What is Official Languages of India (Constitutional Provisions)?
Historical Background
Key Points
10 points- 1.
Part XVII of the Constitution (Articles 343 to 351) deals with Official Language.
- 2.
Article 343: Declares Hindi in Devanagari script as the Official Language of the Union. English was to continue for 15 years from the commencement of the Constitution (1950), with Parliament having the power to provide for its continued use.
- 3.
Article 344: Provides for a Commission and Committee of Parliament on Official Language to review the progress of Hindi and restrictions on English.
- 4.
Article 345: Grants states the power to adopt any one or more of the languages used in the State or Hindi as their official language(s).
- 5.
Article 346: Specifies the official language for communication between one State and another, or between a State and the Union.
- 6.
Article 347: Special provision relating to language spoken by a section of the population of a State.
- 7.
Article 348: Mandates English as the language for the Supreme Court, High Courts, and for authoritative texts of Bills, Acts, etc., unless Parliament provides otherwise.
- 8.
Article 350: Ensures the right to submit representations in any language, provides facilities for instruction in mother-tongue at the primary stage, and mandates a Special Officer for linguistic minorities.
- 9.
Article 351: Directs the Union to promote the spread and development of the Hindi language.
- 10.
Eighth Schedule: Lists 22 languages recognized by the Constitution. These are not 'official languages' of the Union but recognized languages, and their inclusion signifies their importance and allows for their development.
Visual Insights
Official Language Provisions: Part XVII & Eighth Schedule
This mind map illustrates the constitutional framework governing official languages in India, detailing key articles from Part XVII and the significance of the Eighth Schedule, along with related legal acts.
Official Languages of India
- ●Part XVII of the Constitution (Articles 343-351)
- ●Eighth Schedule
- ●Legal Framework (Acts)
- ●Recent Developments
Official Languages: Key Constitutional Articles
This table provides a concise comparison of the most important constitutional articles related to official languages, highlighting their specific provisions and significance for India's language policy.
| Article | Provision | Significance for Language Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Article 343 | Official Language of the Union: Hindi in Devanagari script. English to continue for 15 years (extended by Act). | Establishes Hindi as the primary official language while accommodating English for administrative continuity and non-Hindi speakers. |
| Article 345 | Official Language(s) of a State: A state may adopt any one or more of the languages in use in the State or Hindi as its official language(s). | Grants autonomy to states in choosing their official languages, respecting regional linguistic identities and federal structure. |
| Article 348 | Language for Supreme Court, High Courts, Acts, Bills: English to be used for all proceedings in SC/HCs and for authoritative texts of Bills, Acts, etc., until Parliament provides otherwise. | Ensures uniformity and legal clarity in judicial and legislative processes, maintaining English's role in higher legal administration. |
| Article 351 | Directive for development of the Hindi language: Union to promote the spread and development of Hindi. | Mandates the Union government to actively promote Hindi, aiming for it to serve as a medium of expression for India's composite culture. |
| Eighth Schedule | Lists 22 languages recognized by the Constitution. | Recognizes and promotes the rich linguistic diversity of India, providing a framework for the development and inclusion of various regional languages. |
Recent Developments
5 developmentsOngoing demands for the inclusion of more languages in the Eighth Schedule.
Government initiatives and schemes (e.g., Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, Central Institute of Indian Languages) for the promotion and development of various Indian languages.
Debates surrounding the use of regional languages in higher education and judicial proceedings.
Technological advancements facilitating translation and multilingual communication.
Cultural events like 'Tamil Sangamam' contribute to the promotion of recognized languages.