Official Language of India

Constitutional Framework (Articles 343–351)

• • Part XVII of the Constitution (Articles 343–351) governs the Official Language.

• It addresses:

• • Language of the Union
  • Regional/State languages
  • Language in judiciary & legal texts
  • Protection of linguistic minorities
  • Special directives for language development
    

Hindi as the Official Language

• Article 343(1): Hindi in Devanagari script declared official language of the Union.
• Transition Period: English to continue for official purposes for 15 years from 1950 (i.e., till 1965).
• Post-1965:
  • Parliament empowered to allow continued use of English beyond 1965.
  • Official Languages Act, 1963 (amended 1967): Allowed permanent use of English along with Hindi for Union purposes.
    

Institutional Mechanisms for Language Policy

• • Article 344:
    • President to appoint a Commission after 5 and 10 years to recommend the promotion of Hindi and regulate English usage.
    • A Parliamentary Committee to review these recommendations.

• Notable bodies:

• • B.G. Kher Commission (1955)
  • G.B. Pant Parliamentary Committee (1957)
    

State Languages and Federal Communication

• Article 345: State legislatures can adopt any language used in the state as the official language.
• Article 346: English to be used for Union-State communication; states can use Hindi mutually.
• Article 347: President may recognize any language if substantial population of a state demands so.
  

Language in Judiciary and Legislation

• Article 348: English to be used for:
  • Proceedings in Supreme Court and High Courts
  • Authoritative texts of laws, bills, ordinances
• Governor, with President’s consent, may permit Hindi/State language use in High Court proceedings (not for judgments).
• State legislatures can legislate in any language but must provide English translations.
  

Official Languages Act, 1963 (Amended 1967)

• Allows bilingual use of Hindi and English for Union and inter-state communication.
• In Hindi–Non-Hindi communications, English translation is mandatory.
• Parliament has not permitted Hindi in Supreme Court proceedings.
  • Example: 1971 case where Supreme Court rejected a Hindi habeas corpus petition, affirming English as the Court’s language.
    

Committee of Parliament on Official Language (1976)

• Consists of 30 members (20 LS + 10 RS).
• Reviews progress in use of Hindi for official purposes of the Union.
  

Special Directives for Language Protection & Promotion

• Article 350: Right to submit representations in any language.
• Article 350A: States to provide mother-tongue instruction at primary stage.
• Article 350B: Appointment of Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities by the President.
  • Reports submitted to Parliament and concerned state governments.
• Article 351: Directive for development of Hindi to serve as a link language while drawing from Sanskrit and regional languages.
  

Classical Language Status in India

• • Introduced in 2004 for linguistic heritage preservation.

• Criteria:

• • • Antiquity of texts (1500–2000 years)
    • Valuable ancient literature
    • Original literary tradition
    • Discontinuity with modern versions
  • Benefits:
    • Financial assistance
    • Eminent scholar awards
    • Creation of chairs in central universities

• Languages granted classical status:

• • Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Telugu (2008), Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013), Odia (2014)

Constitutional Articles Related to Language

Article	Provision
343	Hindi as official language of the Union
344	Commission & Committee on official language
345	State official languages
346	Inter-state and Union-state communication
347	Recognition of minority languages
348	Language in courts and laws
349	Special legislative procedure for language laws
350	Language for grievance redressal
350A	Instruction in mother tongue
350B	Special officer for linguistic minorities
351	Promotion of Hindi

Conclusion

• India’s language policy balances national unity and diversity.
• The constitutional framework provides space for both linguistic inclusion and administrative efficiency.
• Promotion of Hindi does not compromise linguistic rights of other communities, reflecting federal values and multicultural ethos.