Official languages under the Constitution
Hindi in Devanagari is the Union's official language, English continues by law, and the Eighth Schedule lists the scheduled languages.
What the paper can ask
- Hindi in Devanagari is the Union's official language; the Official Languages Act, 1963 continued English.
- Eighth Schedule: 14 languages in 1950, enlarged by amendments: Sindhi first; then Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali together; then Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santali together.
- India has no national language; states choose their own official languages, such as Mizo in Mizoram and Kokborok in Tripura.
- Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan may use Hindi in their High Courts; the Supreme Court works in English.
Latest
The Eighth Schedule now lists 22 languages; the last additions were Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santali in 2003 (92nd Amendment).
Why exams ask
Official versus national language, the Eighth Schedule count and additions, and the Article for state languages are asked.
The full story
Part XVII of the Constitution deals with language. An Article in Part XVII makes Hindi in Devanagari script the official language of the Union, with English to be phased out after 15 years; the Official Languages Act, 1963 kept English in use alongside Hindi. The Constitution names no national language.
In the news
Test yourself
1.How many languages are listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution at present?
Correct. The Eighth Schedule has 22 languages; the last four (Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali) were added by the 92nd Amendment Act, 2003.
Not quite. The Eighth Schedule has 22 languages; the last four (Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali) were added by the 92nd Amendment Act, 2003. It goes into your error book.
2.Which Article of the Constitution deals with the official language of the Union?
Correct. Article 343(1): the official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script. Article 351 is the directive for development of Hindi.
Not quite. Article 343(1): the official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script. Article 351 is the directive for development of Hindi. It goes into your error book.
3.Sindhi was added to the Eighth Schedule by which amendment?
Correct. The 21st Amendment Act, 1967 added Sindhi as the fifteenth language; the 71st (1992) added Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali; the 92nd (2003) added Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhali.
Not quite. The 21st Amendment Act, 1967 added Sindhi as the fifteenth language; the 71st (1992) added Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali; the 92nd (2003) added Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhali. It goes into your error book.