Why in the News?
The Union Minister of Education recently briefed the Lok Sabha. The Minister briefed on the government’s various initiatives to promote the Languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
Official Language of India: Overview
- Under Article 343(1), the official language of the Union shall be Hindi in the Devanagari script. However, Section 3 of the Official Language Act, 1963, discusses the continuance of the English language for official purposes of the Union. It also addresses the use of English in Parliament.
- Moreover, the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution lists the official languages of India. It applies to the Republic of India.
What is the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution?
1. The 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution lists the official languages of India. Part XVII of the Indian Constitution addresses the 22 official languages of India. It is covered in Articles 343 to 351.
2. The Constitutional provisions related to the 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution are:
- Article 344: Article 344(1) provides for the constitution of a Commission. This Commission is to be established by the President. It will be formed after five years have passed. This timeframe begins from the commencement of the Constitution of India.
- Article 351: The article focuses on the spread of the Hindi language. It aims to develop Hindi so that it can serve as a medium of expression and communication. This development is intended to encompass all aspects of India’s rich and diverse composite culture.
3. However, there is no fixed criterion for any language to be considered for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
Provisions of the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution
Part XVII of the Constitution of India addresses the official language of India in Articles 343 to 351.
| Articles | Provisions |
|---|---|
1. Language of the Union | |
| Article 343 (1) | The official language of the Union shall be Hindi. It will be in the Devanagari script. The form of numerals to be used for official purposes of the Union shall be the international form of Indian numerals. |
| Article 343 (2) | For a period of fifteen years from the commencement of the Constitution, the English language shall continue to be used for all the official purposes of the Union. This applies to the purposes for which it was being used immediately before the commencement of the Constitution of India. The President may authorise the use of the Hindi language. This can occur in addition to the English language. This authorization is for any of the official purposes of the Union. |
| Article 344 | The official language commission is to be constituted by the President. |
2. Regional Languages | |
| Article 345 | The Legislature of a State can adopt one or more languages that are in use in the State. It can also choose Hindi as the official language. |
| Article 346 | The official language is used for communication between states. It is also used for communication between a State and the Union. |
| Article 347 | The Governor of a State can authorise the use of the Hindi language or any other language for official purposes. This requires the previous consent of the President. This authorization applies explicitly to proceedings in the High Court that has its principal seat in that State.However, the judgments, decrees, and orders of the high court must continue to be in English only. |
3. Language of the Judiciary | |
| Article 348 (1) | Until Parliament provides otherwise by law, English should be used in certain areas. This includes all the proceedings in the Supreme Court. It also applies to every High Court. The authoritative texts of all bills and ordinances shall be in the English language. |
| Article 348 (2) | A state legislature can prescribe the use of any language (other than English) with respect to bills, acts, ordinances, etc. However, a translation of the same into the English language is forthcoming. |
| Article 348 (3) | The Governor of a State can authorise the use of the Hindi language or any other language for official purposes. This requires the previous consent of the President. This authorization applies explicitly to proceedings in the High Court that has its principal seat in that State. However, the judgments, decrees, and orders of the high court must continue to be in English only. |
4. Special Directives | |
| Article 350 | Language to be used in representations for redress of grievances. |
| Article 350A | Facilities for instruction in the mother tongue at the primary stage. |
| Article 350B (1) | Special Officer for linguistic minorities. |
| Article 351 | Directive for the development of the Hindi language. |
What is the Official Language of India Commission?
The Official Languages Commission is to be established by the President. This is in accordance with Article 344 of the Indian Constitution. The commission was constituted in 1955. It was established via a notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
1. Article 344
- At the expiration of five years from the commencement of the Constitution, and thereafter at the expiration of ten years from such commencement, the president should constitute a commission.
- This commission shall consist of a Chairman and other members. These members will represent the different languages specified in the Eighth Schedule. The President will appoint the members, and the order shall define the procedure to be followed by the Commission.
2. Article 344(2)
- The Commission has several duties. It shall make recommendations to the President. These recommendations include the progressive use of the Hindi language for official purposes of the Union.
- The Commission will also suggest restrictions on the use of the English language for any official purposes of the Union. Additionally, it will recommend the language to be used for the purposes mentioned in Article 348.
- The Commission will determine the form of numerals for specified purposes of the Union. Lastly, it will address any other matter referred to the Commission by the President.
3. What are the significant provisions of the Official Language Act, 1963?
The Official Language Act was enacted in 1963. It provides for the languages that may be used for official purposes of the Union. The Act outlines the languages for conducting business in Parliament. It also specifies languages for Central and State Acts. Additionally, it addresses specific purposes in the High Courts.
4. Language of the Union
- At the expiration of the period of fifteen years from the commencement of the Constitution, the English language can continue to be used in addition to Hindi.
- A translation in Hindi should be published of any Ordinance promulgated by the President.
- A translation in Hindi should be published of any order, rule, etc., issued under the Constitution of India.
- The authoritative text in the English language of all bills shall be accompanied by a translation of the same in Hindi.
5. Regional Language
- English is mandated as the medium of communication. This applies to the Union and the non-Hindi states.
6. Language of the Judiciary
- The Governor of a State has the authority to use the official language of the state or Hindi. This is done with the previous consent of the President. The use of these languages is in addition to the English language.
- If any judgment, decree, or order is passed in a language other than English, it shall be accompanied by an English translation.
Official Language of India: List
The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution states the following 22 official languages of India:
- Assamese
- Bengali
- Gujarati
- Hindi
- Dogri (2004)
- Kannada
- Kashmiri
- Konkani (1992)
- Malayalam
- Maithili (2004)
- Manipuri (1992)
- Marathi
- Nepali (1992)
- Oriya
- Bodo (2004)
- Punjabi
- Sanskrit
- Sindhi (1967)
- Tamil
- Santhali (2004)
- Telugu
- Urdu
Classical Languages of India: List
Six languages are considered the Classical Languages of India. They are listed in the 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution.
- Tamil (declared in 2004)
- Sanskrit (2005)
- Kannada (2008)
- Telugu (2008)
- Malayalam (2013)
- Odia (2014)
Conclusion
In conclusion, the official language of India is Hindi in the Devanagari script, alongside the continued use of English for official purposes. However, the Eighth Schedule recognises 22 languages, highlighting the nation’s linguistic diversity.
These provisions aim to promote communication among states while preserving regional languages and cultures. As India evolves, it is important to maintain its linguistic heritage. This is important for fostering unity in diversity. Language plays a crucial role in governance. Understanding this role is vital for the country’s development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Presently, six languages are recognised as classical languages by the Government of India. These are the languages of Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia.
High antiquity: Texts/recorded history over a period of 1500-2000 years.
A body of ancient literature/texts: Considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers.
Original literary tradition: Not borrowed from another speech community.
Distinct language and literature: Distinct from modern.
There may be a discontinuity between the language and its later forms.
English may be used for official purposes; however, Hindi, written in the Devanagari script, is the official language of the Union of India. According to Article 343 of the Constitution, India does not have a single national language; instead, it recognises 22 scheduled languages and permits the use of English in addition to Hindi for various government duties.
The Union of India has both Hindi and English as official languages, with Hindi being the primary official language in the Devanagari script. No, English is not the only official language of India. In keeping with India’s enormous linguistic diversity, the Indian Constitution also recognises 22 Scheduled Languages and gives states the authority to designate their own official languages.
