Eleanor Finch
The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution lists the official languages of the Republic of India. The Constitution does not specify the official languages to be used by the states for official functions, and each state is free to adopt its own official language. Hindi was identified as the official language of India, but it is only the mother tongue of about 40% of Indians. As of 2024, 22 languages have been classified under the schedule, including Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, and Kannada.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of scheduled languages recognised by the constitution | 22 |
| Number of scheduled languages recognised by the constitution besides Hindi | 21 |
| First official language | Hindi |
| Second official language | English |
| Number of languages available on the official website of the Indian Prime Minister's Office | 12 |
| Number of languages made available in the Press Information Bureau (PIB) | 15 |
| Number of languages selected by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) | 14 |
| Number of languages included in the original Eighth Schedule in 1950 | 14 |
| Number of languages added by the 21st Amendment in 1967 | 1 |
| Number of languages added by the 71st Amendment in 1992 | 3 |
| Number of languages added by the 92nd Amendment in 2003 | 4 |
| Number of languages demanded for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule by the Ministry of Home Affairs | 38 |
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What You'll Learn
Hindi as the official language
The Indian Constitution, adopted in 1950, does not specify a national language for India. However, it recognises 22 languages under the Eighth Schedule, with Hindi being one of them. Hindi is the official language of the Indian government, alongside English, which serves as an additional official language.
The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India lists the languages officially recognised by the Government of India. As of 2024, 22 languages have been classified under the schedule, with Hindi being one of the original 14 languages included in 1950. The other 13 languages recognised from the start were Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya/Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.
The recognition of these languages is significant as it grants them official status and ensures their use in government administration and education. The Eighth Schedule also promotes the development and preservation of the cultural heritage and linguistic identity associated with these languages.
Hindi has a long history in India, dating back to the Delhi Sultanate in medieval times when it was influenced by Persian loanwords. It became prominent during the reign of Shah Jahan, when it was adopted as the official language of the imperial court. Later, during the Indian Independence movement, Hindustani, a vernacular of Hindi, became a symbol of national unity.
In 1881, Hindi replaced Urdu as the official language of Bihar, marking the beginning of its official recognition in various states. In 1949, Hindi written in the Devanagari script was adopted as the official language of the Republic of India, with celebrations occurring annually on Hindi Day. This decision was met with resistance from non-Hindi speaking regions, particularly Tamil Nadu, which had a history of opposing the imposition of Hindi.
To address these concerns, the Official Languages Act of 1963 was enacted, providing for the continued use of English alongside Hindi for official purposes. This Act has been amended over time to accommodate the diverse linguistic needs of different states and ensure the effective functioning of government officials who may not have proficiency in both languages.
In conclusion, while Hindi is recognised as the official language of the Indian government, the country also acknowledges the importance of preserving and promoting various regional languages. The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution plays a vital role in ensuring the representation and development of these languages, reflecting India's rich linguistic diversity.
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English as a subsidiary official language
The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India lists the languages officially recognised by the Government of India. As of 2024, 22 languages have been classified under the schedule. There is no national language of India.
The Indian Constitution, adopted in 1950, declared Hindi in Devanagari script to be the official language of the union. It was envisaged that English would be phased out in favour of Hindi over a fifteen-year period. However, the Official Languages Act, 1963, which came into effect on 26 January 1965, made provisions for the continuation of English as an official language alongside Hindi in official communications. This was due to resistance in many parts of the country, especially in Tamil Nadu, to plans to make Hindi the sole official language.
English has a long history in India, dating back to the rule of the British East India Company in the 1830s. In 1835, English replaced Persian as the official language of the East India Company. After independence from the British Raj in 1947, English remained an official language of the new Dominion of India and later the Republic of India.
Today, English continues to be widely used in India. It is the only reliable means of communication between the central government and the non-Hindi states. Additionally, English is associated with economic progress, and those who speak fluent English tend to earn higher salaries. However, studies show that English usage is restricted to the elite due to inadequate education for large parts of the Indian population.
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Languages added by the 71st Amendment: Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali
The Indian Constitution does not specify a national language, but Hindi is identified as the official language. However, Hindi is the mother tongue of only about 40% of Indians, so there are many safeguards in place to protect other languages.
The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India lists the languages officially recognised by the Government of India. As of 2024, 22 languages have been classified under the schedule. The original Eighth Schedule in 1950 included 14 languages.
The 71st Amendment, enacted in 1992, added Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali, increasing the total to 18 languages. This amendment highlighted the importance of preserving and promoting these languages, ensuring their protection, and facilitating educational resources, official documentation, and communication in these languages for their respective communities. The addition of these languages to the Eighth Schedule aimed to provide representation and support to linguistic communities in Goa, Manipur, and Sikkim, respectively.
Konkani is also known as 'Goanese' and is a language spoken by the natives of Goa, India. It is written in the Devanagari script and is closely related to Marathi. It is also spoken in some neighbouring states, such as Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Manipuri, also known as Meitei, is a language indigenous to the state of Manipur, in northeastern India. It is the lingua franca of the state and is spoken by people of different ethnic backgrounds. The Meitei people have a long history in the region, and their language has been influenced by both Indo-Aryan and Sino-Tibetan languages over time.
Nepali, or Gorkha Bhasa, is a language recognised in the Indian state of Sikkim and is also spoken in parts of West Bengal, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh. Nepali is also the official language of Nepal and is understood across the border regions of India and Nepal.
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Languages added by the 92nd Amendment: Bodo, Dogri, Santali, and Maithili
The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India lists the languages officially recognised by the Government of India. As of 2024, 22 languages have been classified under the schedule.
The 92nd Amendment, passed in 2003, added four languages to the Eighth Schedule: Bodo, Dogri, Santali, and Maithili. This amendment was significant as it recognised and helped preserve the cultural heritage and linguistic identity of the communities that speak these languages.
Bodo is spoken in the northeastern states of India, such as Assam and Meghalaya, and some areas of Bangladesh. It is a Sino-Tibetan language with several dialects and can be written in Latin, Devanagari, and Bengali scripts.
Dogri is a language with a rich literary heritage, with its roots in the Dogri-speaking region of Jammu, Kashmir, and Northern Punjab. It has a long history of use in poetry, literature, and folklore.
Santali is a language spoken by the Santal people, who are indigenous to India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. It is a branch of the Munda subfamily of Austroasiatic languages and is related to Ho, Mundari, and Bhumij. The inclusion of Santali in the Eighth Schedule was celebrated by Adivasi youths and tribal communities as a recognition of their cultural identity.
Maithili is a language spoken in parts of India and Nepal, with a significant number of native speakers in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. It has a rich literary tradition, with a history spanning over 1,000 years. Maithili literature includes works such as the Avahaatta poem, which is considered one of the oldest examples of Maithili writing.
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Classical languages
The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India lists the languages officially recognised by the Government of India. As of 2024, 22 languages have been classified under the schedule. The original Eighth Schedule in 1950 included 14 languages: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya/Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.
The idea of classical languages of India was introduced in 2004, with Tamil being the first language to receive official recognition as a classical language. The Government of India created a separate category called 'Classical Languages' to preserve the history and teachings contained within ancient scriptures or texts that are no longer commonly used today.
Tamil was recognised as a classical language due to its millennium-long history, valuable texts and literature, and originality. It is a Dravidian language used in Sri Lanka, other Southeast Asian countries, and the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The earliest period of Tamil literature is known as Sangam literature.
Sanskrit was recognised as a classical language in 2005. It is foundational to many Indian languages and has a vast corpus of religious and philosophical texts. Telugu and Kannada were added to the list of classical languages in 2008, with Malayalam and Odia following in 2013 and 2014, respectively.
In 2024, the Union Cabinet approved the recognition of five more languages as classical: Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Pali, and Prakrit. These languages were chosen for their rich literary tradition and cultural importance.
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Frequently asked questions
22 languages are recognised as scheduled languages by the Indian Constitution.
12 of the 22 scheduled languages are available on the official website of the Indian Prime Minister's Office.
The 12 languages are Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Meitei (Manipuri), Odia, Punjabi, Tamil and Telugu, in addition to English.
The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India lists the languages officially recognised by the Government of India.
The original Eighth Schedule in 1950 included 14 languages.
