Simone Lawson
India is a diverse country with a multitude of languages, and the Indian Constitution recognises this diversity by granting official status to several languages. The Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, which includes Articles 344(1) and 351, is pivotal in this context as it lists the languages officially recognised by the Government of India. The number of languages in this schedule has evolved over time, and as of 2024, it recognises 22 languages, including Assamese, Bengali, and Bodo. However, there are ongoing demands for the inclusion of even more languages, reflecting the rich linguistic landscape of India.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of regional languages in the Indian Constitution | 22 |
| When was the Indian Constitution adopted | 1950 |
| Official Language | Hindi |
| Additional Official Language | English |
| Number of regional languages defined by Article 344(1) | 14 |
| Number of languages with legal status in India | 22 |
| Number of languages demanded for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution | 38 |
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Languages recognised by the Indian Constitution
The Indian Constitution does not specify an official language to be used by states for official functions. Instead, it leaves each state free to adopt a language through its legislature. The language chosen need not be one of those listed in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India, which lists the languages officially recognised by the Government of India.
The Eighth Schedule was established in 1950 and initially included 14 languages: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya (later Odia), Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. The Official Languages Act, 1963, made provision for the continuation of English as an official language, alongside Hindi.
The Eighth Schedule has since been amended several times, with the 71st Amendment in 1992 adding Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali, and the 92nd Amendment in 2003 adding Bodo, Dogri, Santali and Maithili. As of 2024, 22 languages have been classified under the schedule.
The Indian Constitution grants the central government, acting through the President, the power to issue directives to the government of a state in relation to the use of minority languages for official purposes. The President may direct a state to officially recognise a language spoken in its territory if its speakers demand it and can show that a substantial proportion of the state's population desires its use.
There are currently demands for the inclusion of 38 more languages in the Eighth Schedule. Many communities argue that inclusion would help preserve and promote their cultural heritage and linguistic identity.
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Official languages
India is a diverse country with a multitude of languages, and the Indian Constitution recognises this diversity by granting official status to several languages. The Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, which includes Articles 344(1) and 351, is specifically dedicated to languages and recognises 22 languages as official languages. These languages are:
- Assamese
- Bengali
- Bodo
- Dogri
- Gujarati
- Hindi
- Kannada
- Kashmiri
- Konkani
- Malayalam
- Manipuri
- Marathi
- Maithili
- Nepali
- Odia (formerly known as Oriya)
- Punjabi
- Sanskrit
- Santhali
- Sindhi
- Tamil
- Telugu
- Urdu
The Eighth Schedule, which initially recognised 14 languages in 1950, has undergone several amendments to include more languages. The 21st Amendment in 1967 added Sindhi, the 71st Amendment in 1992 added Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali, and the 92nd Amendment in 2003 added Bodo, Dogri, Santhali, and Maithili, bringing the total to 22.
The recognition of these languages is significant as it allows them to be used in education, government, and other official contexts. Additionally, the Constitution grants the central government, through the President, the power to direct states to officially recognise languages spoken in their territories if there is sufficient demand and support from the population. This ensures that the linguistic diversity of India is respected and accommodated.
While Hindi and English are the most commonly used languages for official purposes, with English being used as the de facto national language, the Indian government has taken steps to promote the use of Hindi. According to Article 345, the official language of the Union is Hindi in the Devanagari script, and the Official Languages Act of 1963 provided for the continued use of English alongside Hindi. However, there has been opposition to the use of Hindi in some southern states, and the government has established regional Hindi implementation offices to monitor the implementation of Hindi.
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Regional languages
India's linguistic diversity is immense, with hundreds of languages in use across the country. The Indian Constitution, adopted in 1950, recognises 22 regional languages in its Eighth Schedule, which lists the languages officially recognised by the Government of India. These languages are:
- Assamese
- Bengali
- Bodo
- Dogri
- Gujarati
- Hindi
- Kannada
- Kashmiri
- Konkani
- Malayalam
- Manipuri (Meitei)
- Marathi
- Maithili
- Nepali
- Odia (formerly known as Oriya)
- Punjabi
- Sanskrit
- Santhali
- Sindhi
- Tamil
- Telugu
- Urdu
Article 344(1) of the Constitution defines a set of 14 regional languages that were represented in the Official Languages Commission. The commission was tasked with recommending steps to promote the use of Hindi as the country's official language. English was also designated as an additional official language for a maximum of 15 years following the Constitution's adoption.
The selection of Hindi as the official language was not without controversy. While Hindi has strong government backing and is widely spoken throughout India, there was significant opposition to its use in the southern states. English, meanwhile, has become a de facto lingua franca across much of the country, and there are ongoing debates about the role it should play in Indian society.
The Indian government has taken various steps to promote the use of Hindi, including establishing regional implementation offices in several cities. However, the country's linguistic diversity presents challenges when selecting a single official language, and there are demands for the inclusion of even more languages in the Eighth Schedule. These demands are driven by a desire for cultural preservation, administrative recognition, and increased resources for language development and promotion.
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Minority languages
The Indian Constitution, adopted in 1950, declared Hindi in Devanagari script to be the official language of the union. It also stated that English would serve as an additional official language for a period not exceeding 15 years. However, due to opposition to the imposition of Hindi in certain states, English continues to be used as an official language alongside Hindi.
The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution lists 22 languages, including Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Maithili, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. These languages are chosen based on the predominant and politically significant languages spoken in each state.
Some states have adopted official languages that are not listed in the Eighth Schedule, such as Kokborok in Tripura and Mizo in Mizoram. Additionally, there are demands for the inclusion of 38 more languages in the Eighth Schedule.
The Indian Constitution grants the central government, through the President, the power to issue directives to state governments regarding the use of minority languages for official purposes. The President may direct a state to officially recognize a minority language if its speakers demand it and can demonstrate that a substantial proportion of the state's population desires its use. States are also required to provide primary education in the mother tongue for all linguistic minorities, regardless of whether their language is official in that state.
To address the concerns of linguistic minorities, the Constitution provides for a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities, known as the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities (CLM). The CLM interacts with minority language groups and state governments to ensure the implementation of safeguards for linguistic minorities.
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English as a lingua franca
India is a multilingual country with 22 scheduled languages recognised by the government. These are: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, Marathi, Meitei (Manipuri), Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. Additionally, English is also recognised as an official language. The Indian constitution, adopted in 1950, stated that Hindi would be the official language and English would be an additional language for up to 15 years. However, in 1965, English was retained as an official language, alongside Hindi.
Despite efforts to promote Hindi as the sole official language, English has become indispensable to the system and the economy in India. It has been elevated to the status of a lingua franca, a common language for communication, in a country with a wide variety of regional languages. This elevation of English is partly due to the country's history of British rule and the globalisation of the Indian economy.
English is often seen as a practical language for official and cultural purposes, especially in education and STEM fields, as most journals are published in English. It is also a language that can connect different states within India and facilitate communication between states and the central government. For example, English is the official language in Nagaland, a state with various tribes and languages.
However, the use of English as a lingua franca in India is not without its challenges. There is a large north-south divide, with northern states predominantly using Hindi and southern states using classical languages such as Tamil. Additionally, issues such as large class sizes, inadequate English proficiency among teachers, and a lack of support materials can hinder the effective use of English as a lingua franca.
The question of whether to promote English or local languages in elementary schools is a complex one, especially in a multicultural country like India. While English is advantageous for global competitiveness, promoting local languages is also important for preserving cultural heritage and ensuring that students are not left behind due to language barriers.
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Frequently asked questions
The Indian Constitution recognises 22 regional languages.
The regional languages recognised by the Indian Constitution are: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Maithili, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.
Yes, the number of recognised regional languages has changed over time. The Indian Constitution recognised 14 regional languages in 1950. In 1967, the 21st Amendment to the Constitution added Sindhi as a recognised regional language. The 71st Amendment, enacted in 1992, added three more languages: Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali. In 2003, the 92nd Amendment added Bodo, Dogri, Santhali, and Maithili, bringing the total number of recognised regional languages to 22.
Yes, there are demands for the inclusion of 38 additional languages in the Indian Constitution. These demands are based on arguments for cultural preservation, administrative recognition, increased resources, and the promotion of linguistic diversity.
