India is a multilingual country with 22 official languages recognized in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The Constitution of India lays down provisions for the official language of the Union and the States to ensure smooth communication in governance.
👉 Part XVII (Articles 343 to 351) of the Indian Constitution deals with the Official Language.
👉 Hindi in Devanagari script is the official language of the Union (Article 343).
👉 English continues as an associate official language for communication between states and the Centre.
I. Constitutional Provisions on Official Language
| Article | Provision |
|---|---|
| Article 343 | Hindi in Devanagari script is the official language of the Union. |
| Article 344 | A Commission and Committee on Official Language to review its use every 10 years. |
| Article 345 | States can adopt their own official language(s). |
| Article 346 | English or Hindi can be used for inter-state communication. |
| Article 347 | A minority group can demand a special language for official use in a state. |
| Article 348 | English is used in Supreme Court and High Court proceedings. |
| Article 349 | Special procedure to change the official language policy. |
| Article 350 | Citizens have the right to submit grievances in any language. |
| Article 350A | States must provide primary education in the mother tongue for linguistic minorities. |
| Article 350B | Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities appointed by the President. |
| Article 351 | The Centre must promote Hindi development while respecting other Indian languages. |
II. Official Language of the Union (Article 343)
✅ Hindi in Devanagari script is the official language of the Union.
✅ English continues for official purposes due to practical reasons.
✅ Parliamentary proceedings, court judgments, and laws are in English.
Example:
- Government notifications and reports are available in both Hindi and English.
III. Official Language of States (Article 345)
✅ States can choose their own official language.
✅ Many states use regional languages for administration.
✅ States can adopt Hindi, English, or a regional language for official work.
Examples:
- Karnataka – Kannada
- Maharashtra – Marathi
- Tamil Nadu – Tamil
- Punjab – Punjabi
🚀 English is commonly used for inter-state communication.
IV. Eighth Schedule of the Constitution – Recognized Languages
✅ Initially, the Constitution recognized 14 languages.
✅ Now, 22 languages are recognized under the Eighth Schedule.
| Recognized Languages (Eighth Schedule) |
|---|
| Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu |
🔹 Sindhi was added in 1967, Konkani, Manipuri & Nepali in 1992, and Bodo, Dogri, Maithili & Santali in 2003.
V. Language Policy for the Judiciary (Article 348)
✅ Supreme Court and High Courts use English for proceedings.
✅ State High Courts can use regional languages with President’s approval.
VI. Promotion of Hindi (Article 351)
✅ The Central Government must develop Hindi while preserving the richness of all Indian languages.
✅ Hindi must borrow words from Sanskrit and other Indian languages to grow.
✅ However, Hindi cannot be imposed forcefully on states.
VII. Role of English in Official Communication
✅ English continues as an associate official language for government work.
✅ Inter-state and Centre-State communication happens in English.
✅ All bills, acts, and court judgments are in English.
Example:
- The Constitution of India is written in English and translated into Hindi.
VIII. Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities (Article 350B)
✅ Appointed by the President to protect linguistic minorities.
✅ Ensures rights of non-dominant language speakers in any state.
IX. Language Issues & Controversies
❌ Hindi vs. Regional Languages – Some states oppose Hindi imposition.
❌ English Dominance – English is widely used in courts and administration, limiting regional languages.
❌ Demand for More Official Languages – Some communities demand inclusion in the Eighth Schedule.
X. Recent Developments in Language Policy
✔ NEP 2020 (New Education Policy) – Promotes mother tongue as the medium of instruction in schools.
✔ Three-Language Formula – Schools teach Hindi, English, and a regional language.
✔ Increase in Digital Content in Regional Languages – Government websites are being translated into regional languages.
XI. MCQs on Official Language
1. Which Article declares Hindi as the official language of India?
A) Article 342
B) Article 343
C) Article 350
D) Article 351
Answer: B) Article 343
2. How many languages are recognized in the Eighth Schedule?
A) 14
B) 18
C) 22
D) 25
Answer: C) 22
3. Under which Article can states adopt their own official language?
A) Article 345
B) Article 343
C) Article 347
D) Article 350
Answer: A) Article 345
4. What is the official language of the Supreme Court and High Courts?
A) Hindi
B) English
C) Regional Language
D) Sanskrit
Answer: B) English
5. Which Article directs the government to promote Hindi?
A) Article 345
B) Article 350A
C) Article 351
D) Article 360
Answer: C) Article 351
6. Which committee reviews the progress of the official language?
A) Sarkaria Commission
B) Mandal Commission
C) Official Language Commission
D) Finance Commission
Answer: C) Official Language Commission
7. Under which Article can a linguistic minority request official status for their language?
A) Article 344
B) Article 347
C) Article 349
D) Article 350
Answer: B) Article 347
8. Which of the following languages is NOT in the Eighth Schedule?
A) Bhojpuri
B) Maithili
C) Dogri
D) Bodo
Answer: A) Bhojpuri
9. Under which Article can the President appoint a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities?
A) Article 330
B) Article 334
C) Article 350B
D) Article 351
Answer: C) Article 350B
10. Which policy promotes the three-language formula in schools?
A) Finance Commission
B) New Education Policy (NEP) 2020
C) Mandal Commission
D) NITI Aayog
Answer: B) New Education Policy (NEP) 2020
XII. Conclusion
✅ Hindi is the official language, but English is widely used in governance.
✅ States have the freedom to choose their own official language.
✅ There are 22 languages in the Eighth Schedule.
✅ Judiciary and inter-state communication mainly use English.
✅ The government promotes Hindi but respects linguistic diversity.
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