Lok Sabha Question No. 4968 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-31
Subject: Promotion of Hindi at UN
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

ANSWERED ON- 31/03/2023

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-4968

## PROMOTION OF HINDI AT UN

†4968. DR. RAMESH POKHRIYA 'NISHANK'

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-

(a) Whether any steps have been taken by the Government to include Hindi language in the United Nations;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the steps taken for the promotion of Hindi in foreign countries and the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

(SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN)

(a & b)  The Government of India has accorded high priority to promotion of Hindi and continues to take measures for its recognition and increased usage at the United Nations and other   international   platforms.   Hindi   is   already   one   of   the   nine   working   languages   at UNESCO.

In recent past, Indian leaders have delivered statements in Hindi at the UN, including Prime Minister's address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Sessions in 2014, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

In 2018, a Voluntary Financial Contribution Agreement was signed between the UN and the Government of India to promote Hindi within the UN system for a two-year term. This was extended by another 5 years in 2019 and is currently in force till March 2025.

Pursuant to this Agreement, UN has launched Hindi social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter,   and   Instagram   as   well   as   a   Hindi   website   of   UN   News.   In   addition,   the   UN broadcasts its programmes on the UN Radio website in Hindi, issues a weekly Hindi news bulletin on Sound Cloud, publishes a UN blog in Hindi and has provided a Hindi extension of the UN News Reader mobile application for both Android and iOS mobile phone operating systems.

In addition, India co-sponsored a landmark UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/76/268 on 'Multilingualism' which was unanimously adopted on 10 June 2022. For the first time, this Resolution also mentioned Hindi language, encouraging the UN Department of Global Communications to continue   disseminating   important   communications   and   messages   in official as well as in non-official languages, including in Hindi.

(c) Government of India also continues to make strenuous efforts to promote Hindi language in foreign countries. As in previous years, on 10 January 2023, the 'World Hindi Day' was celebrated across the world, including by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris, to present Hindi as an international language and promote its usage worldwide. In 2022 on this occasion, UNESCO agreed to publish descriptions of India's UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Hindi on its website. Hindi is also one of the working languages of UNESCO.

In addition, the Government is undertaking several initiatives and programs for the promotion and dissemination of Hindi abroad through Indian diplomatic Missions and Posts. Some of the major initiatives and programs are as below:

- (i) The 12 th World Hindi Conference was organized in Fiji from 15-17 February 2023 by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India in association with Government of Fiji. It provided a platform for Hindi scholars and researchers from all over the world to discuss the applications of Hindi language in various walks of life and promotion of Hindi.
- (iii) Hindi teaching materials such as textbooks, Hindi learning CDs, dictionaries etc. are supplied to the libraries of Indian Missions and educational institutions for use by members of the Indian Diaspora, including students.
- (ii) Recognize contributions of foreign scholars by awarding Hindi Samman Awards. During the 12 th World Hindi Conference, at Nadi, Fiji, 19 scholars from abroad as well as 2 institutions from abroad were felicitated.
- (iv) Facilitation in the form of providing political clearance and visa facility is provided for foreign students coming to study Hindi at Kendriya Hindi Sansthan , Agra.
- (vi) Financial   grants are   given   to   foreign   universities,   institutions   and   community organizations for teaching, publication, and academic activities. In 2022-23, a grant of Indian Rupees 21,89, 502/- was approved for 8 Universities for this purpose.
- (v) Financial grants are given to Missions and Centers for the celebration of Hindi Day (14 September) and World Hindi Day (10 January).
- (vii) Financial Grants are also given for honorarium to teachers involved in teaching Hindi in Indian Missions and Community Centers.
- (ix) The Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University was established at Wardha, which is an exclusive international center of study and research for foreign students.
- (viii) One model Panini Hindi language laboratory was established in Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Mauritius in 2018.
- (x) Indian   Council   for   Cultural   Relations   (ICCR)   in   collaboration   with   Indira   Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and Central Hindi Directorate (CHD) conducted online Hindi Classes for foreign nationals from different countries in 2022. Similarly, a customised Hindi language course was conducted for Government employees from Bhutan at Antarashtriya Vishwa Vidhyalya in 2022.
- (xi) It   may  be noted that ICCR has been inviting international students of Hindi under Visitors Programme of ICCR.
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