Bharatpedia

Languages with official status in India: Difference between revisions

Article Talk

Languages with official status in India (edit)

Revision as of 02:57, 22 July 2023

78,354 bytes added ,  22 July 2023
Cleanup: Information added.
m (→‎References: Replace {{Source}} tag)
(Cleanup: Information added.)
Line 1: Line 1:
This is a list of languages with official status,<ref>https://rajbhasha.gov.in/en/languages-included-eighth-schedule-indian-constitution</ref> in [[India]]:
{{Short description|Languages designated official status by the Constitution of India }}
* [[Manipuri language|Manipuri]] ([[Meitei language|Meitei]])
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
* [[Bengali language|Bengali]]
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2019}}
* [[Marathi language|Marathi]]
[[File: Language region maps of India.svg|thumb|upright=1.35|States and union territories of India by the most commonly spoken languages, among which most are scheduled but some are not scheduled languages, like Ao of Nagaland, Khasi of Meghalaya, Ladakhi of Ladakh, Mizo of Mizoram and Nyishi of Arunachal Pradesh. Exceptionally, Mizo attains state level official language status, despite not being a scheduled language. Nepali, despite being the lingua franca of Sikkim as well as a scheduled language, isn't the official language of Sikkim state.<ref>{{cite web |title=Report of the Commissioner for linguistic minorities: 47th report (July 2008 to June 2010) |pages=84–89 |publisher=Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India |url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM47thReport.pdf |access-date=16 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513161847/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM47thReport.pdf |archive-date=13 May 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Languages Included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution {{!}} Department of Official Language {{!}} Ministry of Home Affairs {{!}} GoI |url=https://rajbhasha.gov.in/en/languages-included-eighth-schedule-indian-constitution |access-date=31 July 2022 |website=rajbhasha.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Report of the Commissioner for linguistic minorities: 50th report (July 2012 to June 2013) |publisher=Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India |url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |access-date=17 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708012438/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |archive-date= 8 July 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref group="lower-alpha">Some languages may be over- or underrepresented as the census data used is at the state-level. For example, while Urdu has 52 million speakers (2001), in no state is it a majority as the language itself is primarily limited to Indian Muslims yet has more native speakers than Gujarati.</ref>|alt=Language region map of India]]
* [[English language|English]]
{{Constitutionally recognised languages in India}}
* [[Sanskrit]]
 
* [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]]
There is no [[national language]] in the [[Republic of India]].<ref>{{cite news|author=PTI|author-link=Press Trust of India|date=25 January 2010|title=Hindi, not a national language: Court|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/hindi-not-a-national-language-court/article94695.ece|access-date=20 November 2018}}</ref><ref name="rajbhasha.nic.in">{{cite web|title=Constitutional Provisions: Official Language Related Part-17 of The Constitution Of India|url=http://rajbhasha.nic.in/en/constitutional-provisions|access-date=1 July 2015|publisher=Department of Official Language, [[Government of India]]}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE POLICY OF THE UNION {{!}} Department of Official Language {{!}} Ministry of Home Affairs {{!}} GoI|url=http://rajbhasha.nic.in/en/official-language-policy-union|access-date=20 March 2019|website=rajbhasha.nic.in}}</ref>  However, article 343(1) of the [[Constitution of India|Indian constitution]] specifically mentions that "The official language of the Union shall be [[Hindi]] in [[Devanagari]] script. The form of numerals to be used for the official purposes of the Union shall be the international form of [[Hindu–Arabic numeral system|Indian numerals]],"<ref name=":0" /> while clause 3 of the [[s:Official Languages Act, 1963|Official Languages Act, 1963]] mentions the "Continuation of [[English Language]] for official purposes of the Union and for use in Parliament". Hence [[Indian English]] and [[Modern Standard Hindi]] are the Official Languages of the [[Government of India]].<ref name="rjb">{{Cite web|title=THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ACT, 1963|url=https://rajbhasha.gov.in/en/official-languages-act-1963|access-date=3 May 2022|website=rajbhasha.nic.in}}</ref>
* [[Hindi]]
 
* [[Assamese language|Assamese]]
Business in the [[Parliament of India|Indian parliament]] may only be conducted in Hindi or in English. In addition to the official languages, the constitution recognises 22 regional languages, which include Hindi but not English, as ''scheduled languages'' (see below). According to Article 120, members of parliament are allowed to speak and present their views in any of the [[Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India|22 scheduled languages recognised by the Constitution of India]]. English is allowed to be used in official purposes such as parliamentary proceedings, judiciary, communications between the [[Government of India|Central Government]] and a [[State governments of India|State Government]]. There are various official languages in India at the [[States and union territories of India|state/territory]]-level.
* [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]
 
* [[Odia language|Odia]]
States can specify their own official language(s) through legislation. The section of the Constitution of India dealing with official languages, therefore, includes detailed provisions which deal not just with the languages used for the official purposes of the union, but also with the languages that are to be used for the official purposes of each state and union territory in the country, and the languages that are to be used for communication between the union and the states.
* [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]]
 
* [[Kannada]]
== History ==
* [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
The official languages of [[British India]] before [[Indian Independence Act 1947|independence]] were English, [[Standard Urdu]] and later [[Modern Standard Hindi]], with English being used for purposes at the [[federalism|central]] level.<ref>{{cite book|last=Mollin|first=Sandra|title=Euro-English: assessing variety status|year=2006|publisher=Gunter Narr Verlag|isbn=978-3-8233-6250-0|page=17|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qPhULmMmqJMC&pg=PA17}}</ref> The origins of official Hindi usage traces back to 1900, when [[Antony MacDonnell, 1st Baron MacDonnell|MacDonnell]] issued an order, which allowed the “permissive — but not exclusive — use” of [[Devanagari]] for [[Hindustani language]] in the courts of [[North-Western Provinces]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rai|first=Alok|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fmnpssOM_3kC|title=Hindi Nationalism (tracks for the Times)|date=2001|publisher=Orient Blackswan|isbn=978-81-250-1979-4|language=en}}</ref> The [[Constitution of India|Indian constitution]], adopted in 1950, envisaged that English would be phased out in favour of Hindi, over a fifteen-year period, but gave [[Indian Parliament|Parliament]] the power to, by law, provide for the continued use of English even thereafter.<ref>[[Kanchan Chandra]], [http://www.nyu.edu/gsas/dept/politics/faculty/chandra/ps2001.pdf "Ethnic Bargains, Group Instability, and Social Choice Theory", Politics and Society 29, 3: 337–62.]</ref> Plans to make Hindi the sole official language of the Republic were met with resistance in many parts of the country, especially [[Anti-Hindi agitations of Tamil Nadu|in Tamil Nadu]]. English and Hindi continue to be used today, in combination with other (at the central level and in some states) official languages.
* [[Telugu]]
 
* [[Dogri language|Dogri]]
The legal framework governing the use of languages for official purpose currently is [[s: Official Languages Act, 1963|the Official Languages Act, 1963]], the Official Language Rules, 1976, and various state laws, as well as [[Delegated legislation|rules and regulations]] made by the central government and the states.
* [[Bodo language|Bodo]]
 
* [[Santali language|Santali]]
== Scheduled languages of the Indian Constitution ==
==References==
The [[Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India]] contains a list of 22 "Scheduled Languages" (official languages) of the [[Republic of India]]: [[Assamese language|Assamese]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Boro language (India)|Bodo]], [[Dogri]], [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Hindi]], [[Kannada]], [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]], [[Konkani]], [[Maithili language|Maithili]], [[Malayalam]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Meitei language|Meitei]] (Manipuri), [[Nepali language|Nepali]], [[Odia language|Odia]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Sanskrit]], [[Santali language|Santali]], [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and [[Urdu]].
The table below lists the 22 scheduled languages of the Republic of India as set out in the Eighth Schedule as of May 2008, together with the regions where they are widely spoken and used as the state's official language. However, states are not mandated to choose their official languages from the scheduled languages. [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]] is not official in any states or union territories even though it is listed in the Eighth Schedule.
 
=== List ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Sr. No.
! Language{{efn|Includes variants and dialects}}
!Family
!Speakers<br/><small>(in&nbsp;millions,&nbsp;2011)</small><ref name="CensusData 2011, Language and Mother Tongue">{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/C-16_25062018_NEW.pdf|title=Statement 1 – Abstract of Speakers' Strength of Languages and Mother Tongues – 2011|publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627064326/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/C-16_25062018_NEW.pdf|archive-date=27 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
!Official recognition in State(s)
![[ISO 639]] code
|-
|1.
|[[Assamese language|Assamese]]|| Indo-Aryan, Eastern || 15.3 ||
*Official: [[Assam]]
| as
|-
|2.
|[[Bengali language|Bengali]]|| Indo-Aryan, Eastern || 97.2 ||
*Official: [[West Bengal]], [[Tripura]]
*Additional: [[Assam]], [[Jharkhand]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bihardays.com/jharkhands-11-second-languages-will-create-new-jobs-enrich-national-culture/ |title=Jharkhand's 11 second languages will create new jobs: But also enrich national culture &#124; BiharDays |access-date=5 January 2014 |archive-date=6 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106033703/http://www.bihardays.com/jharkhands-11-second-languages-will-create-new-jobs-enrich-national-culture/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| bn
|-
|3.
|[[Bodo language|Bodo]]||[[Tibeto-Burman]]|| 1.48 ||
*Official: [[Assam]]
| brx
|-
|4.
|[[Dogri language|Dogri]]|| Indo-Aryan, Northwestern || 2.6 ||
*Official: [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]<ref name="DogriKashmiri">{{cite news |last1=Das |first1=Ananya |title=Cabinet approves Bill to include Kashmiri, Dogri, Hindi as official languages in Jammu and Kashmir |url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/cabinet-approves-bill-to-include-kashmiri-dogri-hindi-as-official-languages-in-jammu-and-kashmir-2307085.html |access-date=8 September 2020 |work=Zee News |date=2 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
| doi
|-
|5.
|[[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]|| Indo-Aryan, Western || 55.5 ||
*Official: [[Gujarat]]
*Additional: [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]]<ref>{{cite web |title=The Goa, Daman and Diu Official Language Act, 1987 |url=https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/6809/1/official_language_act.pdf |access-date=12 November 2022 |website=indiacode.nic.in }}</ref>
| gu
|-
|6.
|[[Hindi]]|| Indo-Aryan, Central || 528||
*Official: [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]], [[Bihar]], Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, [[Chhattisgarh]], [[Delhi]], Gujarat,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/4501/1/officiallanguages.pdf |title=The Gujarat Official Languages Act, 1960 |publisher=indiacode.nic.in |year=1961 |access-date=21 December 2022 }}</ref> [[Haryana]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, [[Ladakh]], [[Lakshadweep]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.barandbench.com/news/malayalam-not-official-language-lakshadweep-no-requirement-draft-regulations-vernacular-kerala-high-court | title=Malayalam not official language of Lakshadweep, no requirement to publish draft regulations in vernacular: Lakashdweep admin to Kerala High Court | date=12 July 2021 }}</ref> [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Rajasthan]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Uttarakhand]]
*Additional: West Bengal<ref name="Telegraph:1" /><ref name="Indiatoday:1" />
| hi
|-
|7.
|[[Kannada]]||[[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]]|| 43.7 ||
*Official: [[Karnataka]]
| kn
|-
|8.
|[[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]]|| Indo-Aryan, Dardic || 6.8 ||
*Official: Jammu and Kashmir<ref name="DogriKashmiri"/>
| ks
|-
|9.
|[[Konkani language|Konkani]]|| Indo-Aryan, Southern || 2.25 ||
*Official: [[Goa]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/konkani/konkani.htm|title=The Origins of the Konkani Language|date=15 January 2016|website=www.kamat.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://languages.iloveindia.com/konkani.html|title=Indian Languages: Konkani Language|website=iloveindia.com|access-date=4 August 2020}}</ref>
| gom
|-
|10.
|[[Maithili language|Maithili]]|| Indo-Aryan, Eastern || 13.6 ||
*Additional: Jharkhand<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/news/ranchi/jharkhand-raghubar-das-cabinet-decision-maithili-bhojpuri-angika-magahi-second-language/1135878.html |title = झारखंड : रघुवर कैबिनेट से मगही, भोजपुरी, मैथिली व अंगिका को द्वितीय भाषा का दर्जा |trans-title =  Jharkhand: Second language status to Magahi, Bhojpuri, Maithili and Angika from Raghuvar cabinet |website=prabhatkhabar.com|date = 21 March 2018 |access-date=4 August 2020}}</ref>
| mai
|-
|11.
|[[Malayalam]]||[[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]]|| 34.8 ||
*Official: [[Kerala]]
*Additional: [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]
| ml
|-
|12.
|[[Meitei language|Manipuri]] ||[[Tibeto-Burman]]|| 1.8 ||
*Official: [[Manipur]]
| mni
|-
|13.
|[[Marathi language|Marathi]]|| Indo-Aryan, Southern || 83 ||
*Official: [[Maharashtra]]
*Additional: [[Goa]]
| mr
|-
|14.
|[[Nepali language|Nepali]]|| Indo-Aryan, Northern || 2.9 ||
*Official: [[Sikkim]]
*Additional: West Bengal
| ne
|-
|15.
|[[Odia language|Odia]]|| Indo-Aryan, Eastern || 37.5||
*Official: [[Odisha]]
*Additional: Jharkhand, West Bengal<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/oriya-gets-its-due-in-neighbouring-state/181258-60-117.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815161939/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/oriya-gets-its-due-in-neighbouring-state/181258-60-117.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 August 2012|title=Oriya gets its due in neighbouring state- Orissa- IBNLive|date=4 September 2011|publisher=Ibnlive.in.com|access-date=29 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-01/bhubaneswar/29953104_1_oriya-jharkhand-assembly-jharkhand-cabinet|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107021623/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-01/bhubaneswar/29953104_1_oriya-jharkhand-assembly-jharkhand-cabinet|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 November 2011|title=Oriya second language in Jharkhand |author=Naresh Chandra Pattanayak |date=1 September 2011|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=29 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/BIH-bengali-Oriya-among-12-dialects-as-2nd-language-in-jharkhand-2392920.html|title=Bengali, Oriya among 12 dialects as 2nd language in Jharkhand|date=31 August 2011|publisher=daily.bhaskar.com|access-date=29 November 2012}}</ref><ref name="Telegraph:1" /><ref name="Indiatoday:1" />
| or
|-
|16.
|[[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]|| Indo-Aryan, Northwestern || 33.1 ||
*Official: [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
*Additional: Delhi, Haryana, West Bengal<ref name="Telegraph:1" /><ref name="Indiatoday:1" />
| pa
|-
|17.
|[[Sanskrit]]|| Indo-Aryan || 0.02 ||
*Additional: Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand
| sa
|-
|18.
|[[Santali language|Santali]]||[[Austroasiatic languages|Austroasiatic]]|| 7.6 ||
*Additional: Jharkhand, West Bengal<ref name="The Avenue Mail"/>
| sat
|-
|19.
|[[Sindhi language|Sindhi]]||[[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan]], Northwestern || 2.7 || || sd
|-
|20.
|[[Tamil language|Tamil]]||[[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]]|| 69 ||
*Official: [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]
| ta
|-
|21.
|[[Telugu language|Telugu]]||[[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]]|| 81.1 ||
*Official: [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Telangana]]
*Additional: Puducherry, West Bengal
| te
|-
|22.
|[[Urdu]]|| Indo-Aryan, Central || 50.7 ||
*Official: Jammu and Kashmir
*Additional: Andhra Pradesh,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=24 March 2022 |title=Urdu second official language in Andhra Pradesh |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/politics/240322/assembly-passes-two-bills-of-minorities-component-and-urdu-as-2nd-offi.html |access-date=26 March 2022 |website=Deccan Chronicle |language=en}}</ref> Bihar, Delhi, Jharkhand, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal<ref name="Telegraph:1" /><ref name="Indiatoday:1" />
| ur
|}
 
=== Benefits ===
==== For all the scheduled languages ====
The scheduled languages have the following benefits:
* Best Feature Film in any of the scheduled languages are eligible for the [[National Film Awards]].{{Efn|In certain years, films of languages other than the scheduled languages also get eligible.<ref>{{Cite web |last=NEWS |first=NE NOW |date=22 July 2022 |title=68th National Film Awards: Here is the list of winners |url=http://nenow.in/entertainment/68th-national-film-awards-here-is-the-list-of-winners.html |access-date=10 March 2023 |website=NORTHEAST NOW |language=en-US}}</ref>}}
* Literary works in any of the scheduled languages are eligible for the [[Sahitya Akademi Award]]s, the [[Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize]]s and the [[Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last1=Malik |first1=Ravindra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oNMuEAAAQBAJ&dq=saraswati+samman+languages&pg=PA158 |title=HARYANA GK: HARYANA AT THE START OF 2021 |last2=ARSu |first2=Team |publisher=MyARSu |pages=158 |language=en}}</ref>
* Literary works in any of the scheduled languages are eligible for the [[Gyanpeeth Award]]s ([[Jnanpith Award]]s).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jnanpith Award {{!}} Indian literary award {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/art/Jnanpith-Award |access-date=10 March 2023 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>
* People who contribute to the literature of any of the scheduled languages are eligible for the [[Sahitya Akademi Fellowship]], which is more honourable than even receiving the [[Sahitya Akademi Award]].<ref name=":2" />
* Prose or poetry literary works in any of the scheduled languages are eligible for the [[Saraswati Samman]], the highest among all the literary awards in India.<ref name=":2" />
* Writers who contribute to the literature of any of the scheduled languages are eligible for the [[:hi:भाषा सम्मान पुरस्कार|Bhasha Samman]] Awards.<ref name=":2" />
* Candidates for [[Union Public Service Commission]] can appear examination for optional papers in any of the literature of the scheduled languages.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 March 2013 |title=Stung by row, UPSC allows regional language in Main exam |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/stung-by-row-upsc-allows-regional-language-in-main-exam/articleshow/19118009.cms?from=mdr |access-date=10 March 2023 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
 
==== For some of the scheduled languages ====
* 11 out of the 22 scheduled languages are made available in the official website of the [[Prime Minister's Office (India)|Indian Prime Minister's Office]], namely Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, [[Kannada]], [[Malayalam]], [[Meitei language|Meitei]] ([[Manipuri language|Manipuri]]), Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil and Telugu in addition to English and [[Hindi]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=PMINDIA Multilingual Website now available in 13 languages Assamese and Manipuri versions of Prime Minister's Official Website launched |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1514873 |access-date=10 March 2023 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref>
* 14 out of the 22 scheduled languages are made available in the [[Press Information Bureau]] (PIB) by the [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Ministry of Information and Broadcasting]] of the [[Government of India]] (GOI), namely [[Dogri language|Dogri]], Punjabi, Bengali, Odia, Gujarati, [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Meitei language|Meitei]] ([[Manipuri language|Manipuri]]), [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Kannada]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Malayalam]], [[Konkani]] and [[Urdu]], in addition to Hindi and English.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PIB press releases in Manipuri : 25th nov15 ~ E-Pao! Headlines |url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=17..251115.nov15 |access-date=10 March 2023 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Press |first=Imphal Free |author-link=Imphal Free Press |title=PIB website has news in regional languages now – KanglaOnline |url=http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/pib-website-has-news-in-regional-languages-now/ |access-date=10 March 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref>
* 13 out of the 22 scheduled languages are selected by the [[Staff Selection Commission]] (SSC) of the [[Government of India]], to be made available in the conduction of the Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff examination across the country, namely [[Urdu]], Tamil, [[Malayalam]], Telugu, [[Kannada]], Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Konkani, [[Meitei language|Meitei]] ([[Manipuri language|Manipuri]]), Marathi, Odia and [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], in addition to [[Hindi]] and English.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh lauds SSC for deciding to conduct the Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff examination 2022 in 13 regional languages in addition to Hindi and English for the first time |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1892439 |access-date=10 March 2023 |website=www.pib.gov.in |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=হিন্দি অমসুং ইংলিসকী মথক্তা অহানবা ওইনা লম-লমগী লোন ১৩দা মল্তি-তাস্কিং(নন-তেক্নিকেল) স্তাফ এজামিনেসন ২০২২ পাংথোক্নবা ৱারেপ লৌখিবগীদমক য়ুনিয়ন মিনিস্তর দোক্তর জিতেন্দ্র সিংহনা এস.এস.সি থাগৎখ্রে |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1892624 |access-date=10 March 2023 |website=pib.gov.in |language=mni}}</ref>
 
===Demands for scheduled language status===
At present, as per the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]],<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |url=http://mha.nic.in/hindi/sites/upload_files/mhahindi/files/pdf/Eighth_Schedule.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=4 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305010536/http://mha.nic.in/hindi/sites/upload_files/mhahindi/files/pdf/Eighth_Schedule.pdf |archive-date=5 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> there are demands for inclusion of 38 more languages
in the [[Eighth Schedule to the Constitution]]. These are: [[Angika]], [[Lambadi|Banjara]], [[Bajjika]], [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]], [[Ladakhi language|Bhoti]], [[Sikkimese language|Bhotia]], [[Bundeli language|Bundelkhandi]], [[Chhattisgarhi language|Chhattisgarhi]], [[Dhatki language|Dhatki]], [[English language|English]], [[Garhwali language|Garhwali]], [[Gondi language|Gondi]], [[Gujari language|Gujjari]], [[Ho language|Ho]], [[Kachhi language|Kachhi]], [[Kamtapuri language|Kamtapuri]], [[Karbi language|Karbi]], [[Khasi language|Khasi]], [[Kodava language|Kodava]], [[Kokborok language|Kokborok]], [[Kumaoni language|Kumaoni]], [[Kurukh language|Kurukh]], [[Kurmali language|Kurmali]], [[Lepcha language|Lepcha]], [[Limbu language|Limbu]], [[Mizo language|Mizo]], [[Magahi language|Magahi]], [[Mundari language|Mundari]], [[Nagpuri language|Nagpuri]], [[Nicobarese language|Nicobarese]], [[Himachali language|Pahari]], [[Pali]], [[Rajasthani language|Rajasthani]], [[Sambalpuri Language|Sambalpuri]], [[Shauraseni Prakrit]], [[Saraiki Language|Saraiki]], [[Tenyidie language|Tenyidi]] and [[Tulu language|Tulu]].<ref name="auto"/>
 
==Official languages of the Union==
[[File:Indian_Passport.svg|thumb|The front cover of a contemporary [[Indian passport]], with the [[National Emblem of India|national emblem]] and inscriptions in the two official languages of Hindi and English.]]
The [[Constitution of India|Indian constitution]], in 1950, declared [[Hindi]] in [[Devanagari]] script to be the [[official language]] of the union. Unless Parliament decided otherwise, the use of English for official purposes was to cease 15 years after the constitution came into effect, that is, on 26 January 1965. The prospect of the changeover, however, led to much alarm in the non-Hindi-speaking areas of India, especially [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]]-speaking states whose languages were not related to Hindi at all. As a result, [[Parliament of India|Parliament]] enacted the [[s:Official Languages Act, 1963|Official Languages Act, 1963]],<ref name=languages>{{cite web | url=http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | title=The Official Languages (Use for Official Purpose of the Union) – Rules 1976 (As Amended, 1987) | access-date=10 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325173337/http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | archive-date=25 March 2010}}</ref><ref>[http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/35.htm Commissioner Linguistic Minorities<!-- Bot-generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008113359/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/35.htm|date=8 October 2007}}
</ref><ref>[http://www.languageinindia.com/april2002/officiallanguagesact.html Language in India Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow] 2 April 2002 ''www.languageinindia.com'' accessed 4 August 2020</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/RPF/Files/law/BareActs/officiallang1963act.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601185802/http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/RPF/Files/law/BareActs/officiallang1963act.htm|url-status=dead|title=THE SCHEDULED LANGUAGES ACT, 1963<!-- Bot-generated title -->|archivedate=1 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://india.gov.in/knowindia/official_language.php|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070417150059/http://india.gov.in/knowindia/official_language.php|url-status=unfit|title=The Union: Official Language|archivedate=17 April 2007|website=www.india.gov.in}}</ref><ref>[http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/khand8-eng7.pdf Committee of Parliament on Official Language report] ''www.rajbhasha.gov.in'' {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220150003/http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/khand8-eng7.pdf |date=20 February 2012}}</ref> which provided for the continued use of English for official purposes along with Hindi, even after 1965.
 
In late 1964, an attempt was made to expressly provide for an end to the use of English, but it was met with protests from states and territories such as [[Maharashtra]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[West Bengal]], [[Karnataka]], [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]], [[Nagaland]], [[Mizoram]] and [[Andhra Pradesh]]. Some of these protests also turned violent.<ref>Hardgrave, Robert L. (August 1965). "The Riots in Tamilnadu: Problems and Prospects of India's Language Crisis". Asian Survey (University of California Press)</ref> As a result, the proposal was dropped,<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,940936,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014111537/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,940936,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 October 2007|title=The force of words|access-date=5 June 2007 | magazine=Time | date=19 February 1965}}</ref><ref>{{citation |last=Forrester |first=Duncan B. |title=The Madras Anti-Hindi Agitation, 1965: Political Protest and its Effects on Language Policy in India |journal=Pacific Affairs |volume=39 |issue=1/2 |pages=19–36 |date=Spring–Summer 1966 |doi=10.2307/2755179|jstor=2755179 }}</ref> and the Act itself was amended in 1967 to provide that the use of English would not be ended until a [[Resolution (law)|resolution]] to that effect was passed by the legislature of every state that had not adopted Hindi as its official language, and by each house of the Indian Parliament.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | title=The Official Languages (Use for Official Purpose of the Union) – Rules 1976 (As Amended, 1987) – Paragraph 3(5) | access-date=10 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325173337/http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | archive-date=25 March 2010}}</ref>
 
The position was thus that the [[Government of India|Union government]] continues to use English in addition to Hindi for its official purposes<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web | url=http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | title=The Official Languages (Use for Official Purpose of the Union) – Rules 1976 (As Amended, 1987) – Paragraph 3(1) | access-date=10 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325173337/http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | archive-date=25 March 2010}}</ref> as a "subsidiary official language",<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100502221154/http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/preseng.htm Notification No. 2/8/60-O.L. (Ministry of Home Affairs), dated 27 April 1960] archived from ''www.rajbhasha.gov.in'', accessed 4 August 2020</ref> but is also required to prepare and execute a program to progressively increase its use of Hindi.<ref name="autogenerated3">{{cite web | url=http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | title=The Official Languages (Use for Official Purpose of the Union) – Rules 1976 (As Amended, 1987) – Paragraph 1 | access-date=10 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325173337/http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | archive-date=25 March 2010}}</ref> The exact extent to which, and the areas in which, the Union government uses Hindi and English, respectively, is determined by the provisions of the Constitution, the Official Languages Act, 1963, the Official Languages Rules, 1976, and [[statutory instrument]]s made by the Department of Official Language under these laws.
 
[[Department of Official Language]] was set up in June 1975 as an independent Department of the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Functions of Department {{!}} Department of Official Language {{!}} Ministry of Home Affairs {{!}} GoI|url=https://rajbhasha.gov.in/en/functions-department|access-date=15 June 2021|website=rajbhasha.gov.in}}</ref>
 
=== Parliamentary proceedings and laws ===
The Indian constitution distinguishes the language to be used in [[Parliamentary procedure|Parliamentary proceedings]], and the language in which [[legislation|laws]] are to be made. Parliamentary business, according to the Constitution, may be conducted in either Hindi or English. The use of English in parliamentary proceedings was to be phased out at the end of fifteen years unless Parliament chose to extend its use, which Parliament did through the Official Languages Act, 1963.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | title=The Official Languages (Use for Official Purpose of the Union) – Rules 1976 (As Amended, 1987) – Paragraph 3(1b) | access-date=10 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325173337/http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | archive-date=25 March 2010}}</ref> Also, the constitution permits a person who is unable to express themselves in either Hindi or English to, with the permission of the [[Speaker (politics)|Speaker]] of the relevant House, address the House in their [[mother tongue]].<ref>Article [https://web.archive.org/web/20030115044918/http://www.constitution.org/cons/india/p05120.html 120(1) first proviso]</ref>
 
In contrast, the constitution requires the authoritative text of all laws, including Parliamentary [[enactment (British legal term)|enactments]] and [[statutory instruments]], to be in English, until Parliament decides otherwise. Parliament has not exercised its power to so decide, instead merely requiring that all such laws and instruments, and all [[Bill (proposed law)|bills]] brought before it, also be translated into Hindi, though the English text remains authoritative.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | title=The Official Languages (Use for Official Purpose of the Union) – Rules 1976 (As Amended, 1987) – Paragraph 5(1,2) | access-date=10 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325173337/http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | archive-date=25 March 2010}}</ref> The Official Languages act, 1963 provides that the authoritative text of central acts, rules, regulations, etc., are published in Hindi as well in the official gazette by President of India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://socialjustice.nic.in/UserView/PrintUserView?mid=64581|title=Official Language Act : Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India}}</ref>
 
=== Judiciary ===
The constitution provides, and the [[Supreme Court of India]] has reiterated, that all proceedings in the Supreme Court (the country's highest [[court]]) and the High Courts shall be in English.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/court-language-is-english-says-supreme-court/articleshow/50080870.cms|title=Court language is English, says Supreme Court – The Economic Times|work=The Economic Times|access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref> Parliament has the power to alter this by law but has not done so. However, in many high courts, there is, with consent from the president, allowance of the optional use of Hindi. Such proposals have been successful in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/government-press-release/use-of-hindi-language-in-courts-116042801074_1.html|title=Use of Hindi Language in Courts |newspaper=Business Standard India|date=28 April 2016|access-date=4 August 2020}}</ref>
 
=== Administration ===
The Official Language Act provides that the Union government shall use both Hindi and English in most [[public administration|administrative]] documents that are intended for the public, though the Union government is required by law to promote the use of Hindi.<ref name=languages /><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | title=The Official Languages (Use for Official Purpose of the Union) – Rules 1976 (As Amended, 1987) – Section 3(3) | access-date=10 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325173337/http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | archive-date=25 March 2010}} names, amongst others, resolutions, general orders, rules, notifications, administrative or other reports or [[press release|press communiques]] issued by a [[government department]], [[government agency|agency]] or [[Public Sector Undertaking|corporation]]; administrative and other reports and official papers laid before a House or the [[Houses of Parliament]]; and contracts and agreements executed, and licences, permits, notices and forms of tender issued by or on behalf of the government (including government companies).</ref> The Official Languages Rules, in contrast, provide for a higher degree of use of Hindi in communications between offices of the central government (other than offices in [[Tamil Nadu]], to which the rules do not apply).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | title=The Official Languages (Use for Official Purpose of the Union) – Rules 1976 (As Amended, 1987) – Paragraph 1(ii) | access-date=10 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325173337/http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | archive-date=25 March 2010}}</ref> Communications between different [[Ministry (government department)|departments]] within the central government may be in English and Hindi (though the English text remains authoritative), although a translation into the other language must be provided if required.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | title=The Official Languages (Use for Official Purpose of the Union) – Rules 1976 (As Amended, 1987) – Paragraph 4(a) | access-date=10 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325173337/http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | archive-date=25 March 2010}}</ref> Communications within offices of the same department, however, must be in Hindi if the offices are in Hindi-speaking states,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | title=The Official Languages (Use for Official Purpose of the Union) – Rules 1976 (As Amended, 1987) – Paragraph 4(b, c) | access-date=10 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325173337/http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | archive-date=25 March 2010}}</ref> and in either Hindi or English otherwise with Hindi being used in proportion to the percentage of staff in the receiving office who have a working knowledge of Hindi.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | title=The Official Languages (Use for Official Purpose of the Union) – Rules 1976 (As Amended, 1987) – Paragraph 4(d) | access-date=10 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325173337/http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | archive-date=25 March 2010}}</ref> [[Note (typography)|Note]]s and [[memorandum|memos]] in files may be in English and Hindi (though the English text remains authoritative), with the Government having a duty to provide a translation into the other language if required.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | title=The Official Languages (Use for Official Purpose of the Union) – Rules 1976 (As Amended, 1987) – Paragraph 8 | access-date=10 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325173337/http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | archive-date=25 March 2010}}</ref>
 
Besides, every person submitting a [[petition]] for the redress of a grievance to a government officer or authority has a [[constitutional right]] to submit it in any language used in India.
 
===Implementation===
Various steps have been taken by the Indian government to implement the use and familiarisation of Hindi extensively. [[Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha]] headquartered at [[Chennai]] was formed to spread Hindi in [[South India|South Indian states]]. Regional Hindi implementation offices at [[Bangalore|Bengaluru]], [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Mumbai]], [[Kolkata]], [[Guwahati]], [[Bhopal]], [[Delhi]] and [[Ghaziabad]] have been established 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 being carried out in Hindi. A Parliament Committee on Official Language constituted in 1976 periodically reviews the progress in the use of Hindi and submits a report to the President. The governmental body which makes policy decisions and established guidelines for the promotion of Hindi is the ''Kendriya Hindi Samiti'' (est. 1967). In every city that has more than ten central Government offices, a Town Official Language Implementation Committee is established and cash awards are given to government employees who write books in Hindi. All Central government offices and PSUs are to establish Hindi Cells for implementation of Hindi in their offices.<ref>{{cite web|title=Official Language – Constitutional/Statutory Provisions |url=http://india.gov.in/knowindia/official_language.php |work=[[Government of India]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070417150059/http://india.gov.in/knowindia/official_language.php |archive-date=17 April 2007}}</ref>
 
In 2016, the government announced plans to promote Hindi in government offices in [[South India|Southern]] and [[Northeast India]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/centre-to-promote-use-of-hindi-in-south-india-northeast-jitendra-singh/|title=Centre to promote the use of Hindi in South India, Northeast:Jitendra Singh|quote=In response to this several NGO and political parties have started agitation and some have even resorted to violent protests in the Darjeeling for separate statehood, which started in after the official statement in a press meet by Central parliamentary affairs minister. The monster himself hails from South India and many party leader of the government has felt like an insult to the mother language. The TANA has stated "It's high time the North should learn the lessons from the past and should try not to stir the broth"<br/>The ADMK leader has said in New Delhi "It's a shame to see my neighboring state leader hailing from Telugu state speaking against his own mother tongue.<br/>The Dravida Samrakshana Samiti Head has said " it's a direct assault on our culture and is an insult for saying the minister hailing from South India|last=PTI|date=9 June 2016|work=The Indian Express|access-date=11 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Govt-to-promote-use-of-Hindi-in-routine-conversation-NE/articleshow/52659063.cms|title=Govt to promote use of Hindi in routine conversation, NE – Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=8 June 2016 |access-date=11 June 2016}}</ref>
 
The Indian constitution does not specify the official languages to be used by the states for the conduct of their official functions and leaves each state free to, through its legislature, adopt Hindi or any language used in its territory as its official language or languages.<ref>Constitution of India, Article [http://www.constitution.org/cons/india/p17345.html 345]</ref> The language need not be one of those listed in the [[Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India|Eighth Schedule]], and several states have adopted official languages which are not so listed. Examples include [[Kokborok]] in [[Tripura]] and [[Mizo language|Mizo]] in [[Mizoram]].
 
=== Legislature and administration ===
The constitutional provisions in relation to use of the official language in legislation at the [[States and union territories of India|State level]] largely mirror those relating to the official language at the central level, with minor variations. State legislatures may conduct their business in their [[official language]], Hindi or (for a transitional period, which the legislature can extend if it so chooses) English, and members who cannot use any of these have the same rights to their [[mother tongue]] with the Speaker's permission. The authoritative text of all laws must be in English unless Parliament passes a law permitting a state to use another language, and if the original text of a law is in a different language, an authoritative English translation of all laws must be prepared.
 
The state has the right to regulate the use of its official language in [[public administration]], and in general, neither the constitution nor any central enactment imposes any restriction on this right. However, every person submitting a [[petition]] for the redress of a grievance to any officer or authority of the state government has a constitutional right to submit it in any language used in that state, regardless of its official status.
 
Besides, the constitution grants the central government, acting through the [[President of India|President]], the power to issue certain directives to the government of a state in relation to the use of [[minority language]]s for official purposes. The President may direct a State to officially recognise a language spoken in its territory for specified purposes and in specified regions if its speakers demand it and satisfy him that a substantial proportion of the State's population desires its use. Similarly, States and local authorities are required to endeavour to provide [[primary education]] in the mother tongue for all [[linguistic minority|linguistic minorities]], regardless of whether their language is official in that State, and the President has the power to issue directions he deems necessary to ensure that they are provided these facilities.
 
=== State judiciary ===
States have significantly less freedom in relation to determining the language in which judicial proceedings in their respective [[High Courts of India|High Courts]] will be conducted. The constitution gives the power to authorise the use of Hindi, or the state's official language in proceedings of the High Court to the [[Governor (India)|Governor]], rather than the state legislature and requires the Governor to obtain the consent of the [[President of India]], who in these matters acts on the advice of the [[Government of India]]. The Official Languages Act gives the Governor a similar power, subject to similar conditions, in relation to the language in which the High Court's judgments will be delivered.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | title=The Official Languages (Use for Official Purpose of the Union) – Rules 1976 (As Amended, 1987) – Section 7 | access-date=10 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325173337/http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | archive-date=25 March 2010}}</ref>
 
Four states—[[Bihar]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Madhya Pradesh]] and [[Rajasthan]]—<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.barandbench.com/index.php?title=Language%20in%20Courts%20-%20a%20bridge%20or%20a%20barrier?&page=brief&id=805&gn=0|title=Language in Courts – a bridge or a barrier?}}</ref> have been granted the right to conduct proceedings in their High Courts in their official language, which, for all of them, was Hindi. However, the only non-Hindi state to seek a similar power—[[Tamil Nadu]], which sought the right to conduct proceedings in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] in its [[Madras High Court|High Court]]—had its application rejected by the central government earlier, which said it was advised to do so by the Supreme Court.<ref>{{citation |last= Special Correspondent |title=Karunanidhi stands firm on Tamil in High Court |page=1 |date=12 March 2007 |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/12/stories/2007031205180100.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070313221430/http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/12/stories/2007031205180100.htm|url-status=dead|newspaper= [[The Hindu]] |archive-date=13 March 2007}}</ref> In 2006, the law ministry said that it would not object to Tamil Nadu state's desire to conduct [[Madras High Court]] proceedings in [[Tamil language|Tamil]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070107191048/http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/03/stories/2006120306220800.htm The Hindu: Tamil Nadu / Thanjavur News: No objection to Tamil as court language: A.P. Shah<!-- Bot-generated title -->] 2006/12/03 ''www.hindu.com'', accessed 4 August 2020</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.silobreaker.com/DocumentReader.aspx?Item=5_848171789|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230004201/http://www.silobreaker.com/DocumentReader.aspx?Item=5_848171789|url-status=dead|title=Silobreaker: Make Tamil the language of Madras High Court: Karu<!-- Bot-generated title -->|archivedate=30 December 2008}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080430135931/http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/21/stories/2008042159970800.htm The Hindu: Tamil Nadu News: Karunanidhi hopeful of Centre's announcement<!-- Bot-generated title -->] 2008/04/21 ''www.hindu.com'', accessed 4 August 2020</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/iep/sunday/story/299161.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080425182337/http://www.indianexpress.com/iep/sunday/story/299161.html|url-status=dead|title=indianexpress.com<!-- Bot-generated title -->|archivedate=25 April 2008}}</ref><ref>[http://www.tn.gov.in/pressrelease/archives/pr2007/pr110307/pr110307_45.pdf Tamil Nadu government press release] ''www.tn.gov.in, archives'', accessed 4 August 2020</ref> In 2010, the Chief Justice of the [[Madras High Court]] allowed lawyers to argue cases in Tamil.<ref>{{cite news|title= Advocate argues in Tamil in High Court |url=http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/article443474.ece |access-date=27 June 2010|newspaper=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=23 June 2010}}</ref>
 
== Official languages of states ==
{{ anchor | List of official languages of states of India | List of official languages by states of India | Official languages of India by state | Official languages of Indian states }}
'''List of official languages of states of India'''
<section begin="Lists of official languages of states and union territories of India" />
{| class = "wikitable sortable"
|-
! scope="col"|No.
! scope="col"|State
! scope="col"|Official language(s)
! scope="col"|Additional official language(s)
|-
| 1. || [[Andhra Pradesh]] || [[Telugu language|Telugu]],<ref name="APOnline">{{cite web |url=http://www.aponline.gov.in/Quick%20links/HIST-CULT/languages.html |title=Languages |website=APOnline |year=2002 |access-date=25 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208110254/http://www.aponline.gov.in/Quick%20links/HIST-CULT/languages.html |archive-date=8 February 2012 }}</ref> Urdu<ref name=":1" />|| [[Indian English|English]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Andhra Pradesh Official Language Act, 1966 |url=https://www.courtkutchehry.com/Judgement/Search/AdvancedV2?s_acts=Andhra%20Pradesh%20Official%20Language%20Act,%201966 |access-date=23 June 2023 |website=www.courtkutchehry.com}}</ref>
|-
| 2. || [[Arunachal Pradesh]] || [[Indian English|English]]<ref name="NCLM52"/> ||
|-
| 3. || [[Assam]] || [[Assamese language|Assamese]],<ref name="AOL1968">{{cite web|url=http://www.neportal.org/northeastfiles/Assam/ActsOrdinances/Assam_Official_Language_Act_1968.asp|title=The Assam Official Language Act, 1960|website=Northeast Portal|date=19 December 1960|access-date=25 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160226063540/http://www.neportal.org/northeastfiles/Assam/ActsOrdinances/Assam_Official_Language_Act_1968.asp|archive-date=26 February 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Bodo language|Bodo]] || rowspan="1" | [[Bengali language|Bengali]] in three districts of [[Barak Valley]]<ref name="BarakValley">{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-assam-government-withdraws-assamese-as-official-language-in-barak-valley-restores-bengali-2017504|title=Assam government withdraws Assamese as official language in Barak Valley, restores Bengali|website=DNA India|date=10 September 2014|author=ANI|access-date=25 December 2014}}</ref>
|-
| 4. || [[Bihar]] || Hindi<ref name="BiharOLACt1950">{{cite web|url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |title=The Bihar Official Language Act, 1950 |page=31 |date=29 November 1950 |website=National Commission for Linguistic Minorities |access-date=26 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708012438/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |archive-date= 8 July 2016}}</ref> || [[Urdu]]<ref name="BiharOLACt1950"/>
|-
| 5. || [[Chhattisgarh]] || Hindi<ref name="Comment">The National Commission for Linguistic Minorities, 1950 (ibid) makes no mention of Chhattisgarhi as an additional state language, despite the 2007 notification of the State Govt, presumably because Chhattisgarhi is considered as a dialect of Hindi.</ref>  || [[Chhattisgarhi language|Chhattisgarhi]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/12800/1/the_chhattisgarh_official_language_act%2c_1957_no._5_of_1958%2c_date_24.01.1958.pdf |title=The Chhattisgarh Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2007 |publisher=indiacode.nic.in |year=2008 |access-date=25 December 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mishra |first1=Ritesh |last2=Sahay |first2=Abhinav |title=Chhattisgarh CM writes to PM Narendra Modi, demands inclusion of Chhattisgarhi dialect in 8th Schedule |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/chhattisgarh-cm-writes-to-pm-narendra-modi-demands-inclusion-of-chhattisgarhi-dialect-in-8th-schedule/story-GqRbmrlCmDXY4NKOHBCAiN.html |access-date=4 April 2022 |work=Hindustan Times |date=15 August 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| 6. || [[Goa]] || [[Konkani language|Konkani]], English<ref name="GDDOLAct1987">{{cite web|url=http://www.daman.nic.in/acts-rules%5CHindi-department%5Cdocuments/Official%20Language%20Act.pdf|title=The Goa, Daman and Diu Official Language Act, 1987|date=19 December 1987|website=U.T. Administration of Daman & Diu|access-date=26 December 2014}}</ref>||[[Marathi language|Marathi]]<ref name="langoff">{{cite web|url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |title=Report of the Commissioner for linguistic minorities: 50th report (July 2012 to June 2013) |publisher=Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India |access-date=26 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708012438/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |archive-date= 8 July 2016}}</ref>{{rp|27}}<ref name="Kurzon2004">{{cite book|last=Kurzon|first=Dennis|title=Where East Looks West: Success in English in Goa and on the Konkan Coast|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p5iK3CmIW6EC&pg=PA48|access-date=26 December 2014|year=2004|publisher=Multilingual Matters|isbn=978-1-85359-673-5|pages=42–58|chapter=3. The Konkani-Marathi Controversy : 2000-01 version}} Dated, but gives a good overview of the controversy to give Marathi full "official status".</ref>
|-
| 7. || [[Gujarat]] || [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]<ref name="Benedikter2009">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vpZv2GHM7VQC&pg=PA89|title=Language Policy and Linguistic Minorities in India: An Appraisal of the Linguistic Rights of Minorities in India|last=Benedikter|first=Thomas|publisher=LIT Verlag Münster|year=2009|isbn=978-3-643-10231-7|page=89}}</ref> || Hindi<ref name="Benedikter2009"/>
|-
| 8. || [[Haryana]] || Hindi<ref name="HOLA1969">{{cite web|url=http://acts.gov.in/HR/964.pdf|title=The Haryana Official Language Act, 1969|date=15 March 1969|website=acts.gov.in (server)|access-date=27 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227123310/http://acts.gov.in/HR/964.pdf |archive-date=27 December 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>||[[Indian English|English]],<ref name="langoff"/> [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Haryana grants second language status to Punjabi |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/haryana-grants-second-language-status-to-punjabi/article1-502720.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903231506/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/haryana-grants-second-language-status-to-punjabi/article1-502720.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 September 2015|work=Hindustan Times|date=28 January 2010}}</ref>
|-
| 9.|| [[Himachal Pradesh]] || Hindi<ref>{{cite web|date=21 February 1975|url= http://hp.gov.in/LAC/bhasha/Adhiniyam/THE%20HIMACHAL%20PRADESH%20OFFICIAL%20LANGUAGE%20ACT,%201975.pdf |title=The Himachal Pradesh Official Language Act, 1975|access-date=27 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101085810/http://hp.gov.in/LAC/bhasha/Adhiniyam/THE%20HIMACHAL%20PRADESH%20OFFICIAL%20LANGUAGE%20ACT,%201975.pdf|archive-date=1 January 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>||[[Sanskrit]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Bill to make Sanskrit second official language of HP passed |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/bill-to-make-sanskrit-second-official-language-of-hp-passed/730075.html |date=17 February 2019 |access-date=10 March 2019 |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |author=Pratibha Chauhan |location=Shimla}}</ref>
|-
| 10. || [[Jharkhand]] || Hindi<ref name="NCLM52"/> || [[Angika]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]], [[Bhumij language|Bhumij]], [[Ho language|Ho]], [[Kharia language|Kharia]], [[Khortha language|Khortha]], [[Kurmali language|Kurmali]], [[Kurukh language|Kurukh]], [[Magahi language|Magahi]], [[Maithili language|Maithili]], [[Mundari language|Mundari]], [[Sadri language|Nagpuri]], [[Odia language|Odia]], [[Santali language|Santali]], [[Urdu]]<ref name="The Avenue Mail">{{cite news |title=Jharkhand gives second language status to Magahi, Angika, Bhojpuri and Maithili |url=https://www.avenuemail.in/ranchi/jharkhand-gives-second-language-status-to-magahi-angika-bhojpuri-and-maithili/118291/ |work=The Avenue Mail |date=21 March 2018 |access-date=30 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328090028/https://www.avenuemail.in/ranchi/jharkhand-gives-second-language-status-to-magahi-angika-bhojpuri-and-maithili/118291/ |archive-date=28 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Jharkhand notifies Bhumij as second state language |url=https://avenuemail.in/jharkhand-notifies-bhumij-as-second-state-language/ |access-date=17 April 2022 |work=The Avenue Mail |date=5 January 2019}}</ref>
|-
| 11. || [[Karnataka]] || [[Kannada]] ||
|-
| 12. || [[Kerala]] || [[Malayalam]] || [[Indian English|English]]
|-
| 13. || [[Madhya Pradesh]] || Hindi<ref name="mp">{{Citation|url=http://www.mpgovt.nic.in/culture/language.htm |title=Language and Literature |work=Official website of Government of Madhya Pradesh |publisher=Government of Madhya Pradesh |access-date=16 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929062809/http://www.mpgovt.nic.in/culture/language.htm |archive-date=29 September 2007}}</ref> ||
|-
| 14. || [[Maharashtra]] || [[Marathi language|Marathi]]<ref name="Maharashtra state language policy">{{cite web|url=https://bhasha.maharashtra.gov.in/AboutUs.aspx|title=Language|work=Official website of Directorate of languages, Government of Maharashtra|publisher=Government of Maharashtra|access-date=3 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903115126/https://bhasha.maharashtra.gov.in/AboutUs.aspx|archive-date=3 September 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> ||
|-
| 15. || [[Manipur]] || [[Meitei language|Manipuri]]<ref>Section 2(f) of the Manipur Official Language Act, 1979 states that the official language of Manipur is the Manipuri language (an older English name for the Meitei language) written in the [[Bengali alphabet|Bengali script]]. {{citation |last=The Sangai Express |title=Mayek body threatens to stall proceeding |url=http://www.e-pao.net/epRelatedNews.asp?heading=9&src=290703 | access-date = 16 July 2007}}</ref> || [[Indian English|English]]
|-
| 16. || [[Meghalaya]] || [[Indian English|English]]<ref>{{citation |last=Commissioner Linguistic Minorities |title=42nd report: July 2003 – June 2004 |page=para 25.5 |url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/35.htm | access-date = 16 July 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071008113359/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/35.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 8 October 2007}}</ref> || [[Khasi language|Khasi]] and [[Garo language|Garo]]<ref>{{citation|last=Commissioner Linguistic Minorities |title=43rd report: July 2004 – June 2005 |page=para 25.1 |url=http://nclm.nic.in/index1.asp?linkid=203 |access-date=16 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410022828/http://nclm.nic.in/index1.asp?linkid=203 |archive-date=10 April 2009}} On 21 March 2006, the Chief Minister of Meghalaya stated in the State Assembly that a notification to this effect had been issued. {{citation |title=Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Budget session: Starred Questions and Answers – Tuesday, the 21st March 2006. |url=http://megassembly.gov.in/questions/2006/21-03-2006s.htm | access-date = 16 July 2007}}.</ref>
|-
| 17. || [[Mizoram]] || [[Mizo language|Mizo]], [[Indian English|English]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, North East India |url=https://mdoner.gov.in/about-north-east/mizoram |website=mdoner.gov.in |access-date=26 March 2022}}</ref> ||
|-
| 18. || [[Nagaland]] || [[Indian English|English]] ||
|-
| 19. || [[Odisha]] || [[Odia language|Odia]]<ref name="IE2Jan2016">{{cite news|title=Oriya to be official language in Orissa – Indian Express|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/oriya-to-be-official-language-in-orissa/562572/|access-date=15 May 2016|work=archive.indianexpress.com|date=2 January 2016}}</ref> || [[Indian English|English]]
|-
| 20. || [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] || [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]<ref name="langoff"/> ||
|-
| 21. || [[Rajasthan]] || Hindi ||
|-
| 22. || [[Sikkim]] || [[Indian English|English]], [[Nepali language|Nepali]], [[Sikkimese language|Sikkimese]], [[Lepcha language|Lepcha]]<ref name=langoff /><ref name="SikkimGazette">{{cite web |title=1977 Sikkim government gazette |url=https://www.sikkim.gov.in/stateportal/UsefulLinks/Gazette1977.pdf |website=sikkim.gov.in |publisher=Governor of Sikkim |access-date=22 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722164022/https://www.sikkim.gov.in/stateportal/UsefulLinks/Gazette1977.pdf |archive-date=22 July 2018 |page=188}}</ref> || [[Gurung language|Gurung]], [[Limbu language|Limbu]], [[Magar language|Magar]], [[Sunwar language|Mukhia]], [[Newari language|Newari]], [[Kiranti languages|Rai]], [[Sherpa language|Sherpa]] and [[Tamang language|Tamang]]<ref name=langoff />
|-
| 23. || [[Tamil Nadu]] || [[Tamil language|Tamil]] || [[Indian English|English]]
|-
| 24. || [[Telangana]] || [[Telugu language|Telugu]] ||Urdu<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 November 2017 |title=Urdu is Telangana's second official language |language=en-US |work=[[The Indian Express]] |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/urdu-is-telanganas-second-official-language-4940595/ |access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=17 November 2017 |title=Urdu is second official language in Telangana as state passes Bill |work=The News Minute |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/urdu-second-official-language-telangana-state-passes-bill-71742 |access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>
|-
| 25. || [[Tripura]] || [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Indian English|English]], [[Kokborok]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://tripura.gov.in/knowtripura |title=Bengali and Kokborok are the state/official language, English, Hindi, Manipuri and Chakma are other languages |work=Tripura Official government website |access-date=29 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212025154/http://tripura.gov.in/knowtripura |archive-date=12 February 2015}}</ref><ref>[http://www.lawsofindia.org/pdf/tripura/1964/1964TRIPURA5.pdf Tripura Official Language Act, 1964] ''www.lawsofindia.org''</ref><ref>[https://lawsofindia.blinkvisa.com/statelaw/2251/TheTripuraOfficialLanguageAct1964.html Tripura Official Language Act, 1964] ''lawsofindia.blinkvisa.com'', accessed 4 August 2020</ref> ||
|-
| 26. || [[Uttar Pradesh]] || Hindi || Urdu<ref name="upofflang">{{citation|last=Commissioner Linguistic Minorities |title=43rd report: July 2004 – June 2005 |pages=paras 6.1–6.2 |url=http://nclm.nic.in/index1.asp?linkid=203 |access-date=16 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410022828/http://nclm.nic.in/index1.asp?linkid=203 |archive-date=10 April 2009}}</ref>
|-
| 27. || [[Uttarakhand]] || Hindi || [[Sanskrit]]
|-
| 28. || [[West Bengal]] || [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Indian English|English]]<ref name="langoff"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Fact and Figures|url=https://wb.gov.in/portal/web/guest/facts-and-figures;jsessionid=JzdD9RHb7aMY5esZPtcsIVLy |website=www.wb.gov.in|access-date=30 March 2018}}</ref>|| [[Nepali language|Nepali]] in [[Darjeeling Sadar subdivision|Darjeeling]] and [[Kurseong subdivision|Kurseong]] sub-divisions;<ref name="langoff"/> <br/>Urdu, Hindi, [[Odia language|Odia]], [[Santali language|Santali]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[KRNB lects|Kamtapuri]], [[Rangpuri language|Rajbanshi]], [[Kurmali]], [[Kurukh language|Kurukh]] and [[Telugu language|Telugu]] in blocks, divisions or districts with population greater than 10 per cent<ref name=Telegraph:1>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1121211/jsp/bengal/story_16301872.jsp |title=Multi-lingual Bengal |date=11 December 2012 |newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]]}}{{dead link|date=February 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name=Indiatoday:1>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/kamtapuri-rajbanshi-make-it-to-list-of-official-languages-in-1179890-2018-02-28 |title=Kamtapuri, Rajbanshi make it to list of official languages in |last=Roy |first=Anirban |date=28 February 2018 |magazine=[[India Today]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Shiv Sahay Singh|date=2 March 2017 |title=Revitalising a language|work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/revitalising-a-language/article17395995.ece |access-date=31 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=West Bengal shows 'Mamata' to Telugus |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/west-bengal-shows-mamata-to-telugus-663381 |access-date=23 March 2021 |work=Hans India |date=24 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
|}
 
== Official languages of Union Territories ==
{{ anchor | List of official languages of UTs of India | List of official languages by UTs of India | Official languages of India by UTs | Official languages of India by union territories | Official languages of Indian union territories }}
'''Official languages of Union Territories'''<ref name=langoff />
{| class = "wikitable sortable"
|-
! scope="col" |No.
! scope="col" |Union territory
! scope="col" |Official language(s)
! scope="col" |Additional official language(s)
|-
| 1. || [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]] || Hindi,<ref>{{Cite web|date=7 October 2020|title=Most Spoken Language In Andaman And Nicobar Islands : Here's All You Need To Know|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/lifestyle/most-spoken-language-in-andaman-and-nicobar-islands-524657.html|access-date=30 November 2021|website=IndiaTimes|language=en-IN}}</ref> [[Indian English|English]] ||
|-
| 2. || [[Chandigarh]] || English<ref>{{cite web |title=Languages in Chandigarh |url=https://www.chandigarhcity.com/information/languages/ |website=Chandigarh City}}</ref>||
|-
| 3. || [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]] || Hindi,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dnh.nic.in/deptdoc/D_OfficialLang_citizenchart2011_12.pdf |title=Administration of Dedra and Nagar Haveli, U.T. (Official Language Department) Secretariat Citizens charter-2011 |access-date=1 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202163507/http://dnh.nic.in/deptdoc/D_OfficialLang_citizenchart2011_12.pdf |archive-date=2 February 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu – Culture and Tradition |url=https://www.ritiriwaz.com/dadra-and-nagar-haveli-and-daman-and-diu-culture-and-tradition/ |website=RitiRiwaz|date=7 April 2020 }}</ref> English || [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]
|-
| 4. || [[Delhi]] || Hindi, English<ref name="NCLM52">{{cite web|title=52nd REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR LINGUISTIC MINORITIES IN INDIA|url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|website=nclm.nic.in|publisher=[[Ministry of Minority Affairs]]|access-date=15 February 2018|page=18|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141614/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|archive-date=25 May 2017}}</ref>|| [[Urdu]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]<ref name="delhi1">Urdu and Punjabi are the two secondary official languages of Delhi under the Delhi Official Language Bill, 2000 {{Citation |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-06-25/delhi/27182151_1_urdu-second-official-official-languages|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811072013/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-06-25/delhi/27182151_1_urdu-second-official-official-languages|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 August 2011|title=Punjabi, Urdu made official languages in Delhi |access-date=17 July 2007 |date=25 June 2003 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>
|-
| 5. || [[Lakshadweep]] || [[Indian English|English]], Hindi<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |page=109 |title=50th Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India |date=16 July 2014 |access-date=6 November 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708012438/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |archive-date= 8 July 2016 }}</ref><ref name="Benedikter2009-134">{{cite book|author=Thomas Benedikter|title=Language Policy and Linguistic Minorities in India: An Appraisal of the Linguistic Rights of Minorities in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vpZv2GHM7VQC&pg=PA134|year=2009|publisher=LIT Verlag Münster|isbn=978-3-643-10231-7|page=134}}</ref> ||
|-
| 6. || [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] || [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]], [[Dogri]], [[Hindi]], [[Urdu]], English<ref name="Jammu">{{cite web
|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2020/222037.pdf
|title=The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020
|publisher=The Gazette of India
|access-date=27 September 2020}}</ref> ||
|-
| 7.|| [[Ladakh]] ||  [[Hindi]], English||
|-
| 8. || [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]] || [[Tamil language|Tamil]], English, [[Indian French|French]]<ref name="Statesmen1969Reference">{{cite book |title=The Statesman's Year-Book 1969-70: The one-volume Encyclopaedia of all nations|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8UvODQAAQBAJ|first1=S.|last1=Steinberg|first2=J.|last2=Paxton| date=28 December 2016 |publisher=McMillan St Martin Press|page=386|isbn=978-0-230-27098-5 |access-date=2 August 2022}}</ref> ||[[Telugu language|Telugu]] in [[Yanam]], [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]] in [[Mahé district|Mahe]]{{efn|See [[Official languages of Puducherry]]}}<ref>There are three primary languages used for official purposes – Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam. Only, English is recognised for official use as per the official language policy. The official language policy of the union territory states that the Tamil language should be the primary language used for all or any of the official purposes of the union territory. In the case of Mahe and Yanam, Malayalam and Telugu, respectively, may be used instead of or in conjunction with Tamil. The English language may also be used for official purposes. (ACT 28, Gazetteer, Pondicherry Vol. 1, P. II)[http://www.languageinindia.com/feb2004/multilingual.html Multilingualism and second language acquisition and learning in Pondicherry]</ref><ref>{{citation|last=Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Puducherry |title=General Information on Pondicherry |url=http://www.ceopondicherry.nic.in/Bkground/GeneralInfo.htm |access-date=6 June 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928180538/http://www.ceopondicherry.nic.in/Bkground/GeneralInfo.htm |archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref>
|}<section end="Lists of Official Languages of States and Union Territories of India" />
 
== Union–state and interstate communication ==
[[File:Trilingual Signboard at Bhubaneswar Railway Station Ticket Counter.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|In places like railway stations, signboards are usually written in three languages - the state language (here [[Odia language|Odia]]) and the two official languages Hindi and English.]]
The language in which communications between different states, or from the union government to a state or a person in a state, shall be sent is regulated by the Official Languages Act and, for states other than [[Tamil Nadu]], by the Official Languages Rules. Communication between states which use Hindi as their official language is required to be in Hindi, whereas communication between a state whose official language is Hindi and one whose is not, is required to be in English, or, in Hindi with an accompanying English translation (unless the receiving state agrees to dispense with the translation).<ref name="autogenerated1" />
 
Communication between the union and states which use Hindi as their official language (classified by the Official Language Rules as "the states in Region A"), and with persons who live in those states, is generally in Hindi, except in certain cases.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | title=The Official Languages (Use for Official Purpose of the Union) – Rules 1976 (As Amended, 1987) – Paragraph 3(1) | access-date=10 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325173337/http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | archive-date=25 March 2010}}</ref> Communication with a second category of states "Region B", which do not use Hindi as their official language but have elected to communicate with the union in Hindi (currently [[Gujarat]], [[Maharashtra]], and [[Punjab, India|Punjab]])<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | title=The Official Languages (Use for Official Purpose of the Union) – Rules 1976 (As Amended, 1987) – Paragraph 2(g) | access-date=10 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325173337/http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | archive-date=25 March 2010}}</ref> is usually in Hindi, whilst communications sent to an individual in those states may be in Hindi and English.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | title=The Official Languages (Use for Official Purpose of the Union) – Rules 1976 (As Amended, 1987) – Paragraph 3(2) | access-date=10 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325173337/http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | archive-date=25 March 2010}}</ref> Communication with all other states "Region C", and with people living in them, is in English.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | title=The Official Languages (Use for Official Purpose of the Union) – Rules 1976 (As Amended, 1987) – Paragraph 3(3) | access-date=10 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325173337/http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | archive-date=25 March 2010}}</ref>
 
== Writing systems ==
{{Main|Official scripts of the Indian Republic}}
 
[[File:The letters of the officially used Indic scripts of the official languages of the Indian Republic.jpg|thumb|250px|The letters of the [[official scripts of the Indian Republic]] of the ''"[[Indic scripts|Indic family]]"'' used by the [[official languages of India]] – <br /> {{small|(top row: [[Kannada-Telugu script|Kannada/Telugu]], [[Tamil script|Tamil]], [[Gujarati script|Gujarati]]; <br /> middle row: [[Meitei script|Meitei]], [[Devanagari]], [[Eastern Nagari script|Eastern Nagari]]; <br /> bottom row: [[Odia script|Odia]], [[Malayalam script|Malayalam]], [[Gurmukhi]])}}]]
 
Each [[official language]] has a designated [[official script]] using which it is written for official purposes.
 
{{Static row numbers}}
{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers"
! Official script(s) !! Scheduled language(s)
|-
| [[Devanagari]]{{efn|For languages that are not natively written using Devanagari, an extended version called [[Parivardhita Devanagari]] was proposed.}} || [[Bodo language|Bodo]], [[Dogri language|Dogri]], [[Hindi]], [[Konkani language|Konkani]],{{efn|Although Devanagri is promulgated as the official script, [[Konkani in the Roman script|Romi script]] is used predominantly.}} [[Maithili language|Maithili]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Nepali language|Nepali]], [[Sanskrit]], [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]]{{efn|However, Perso-Arabic is the official script in [[Sindh]].}}
|-
| [[Bengali–Assamese script|Bengali–Assamese]] (Eastern Nagari) || [[Assamese language|Assamese]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Meitei language|Meitei]] (officially called [[Manipuri language|Manipuri]]){{efn|[[Meitei language]] uses both [[Bengali script]] and [[Meitei script]] as its [[official script]]s simultaneously in accordance with "The Manipur Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2021".}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=GAZETTE TITLE: The Manipur Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2021 |url=http://manipurgovtpress.nic.in/en/details_gazzete/?gazette=658 |website=manipurgovtpress.nic.in}}</ref>
|-
| [[Gujarati script|Gujarati]] || [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]
|-
| [[Gurmukhi]] || [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]
|-
| [[Kannada alphabet|Kannada]]{{efn|name="telugu-kannada_script"|Although Kannada and Telugu alphabets together is a same script called [[Telugu–Kannada alphabet]], they are officially recognised as separate scripts.}} || [[Kannada language|Kannada]]
|-
| [[Malayalam script|Malayalam]] || [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]]
|-
| [[Meitei Mayek]]{{efn|Although [[Eastern Nagari]] is also still widely in use.}} || [[Meitei language|Meitei]] (constitutionally termed as "[[Manipuri language|Manipuri]]")
|-
| [[Odia script|Odia]] || [[Odia language|Odia]]
|-
| [[Ol Chiki]] || [[Santali language|Santali]]
|-
| [[Perso-Arabic script]] || [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]],{{efn|Although extended-[[Perso-Arabic]] is the official and widely used script, [[Extended Devanagari]] script is used to represent Kashmiri texts whenever books are written in Hindi{{clarification needed|date=January 2023}}.}} [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]], [[Urdu]]
|-
| [[Tamil script|Tamil]] || [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
|-
| [[Telugu alphabet|Telugu]]{{efn|name="telugu-kannada_script"}} || [[Telugu language|Telugu]]
|}
 
== See also ==
 
* [[Languages of India]]
* [[List of languages by number of native speakers in India]]
* [[Indian States by most spoken scheduled languages]]
*[[Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India|The Eighth Schedule to the Indian Constitution]]
 
==Notes==
{{notelist}}
 
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


[[Category:Languages of India|*]]
== External links ==
[[Category:Language-related lists]]
* [http://rajbhasha.nic.in/ Department of Official Language (DOL)]&nbsp;– Official webpage explains the chronological events related to ''Official Languages Act'' and amendments
[[Category:India-related lists]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041213203632/http://www.ciil.org/ Central Institute of Indian Languages]&nbsp;– A comprehensive central government site that offers complete info on Indian Languages (archived 13 December 2004)
 
* [http://www.ling.upenn.edu/~jason2/papers/natlang.htm Reconciling Linguistic Diversity: The History and the Future of Language Policy in India] by Jason Baldridge
{{asia-stub}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120207121902/http://www.elda.org/en/proj/scalla/SCALLA2004/mallikarjunv3.pdf Multilingualism and language policy in India] (archived 7 February 2012)
* [http://www.languageshome.in Words and phrases in more than 30 Indian languages]


{{Languages of India}}
{{Languages of South Asia}}


{{simple-Wikipedia}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Languages With Official Status In India}}
[[Category:Lists of Indo-European languages|India]]
[[Category:Languages of India|Languages of India]]
[[Category:Official languages]]
[[Category:Official languages of India| ]]
WikiDwarfBOT
Bots, trusted
7,437

edits

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/396185"