Simone Lawson
The Indian Constitution, adopted in 1950, outlines the country's official language provisions, promoting unity, effective communication, and linguistic diversity protection. Part XVII, comprising Articles 343 to 351, establishes the framework for the official language, covering the language of the Union, regional languages, judiciary language, and inter-governmental communication. This constitutional framework reflects India's linguistic diversity and inclusivity, fostering harmonious coexistence and administrative efficiency. While Hindi, written in Devanagari script, is the official language of the Union, English is also used for official purposes during a transitional period. The Constitution also includes directives to protect linguistic minorities and promote Hindi development, demonstrating a commitment to accommodating the diverse linguistic needs of its population.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Part of Constitution containing provisions regarding official language | Part XVII of the Constitution of India |
| Articles | 343-351 |
| Official language of the Union | Hindi in the Devanagari script |
| Form of numerals for official purposes | International form of Indian numerals |
| Official language of states | Any one or more languages in use in the state or Hindi |
| Official language for inter-state communication | English, or Hindi if mutually decided |
| Recognition of other languages | The President may recognise other languages if demanded by a substantial proportion of the state population |
| Language of the Supreme Court and High Courts | English, with no provision for Hindi |
| Special procedure for laws relating to language | Article 349 |
| Special directives | Articles 350, 350A, 350B, 351 |
| Eighth Schedule | Contains 22 languages recognised by the Constitution |
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What You'll Learn
Official language of the Union
The Indian Constitution, adopted in 1950, outlines the framework for the country's official language in Article XVII, which comprises Articles 343 to 351. This section of the Constitution addresses the Language of the Union, Regional Languages, Language of the Judiciary, and Special Directives, all of which contribute to effective communication and linguistic diversity within the nation.
Article 343, titled "Official Language of the Union," is a crucial component of this framework. It establishes Hindi, written in Devanagari script, as the official language of the Union. This means that Hindi is to be used for official purposes within the Indian Union, a federal state established by the 1950 Constitution. The adoption of Hindi as the official language was a significant concession to the "Hindi-wallahs" in the Assembly, with some members emphasising that no language should be imposed on India solely through its inclusion in the Constitution.
The Constitution also provides for a transitional period regarding the official language. Article 343(2) and 343(3) stipulate that English will continue to be used for all official purposes of the Union for a period of fifteen years from the commencement of the Constitution. This transitional period was intended to facilitate a smooth shift from English to Hindi as the sole official language. However, due to strong opposition from southern states where Dravidian languages were spoken, it proved challenging to replace English with Hindi as planned.
The Constitution further outlines the role of the President in recognising additional languages. On demand, the President may direct that a particular language be officially recognised in a state if a substantial proportion of the state's population desires to use that language. This provision, outlined in Article 347, allows for the representation of linguistic minorities and the protection of their interests.
The Constitution also addresses the use of language in the judiciary, specifically in the Supreme Court and High Courts. While Hindi is the official language of the Union, the Parliament has not made any provision for the use of Hindi in the Supreme Court. As a result, English remains the sole language of the Supreme Court, and petitions or appeals are heard only in English.
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Official languages of states
The Constitution of India does not specify the official language of different states. Instead, it provides a framework for states to determine their official languages. According to Article 345, a state legislature can adopt one or more languages in use in the state or Hindi as its official language. Until a state designates its official language, English serves as the default. Notably, states are not limited to choosing languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, which currently includes 22 languages.
The Constitution also outlines provisions for the official language of the Union, which is Hindi written in the Devanagari script. However, English was used for official Union purposes for 15 years from the commencement of the Constitution in 1950. During this period, the President could authorise the use of Hindi and the Devanagari form of numerals in addition to English and the international form of Indian numerals. After this 15-year period, Parliament could decide to continue using English for specific purposes.
The Constitution further addresses inter-governmental communication between states and between a state and the Union. It allows two or more states to mutually agree to use Hindi instead of English for communication. Additionally, the President can recognise a language spoken by a substantial proportion of a state's population as an official language in that state upon receiving a demand for such recognition.
The Constitution also includes special directives to protect linguistic minorities and promote the development of the Hindi language. These directives encompass the use of language in representations for redress of grievances, instruction in the mother tongue at the primary level, and the appointment of a special officer to investigate matters related to linguistic minorities and report to the President and Parliament.
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Language for inter-governmental communication
The Indian Constitution, specifically Part XVII, Articles 343 to 351, contains provisions for an official language for the Union, the states, the judiciary, and inter-governmental communication. These provisions reflect India's commitment to linguistic diversity, aiming to unite the country while accommodating its diverse nature.
Article 346, in particular, addresses the language for inter-governmental communication. It enables the use of any one or more languages for interactions between states or between a state and the Union. This flexibility ensures that linguistic differences do not hinder cooperation and interaction between governments. The article also allows two or more states to mutually decide to use Hindi for communication among themselves, instead of English.
The Constitution further includes special directives to protect the interests of linguistic minorities and promote the development of the Hindi language. For instance, Article 350B mandates the appointment of a Special Officer for linguistic minorities by the President. This officer is responsible for investigating matters related to constitutional safeguards for linguistic minorities and reporting to the President and Parliament.
Additionally, the Constitution recognises the importance of mother-tongue instruction for children from linguistic minority groups. Article 350A ensures that adequate facilities are provided for instruction in the mother tongue at the primary stage of education.
The Indian Constitution's approach to inter-governmental communication recognises the country's linguistic diversity and seeks to balance unity with the inclusion of diverse languages. These provisions ensure effective communication and cooperation between governments while respecting and accommodating India's varied linguistic landscape.
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Language of the judiciary
The Indian Constitution does not list any one language as India's "national language". However, the Constitution does contain provisions for an official language for the Union, the states, and the judiciary. Part XVII of the Constitution, comprising Articles 343 to 351, outlines the framework for the official language. Article 343, "Official Language of the Union", designates Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of the Union, with English as an additional official language. This provision also specifies that the form of numerals to be used for official purposes shall be the international form of Indian numerals.
Article 345 of the Indian Constitution provides constitutional recognition as "official languages" of the union to any language adopted by a state legislature as the official language of that state. The Constitution does not specify the official language of different states, but Article 346 states that English shall be the link language for communications between the Union and states. Two or more states may, however, mutually decide to use Hindi for communication among themselves.
Article 348, "Language to be used in the Supreme Court and in the High Courts and for Acts, Bills, etc.", states that until Parliament by law otherwise provides, all proceedings in the Supreme Court and every High Court, and all Bills, Acts, ordinances, rules, and orders at the Union and state levels, "shall be in the English language". However, Article 348 (2) permits "the use of the Hindi language, or any other language used for any official purposes of the State, in proceedings in the High Court having its principal seat in that State" after authorisation by the Governor and "with the previous consent of the President".
Article 350A provides for facilities for instruction in the mother tongue at the primary stage, while Article 350B establishes a Special Officer for linguistic minorities, who shall be appointed by the President and shall investigate all matters relating to the safeguards for linguistic minorities, reporting directly to the President. Article 351 gives power to the union government to issue a directive for the development of the Hindi language.
The Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India lists 22 languages recognised as official languages: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili, and Dogri. However, there is no fixed criterion for any language to be considered for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule, and there are demands to include additional languages.
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Special directives
The Constitution of India contains special directives to protect the interests of linguistic minorities and promote the development of the Hindi language. These directives are outlined in Article XVII, which comprises Articles 343 to 351, and are designed to shape the linguistic landscape and ensure effective communication within the nation.
Article 350, for instance, outlines the language to be used in representation for the redress of grievances. This means that every aggrieved person has the right to submit a representation in any of the languages used in the Union or in the state, and these representations cannot be rejected on the grounds that they are not in the official language.
Article 350A ensures facilities for instruction in the mother tongue at the primary stage of education for children belonging to linguistic minority groups. This is a crucial step in preserving and promoting the use of minority languages within the country.
Article 350B directs the President to appoint a special officer for linguistic minorities. This officer is responsible for investigating all matters relating to the constitutional safeguards for linguistic minorities and reporting their findings to the President, Parliament, and the concerned state governments.
Article 351 provides a directive for the development of the Hindi language. This reflects the Constitution's intention to establish Hindi as the official language of the Union, as written in the Devanagari script.
These special directives form an integral part of the Constitution's commitment to linguistic diversity, inclusivity, and effective communication. They aim to protect the rights and interests of linguistic minorities while also promoting the widespread use and development of the Hindi language.
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Frequently asked questions
Part XVII of the Indian Constitution contains provisions regarding the official language.
Article 343 of the Indian Constitution states that the official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script.
The Munshi-Ayyangar formula, or Draft Article 301A, declared Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of the Union.
Article 345 of the Indian Constitution states that any language adopted by a state legislature as the official language of that state shall be recognised as an "Official language" of the union.
