Malayalam Language Bill 2025: Aims, Concerns, and Karnataka's Opposition
Kerala's Malayalam Language Bill faces opposition from Karnataka over linguistic minority rights.
Photo by Brett Jordan
Background Context
Why It Matters Now
Key Takeaways
- •Bill aims to make Malayalam official language of Kerala
- •Karnataka opposes due to concerns for Kannada speakers
- •Previous bill failed due to conflicts with central laws
- •Bill includes provisions for linguistic minorities
- •Debate highlights linguistic diversity challenges in India
Different Perspectives
- •Kerala government emphasizes protection of all linguistic minorities
- •Karnataka government fears impact on Kannada-speaking regions
The Kerala government tabled the Malayalam Language Bill, 2025, aiming to formally adopt Malayalam as the official language across various sectors, including government, education, and judiciary. The bill mandates Malayalam as the compulsory first language in government and aided schools up to Class 10 and plans to translate court judgments and proceedings. Karnataka has opposed the Bill, particularly concerning the Kannada-speaking linguistic minority in the Kasaragod district, fearing disruption to Kannada-medium schools.
The Karnataka government has expressed apprehension that implementing the Bill in Kasaragod could have far-reaching consequences and adversely impact the Kannada language in general. Kerala's Law Minister P. Rajeeve emphasized that the Bill seeks to protect the rights of linguistic minorities, including those who consider Tamil, Kannada, Tulu, and Konkani as their mother tongues, and contains special provisions for them.
Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has stated that Karnataka will oppose the Bill by exercising every constitutional right available if the Bill in the current form is not withdrawn.
Key Facts
Bill aims to adopt Malayalam as the official language of Kerala
Karnataka opposes due to concerns for Kannada-speaking minorities
Bill mandates Malayalam as first language in schools up to Class 10
UPSC Exam Angles
GS Paper II: Polity and Governance - Issues relating to the development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education, Human Resources.
GS Paper I: Indian Culture - Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Connects to the syllabus through issues related to linguistic minorities and inter-state relations.
Visual Insights
Kerala and Karnataka: Linguistic Concerns
Map highlighting the Kasaragod district and the linguistic concerns related to the Malayalam Language Bill, 2025.
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Practice Questions (MCQs)
1. Consider the following statements regarding the States Reorganisation Act of 1956: 1. The Act was primarily based on the recommendations of the Dhar Commission. 2. It led to the creation of 14 states and 6 union territories. 3. The Act aimed to reorganize states based on linguistic lines. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: B
Statement 1 is incorrect as the Act was based on the Fazal Ali Commission's recommendations, not the Dhar Commission. Statements 2 and 3 are correct.
2. Which of the following constitutional articles directly addresses the rights of linguistic minorities? 1. Article 29 2. Article 30 3. Article 350A Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A.1 only
- B.2 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: D
All three articles address the rights of linguistic minorities. Article 29 protects the interests of minorities, Article 30 grants minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions, and Article 350A provides for facilities for instruction in the mother tongue at the primary stage of education to children belonging to linguistic minority groups.
3. Assertion (A): The Kerala government's Malayalam Language Bill, 2025 has faced opposition from Karnataka. Reason (R): The Bill mandates Malayalam as the compulsory first language in government and aided schools up to Class 10, potentially impacting Kannada-medium schools in the Kasaragod district. In the context of the above, which of the following is correct?
- A.Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
- B.Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
- C.A is true, but R is false.
- D.A is false, but R is true.
Show Answer
Answer: A
Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason correctly explains why Karnataka is opposing the Bill.