Chapter 74: Official Language

The Constitution of India devotes Part XVII (Articles 343 to 351) to the subject of official
language. These provisions reflect the framers’ attempt to balance national integration,
administrative efficiency, and linguistic diversity in a multilingual society.
The constitutional scheme relating to official language is broadly divided into four parts:
• Language of the Union
• Regional languages
• Language of the judiciary and texts of laws
• Special directives
Language of the Union
The Constitution lays down specific provisions regarding the official language of the Union.
Hindi written in the Devanagari script is declared to be the official language of the Union.
However:
• The form of numerals to be used for official purposes of the Union shall be
the international form of Indian numerals, and not the Devanagari form.
The Constitution also provided for a transitional arrangement:
• For a period of fifteen years from the commencement of the Constitution (1950–1965),
the English language was to continue to be used for all official purposes of the Union for
which it was being used immediately before 1950.
The Constitution empowered Parliament to:
• Provide for the continued use of English for specified purposes even after the expiry of the
fifteen-year period.
Thus, the Constitution did not impose a rigid linguistic deadline but allowed flexibility through
parliamentary legislation.
Official Language Commission and Parliamentary Committee
The Constitution envisaged a gradual transition towards Hindi.
Accordingly:
• At the end of five years and again at the end of ten years from the commencement of the
Constitution, the President was required to appoint an Official Language Commission.
The functions of the Commission were to make recommendations regarding:
• Progressive use of Hindi for official purposes
• Restrictions on the use of English
• Other related matters
A Committee of Parliament was also to be constituted to:
• Examine the recommendations of the Commission
 • Report its views to the President
In pursuance of these provisions:
• In 1955, the President appointed the Official Language Commission under the
chairmanship of B. G. Kher.
• The Commission submitted its report in 1956.
• A Parliamentary Committee under the chairmanship of Govind Ballabh Pant examined the
report in 1957.
However, the second Official Language Commission, envisaged for 1960, was not appointed.
Official Languages Act, 1963
To address apprehensions regarding the replacement of English, Parliament enacted the Official
Languages Act, 1963.
The Act provides that:
• English shall continue to be used in addition to Hindi for all official purposes of the Union
even after 1965.
• English shall continue to be used for transaction of business in Parliament.
Significantly:
• The Act enables the use of English indefinitely, without prescribing any time-limit.
The Act was amended in 1967 to make the use of English, in addition to Hindi, compulsory in
certain cases, such as:
• Resolutions, general orders, rules, notifications and administrative reports issued by the
Central Government
• Administrative and other reports laid before Parliament
• Contracts, agreements, licences, permits and notices issued by the Central Government or
Central Government companies
These provisions reassured non-Hindi-speaking regions and helped preserve national unity.
Regional Languages
The Constitution does not prescribe any official language for states.
Instead, it adopts a flexible approach.
The Legislature of a state may:
• Adopt any one or more languages in use in the state, or
• Adopt Hindi as the official language of the state.
Until such a decision is taken:
• English continues as the official language of that state.
Under this provision:
• Most states have adopted their major regional language as the official language.
• The choice of language is not restricted to the languages listed in the Eighth Schedule.
Language for Inter-State and Centre–State Communication
For the time being:
• The official language of the Union (English) continues as the link language for
communication:
◦ Between the Union and the states
◦ Between different states
However:
• Two or more states may agree to use Hindi instead of English for inter-state
communication.
The Official Languages Act, 1963 further provides that:
• English shall be used for communication between the Union and non-Hindi-speaking states.
• When Hindi is used for communication between a Hindi-speaking state and a non-Hindi-
speaking state, an English translation must accompany it.
This ensures clarity and prevents linguistic disadvantage.
Special Provision for Linguistic Minorities in States
The Constitution protects linguistic minorities at the state level.
If the President is satisfied that:
• A substantial proportion of the population of a state desires the use of any language spoken
by them,
Then:
• The President may direct that such language shall also be officially recognised in that
state.
This provision aims to safeguard the linguistic interests of minority groups within states.
Language of the Judiciary and Texts of Laws
The Constitution adopts a cautious approach regarding the language of courts and legislation.
Until Parliament provides otherwise:
• All proceedings in the Supreme Court and every High Court shall be conducted in English.
• The authoritative texts of:
◦ Bills
◦ Acts
◦ Ordinances
◦ Orders
◦ Rules
◦ Regulations
◦ By-lawsat both Central and State levels shall be in English.
Use of Regional Languages in High Courts
The Governor of a state may:
• With the previous consent of the President, authorise the use of:
 ◦ Hindi, or
◦ Any other official language of the state
in the proceedings of the High Court of that state.
However:
• Judgements, decrees and orders of the High Court must continue to be in English,
unless Parliament provides otherwise.
This distinction preserves uniformity and national accessibility of judicial decisions.
Language of State Legislation
A state legislature may prescribe:
• The use of any language other than English for:
◦ Bills
◦ Acts
◦ Ordinances
◦ Orders
◦ Rules
◦ Regulations
◦ By-laws
However:
• A translation in English must be published.
The Official Languages Act, 1963 further provides that:
• Hindi translations of Central Acts, ordinances and orders published under the authority of
the President are deemed to be authoritative texts.
• Every Bill introduced in Parliament must be accompanied by a Hindi translation.
The Act also enables:
• Use of Hindi or state official language for High Court judgements, with President’s consent,
provided an English translation is also published.
Parliament has not made any provision for use of Hindi in the Supreme Court, and hence:
• The Supreme Court continues to function only in English.
Authorised Translations (Central Laws) Act, 1973
This Act provides that:
• A translation of a Central law into any regional language listed in the Eighth Schedule (other
than Hindi), published under the authority of the President, shall be deemed to be
the authoritative text in that language.
This enhances accessibility of laws to regional language speakers.
Special Directives
The Constitution contains special directives to:
• Protect linguistic minorities
 • Promote the development of Hindi
Protection of Linguistic Minorities
The Constitution provides the following safeguards:
Right to representation
• Any person may submit a representation for redress of grievances to any Union or State
authority in any language used in the Union or the state.
• Such representation cannot be rejected on the ground of language.
Mother-tongue education
• Every state and local authority must provide adequate facilities for instruction in the mother
tongue at the primary stage for children belonging to linguistic minorities.
• The President may issue directions to states in this regard.
Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities
• The President shall appoint a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities.
• The officer investigates matters relating to safeguards for linguistic minorities and reports to
the President.
• The President places these reports before Parliament and sends them to the concerned
state governments.
Development of Hindi Language
The Constitution places a duty on the Union to:
• Promote the spread and development of Hindi so that it may serve as the lingua franca of
India’s composite culture.
The Union is directed to:
• Enrich Hindi by assimilating forms, styles and expressions of Hindustani and other
languages listed in the Eighth Schedule.
• Draw its vocabulary primarily from Sanskrit and secondarily from other languages.
Eighth Schedule of the Constitution
The Eighth Schedule currently specifies 22 languages.
Originally, there were 14 languages.
Subsequent additions include:
• Sindhi by the 21st Amendment Act, 1967
• Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali by the 71st Amendment Act, 1992
• Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhali by the 92nd Amendment Act, 2003
The languages presently listed are:
• Assamese
• Bengali
• Bodo
• Dogri
 • Gujarati
• Hindi
• Kannada
• Kashmiri
• Konkani
• Maithili
• Malayalam
• Manipuri
• Marathi
• Nepali
• Odia
• Punjabi
• Sanskrit
• Santhali
• Sindhi
• Tamil
• Telugu
• Urdu
Objectives of the Eighth Schedule:
• Representation of these languages in the Official Language Commission
• Use of their forms, styles and expressions for enrichment of Hindi
Committee of Parliament on Official Language
The Official Languages Act, 1963 provided for a Committee of Parliament on Official
Language.
Key features:
• Constituted in 1976 (ten years after the Act)
• Comprises 30 members of Parliament:
◦ 20 from Lok Sabha
◦ 10 from Rajya Sabha
Functions:
• Review progress made in the use of Hindi for official purposes of the Union
• Submit a report to the President with recommendations
The President:
• Lays the report before both Houses of Parliament
• Sends it to all State Governments
• May issue directions after considering state views
Conventionally:
• The Union Home Minister serves as the Chairman of the Committee.
Classical Language Status
In 2004, the Government of India introduced a new category called “Classical Languages”.
So far, six languages have been granted this status:
• Tamil (2004)
• Sanskrit (2005)
• Telugu (2008)
• Kannada (2008)
• Malayalam (2013)
• Odia (2014)
Benefits of classical language status include:
• Two international awards annually for scholars of eminence
• Establishment of a Centre of Excellence for studies in classical languages
• Creation of professional chairs in Central Universities
Criteria for classical language status:
• High antiquity of early texts or recorded history (1500–2000 years)
• A body of ancient literature regarded as valuable heritage
• Original literary tradition not borrowed from another speech community
• Distinct classical form with possible discontinuity from modern forms
Analytical and Exam-Relevant Observations
The constitutional language policy reflects:
• A compromise between national integration and linguistic diversity
• Gradualism rather than compulsion
• Respect for regional identities
The continued use of English has been crucial for:
• Administrative efficiency
• Judicial uniformity
• National cohesion
For UPSC mains, this chapter is relevant to:
• Cultural pluralism
• Linguistic federalism
• National integration
• Constitutional accommodation of diversity