a language as classical is not merely honorary but bestows upon it a special status. Classical languages receive official language status in states where they are predominantly spoken, ensuring their use in government offices, educational institutions, and other official domains. The government also aims to safeguard and promote the rich cultural heritage associated with these languages through preservation, documentation, and digitisation efforts. This provides employment opportunities in archiving, translation, publishing, and digital media.
The first language to be recognised as classical in 2004 was Tamil, which met the following criteria:
- High antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a thousand years
- A body of ancient literature/texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers
- The literary tradition must be original and not borrowed from another speech community
The other five classical languages recognised in 2024 alongside Tamil are: Sanskrit, Odia, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. In October 2024, the Union Cabinet approved the inclusion of five more languages: Marathi, Prakrit, Pali, Bengali, and Assamese.
The recognition of classical languages in India is not without its issues. There are demands for other languages to be recognised as classical, such as Meitei (or Manipuri), which has a long literary tradition, and Maithili, which has a rich literary heritage including epic poetry, philosophical texts, and devotional songs. Despite its profound historical and cultural significance, Maithili has yet to be recognised as a classical language.
The Indian Constitution: Understanding the Powerful Preamble
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
22 languages are mentioned in the Indian Constitution as of 2024.
The Indian Constitution includes the following languages: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Maithili, Nepali, Odia (formerly Oriya), Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.
The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution lists the official languages of the Republic of India.
The Indian Constitution, in 1950, declared Hindi in Devanagari script to be the official language of the union. However, the Official Languages Act, 1963, provided for the continued use of English for official purposes alongside Hindi.
Including a language in the Eighth Schedule grants official recognition, ensuring its use in government administration and education. It also allows for funding and resources to be allocated for the development and promotion of the language.
