Lok Sabha Question No. 2370 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-15
Subject: Promotion of Classical Languages
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, Dr. Sharmila Sarkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2370

ANSWERED ON - 15/12/2025

## Promotion of Classical Languages

## 2370.  Shri Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia :

Dr.Sharmila Sarkar :

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the amount of funds spent on promotion of classical languages during the last eleven years, year and language-wise;
- (b) the details of the estimated number of people in India speaking each classical language, language-wise; and
- (c) the details of the top five most spoken languages in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

(a) :   The policy of the Government is to promote all Indian languages including classical languages. Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru a subordinate office under Ministry of Education works for the promotion of all Indian languages including four classical languages  viz.  Kannada,  Telugu,  Malayalam  and  Odia.  Development  and  promotion  of Classical  Tamil  is  done  by  Central  Institute  of  Classical  Tamil  (CICT),  Chennai.  The Government of India is promoting Sanskrit Language through three Central Universities. Funds are provided to these universities for teaching and research in Sanskrit language leading to award of degree, diploma, certificate to students.  Recently, Government of India has declared five  new  classical  languages  viz.  Assamese,  Marathi,  Bengali,  Pali  and  Prakrit.  Funds  are provided  as  per  the  requirement  and  utilisation.  The  details  of  funds  allocated  for  various Classical Languages are given below:

| Year    | Funds allocated (Rs. in lakhs)   | Funds allocated (Rs. in lakhs)   |
|---------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
|         | Odia                             | Malayalam                        |
| 2020-21 | 8.00                             | 8.00                             |
| 2021-22 | 58.38                            | 63.97                            |
| 2022-23 | 176.75                           | 186.75                           |
| 2023-24 | 138.50                           | 112.50                           |
| 2024-25 | 86.00                            | 86.00                            |
| 2025-26 | 106.50                           | 106.50                           |

| Year    | Funds allocated (Rs. in lakhs)   | Funds allocated (Rs. in lakhs)   | Funds allocated (Rs. in lakhs)   |
|---------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
|         | Kannada                          | Tamil                            | Telugu                           |
| 2014-15 | 100.00                           | 800.00                           | 100.00                           |
| 2015-16 | 100.00                           | 1199.00                          | 100.00                           |
| 2016-17 | 100.00                           | 500.00                           | 100.00                           |
| 2017-18 | 100.00                           | 1059.00                          | 100.00                           |
| 2018-19 | 99.00                            | 465.00                           | 99.00                            |
| 2019-20 | 107.00                           | 770.00                           | 107.00                           |
| 2020-21 | 127.50                           | 1200.00                          | 147.00                           |
| 2021-22 | 106.50                           | 1200.00                          | 103.15                           |
| 2022-23 | 171.75                           | 1200.00                          | 171.75                           |
| 2023-24 | 154.50                           | 1525.00                          | 154.50                           |
| 2024-25 | 86.00                            | 1430.00                          | 86.00                            |
| 2025-26 | 106.50                           | 1697.00                          | 106.50                           |

(b) : Estimated number of people speaking classical language as per census 2011 has been given below:

| Language   | Total population   |
|------------|--------------------|
| Assamese   | 1,53,11,351        |
| Bengali    | 9,72,37,669        |
| Kannada    | 4,37,06,512        |
| Malayalam  | 3,48,38,819        |
| Marathi    | 8,30,26,680        |
| Odia       | 3,75,21,324        |
| Sanskrit   | 24,821             |
| Tamil      | 6,90,26,881        |
| Telugu     | 8,11,27,740        |

(c) : Hindi is the most spoken language in the country followed by Bengali, Marathi, Telugu and Tamil.

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