Lok Sabha Question No. 2082 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-14
Subject: Inclusion of Languages  in Eighth Schedule of the Constitution
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Naba (Hira) Kumar Sarania, Tirath Singh Rawat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2082

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 14 TH  MARCH, 2023/ PHALGUNA 23, 1944 (SAKA)

INCLUSION OF LANGUAGES IN EIGHTH SCHEDULE OF THE CONSTITUTION

†2082.      SHRI NABA KUMAR SARANIA: SHRI TIRATH SINGH RAWAT:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  the  details  of  the  languages  included  in  the  Eighth  Schedule  of  the Constitution of India;

(b) whether the Government has any proposal to include more languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India;

(c) if so, the details and the number of languages are likely to be included in  Eighth  Schedule  of  the  Constitution  of  India  including  Garhwali  and Kumaoni;

(d) the details of the proposals received from various States for inclusion of their languages along with the dates since when they are sending these proposals, State and language-wise; and

(e) the time by which all the pending languages are likely to be included including Garhwali and Kumaoni?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) to (e): A  total  of  22  languages  of  India  are  included  in  the  Eighth Schedule  to  the  Constitution  of  India.  The  details  of  date  on  which recognition  has  been  granted  to  each  of  the  languages  included  in  the Eighth Schedule are as under:-

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 2082 FOR 14.03.2023

- (i) 14  languages  viz.  Assamese,  Bengali,  Gujarati,  Hindi,  Kannada, Kashmiri,  Malayalam,  Marathi,  Oriya,  Punjabi,  Sanskrit,  Tamil, Telugu,  Urdu  were  initially  included  in  the  Constitution  i.e.  on 26.01.1950.
- (ii) Sindhi  language  was  included  in  the  Eighth  Schedule  to  the
- Constitution on 10.04.1967.
- (iii) Konkani,  Manipuri  and  Nepali  languages  were  included  in  the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution on 31.08.1992.
- (iv) Bodo,  Dogri,  Maithili  &  Santhali  languages  were  included  in  the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution on 07.01.2004.

There  have  been  demands  from  time  to  time  for  inclusion  of  several languages  in  the  Eighth  Schedule  to  the  Constitution  including  Garhwali and Kumaoni. These are as under:-

(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.

Many of these languages are spoken in several States and therefore, their use is not restricted by State boundaries.  As the evolution of dialects and languages  is  a  dynamic  process,  influenced  by  socio-cultural,  economic and political developments, it is difficult to fix any criterion for languages for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. The Government is conscious  of  the  sentiments  and  requirements  for  inclusion  of  other languages in the Eighth Schedule.  Such requests have to be considered keeping in mind these sentiments, and the other relevant considerations.

At present, there are no fixed criteria for any language to be considered for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution and therefore, no time-frame can be fixed for consideration of the demands for inclusion of more languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution.

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