Lok Sabha Question No. 348 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Inclusion of Languages
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: HARI MANJHI, VISHNU DAYAL RAM, Partha Pratim Ray

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 348.

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18 TH  JULY, 2017/ ASHADHA 27, 1939 (SAKA) INCLUSION OF LANGUAGES

348.

SHRI HARI MANJHI:

SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

SHRI PARTHA PRATIM RAY:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  total  number of languages included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution after 1950, language-wise;
- (b) whether the Government has received proposals for inclusion of more languages in the said Schedule;
- (c)  if  so,  the  details  thereof,  language-wise  along  with  the  criteria  for inclusion of languages in the Constitution;
- (d)  whether the Government has received complaints with regard to noncompliance  of  criteria  stipulated  for  the  inclusion  of  languages  in  the Constitution, if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government in this regard;
- (e) the details of the benefits accruing to a language after inclusion in the Constitution; and
- (f)  the  manner  in  which  the  Government  differentiates  between  'dialect' and a 'new' language prior to giving it the status of language?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a):  There  are  22  languages  included  in  the  Eighth  Schedule  to  the

Constitution. These are as under:

## LS.US.Q.No.348 FOR 18.07.2017

(1) Assamese, (2) Bengali, (3) Gujarati, (4) Hindi, (5) Kannada, (6) Kashmiri, (7)  Konkani,  (8)  Malayalam,  (9)  Manipuri,  (10)  Marathi,  (11)  Nepali,  (12) Odia, (13) Punjabi, (14) Sanskrit, (15) Sindhi, (16) Tamil, (17) Telugu, (18) Urdu (19) Bodo, (20) Santhali, (21) Maithili and (22) Dogri.

(b to d):  At present requests have been received for inclusion of following 38 more languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution:-

(1)  Angika,  (2)  Banjara,  (3)  Bazika,  (4)  Bhojpuri,  (5)  Bhoti,  (6)  Bhotia,  (7) Bundelkhandi  (8)  Chhattisgarhi,  (9)  Dhatki,  (10)  English,  (11)  Garhwali (Pahari),  (12)  Gondi,  (13)  Gujjar/Gujjari  (14)  Ho,  (15)  Kachachhi,  (16) Kamtapuri, (17) Karbi, (18) Khasi, (19) Kodava (Coorg), (20) Kok Barak, (21) Kumaoni (Pahari), (22) Kurak, (23) Kurmali, (24) Lepcha, (25) Limbu, (26) Mizo (Lushai), (27) Magahi, (28) Mundari, (29) Nagpuri, (30) Nicobarese, (31) Pahari (Himachali), (32) Pali, (33) Rajasthani, (34) Sambalpuri/Kosali, (35) Shaurseni (Prakrit), (36) Siraiki, (37) Tenyidi and (38) Tulu.

As the evolution of dialects and languages is dynamic, influenced by socioeco-political developments, it is difficult to fix any criterion for languages, whether to  distinguish  them  from  dialects,  or  for  inclusion  in  the  Eighth Schedule  to  the  Constitution  of  India.  Thus,  both  the  earlier  attempts, through the Pahwa (1996) and Sitakant Mohapatra (2003) Committees to evolve such fixed criteria have not borne fruit.

(e)  The benefits flow from the Official Language Resolution, 1968, that 'all the  languages  included  in  the  Eighth  Schedule  to  the  Constitution  and English shall be permitted as alternative media for the All India and higher Central  Services  examinations  after  ascertaining  the  views  of  the  Union Public  Service  Commission'.  In  addition,  related  Sahitya  Akademies  may institute awards, special promotion programmes etc. at their discretion.

(f)  'Language' is a socio-cultural-geographical construct in the sense that all languages begin as dialects/varieties/mother tongues but due to various socio-economic-political  reasons  one  of  the  varieties  of  any  language develops into or acquires the status of a standard variety; 'language' may thus be  defined  as  the  standard  variety, so  that  mother  tongue of those  speaking  related  varieties  may  be  deemed  to  be  the  standard variety.  There  are  no  linguistic  criteria  for  differentiating  between  a language  and  a  dialect.  Socially,  a  dialect  may  gradually  evolve  into  a language and acquire the status of a language.

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