Lok Sabha Question No. 1028 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-08
Subject: Hindi in UNO
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAMA DEVI, LAXMI NARAYAN YADAV, LAXMAN GILUWA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1028

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2017

## HINDI IN UNO

† 1028.

SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI: SHRI LAXMI NARAYAN YADAV: SHRI LAXMAN GILUWA:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  criteria  laid  down  for  any  language  for  giving  status  of official language in the United Nations Organisation (UNO) and the reaction of the Government in this regard;
- (b) the status of Hindi with regard to its being accepted as one of the UN official languages; and
- (c) the  details  of  funds  allocated  and  utilized  for  the  above purpose  during  the  current  financial  year  and  the  funds provided for the next financial year?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI M. J. AKBAR)

(a) to (c) The United Nations has no specific criteria for a language  to  be  recognised  as  an  official  language.  The  procedure for inclusion as an official language in the UN involves adoption of a Resolution in the UN General Assembly by a simple majority and its final passage by a two-third majority of the total membership of the United Nations.

Government continues to take measures for the acceptance of Hindi  as  one  of  the  Official  Languages  of  the  UN.  In  light  of  this objective,  the  8th  World  Hindi  Conference  was  organized  in  New York on 13 July 2007 and its inaugural session was held at the UN Headquarters which was attended by the UN Secretary General. At the last World Hindi Conference organised in Bhopal from 10-12 Sep 2015  one  of  the  sessions  of  the  Conference  was  devoted  to  the theme Videsh Niti Mein Hindi ('Hindi in Foreign Policy') in which one of the recommendations reiterated was that Hindi should be made a the Chairmanship of External Affairs Minister for implementation of this and other recommendations made at the Conference. A World Hindi Secretariat  has  also  been  set  up  in  Mauritius  in  February  2008,  to

UN  language. A Committee has been established under promote Hindi as an international language.

On several occasions Indian leaders have delivered statements at the UN in Hindi including Prime Minister's statement to the 69th  UNGA in September 2014, the address of Prime Minister to the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015, the address to the 70th UNGA by External Affairs Minister  in  October  2015,  and  the  address  of  External  Affairs Minister  to  the  71 st   UNGA  in  September  2016.  Necessary  special arrangements were  made  for  simultaneous  interpretation  of  these statements into English by the Permanent Mission of India in New York.  The  United  Nations  broadcasts  its  programmes  on  the  UN Radio Website in Hindi language also.

The  Government  continues  its  efforts  in  popularising  Hindi worldwide and for the acceptance of Hindi as one of the UN official languages. In the current financial year (2016-17), an amount of Rs. 5.98 crore has been allocated for the propagation of Hindi worldwide through the Diplomatic Missions/Posts of India abroad.

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