Lok Sabha Question No. 340 (STARRED), answered on 2025-03-24
Subject: Matribhasha Diwas
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Dr. Vinod Kumar Bind, Shri Janardan Mishra

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO-340

ANSWERED ON - 24/03/2025

## MATRIBHASHA  DIWAS

*340.  Dr.Vinod Kumar Bind: Shri Janardan Mishra:

## Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  the specific steps taken by the Government to ensure effective implementation of Matribhasha Diwas in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the country particularly in the State of Uttar Pradesh;
- (b)  the extent of effectiveness with which HEIs are aligning the Matribhasha Diwas celebrations with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020's emphasis on multilingualism; (c)  whether the Government has conducted any study on the impact of mother tongue based  education  on  learning  outcomes  across  various  States  particularly  in  Uttar Pradesh, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; (d)    whether  any  incentives  or  financial  support  is  being  provided  to  institutions actively promoting mother tongues in teaching and research in various States, if so, the details thereof, State-wise particularly in Uttar Pradesh; and (e)    whether  the  Government  proposes  to  introduce  policies  promoting  to  teach  in mother tongue in technical and vocational education institutions and if so, the details
- thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION

## (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) to (e):    A statement is laid on the table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 340 ANSWERED ON 24.03.2025 ASKED BY DR. VINOD KUMAR BIND AND SHRI JANARDAN MISHRA, HON'BLE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT REGARDING 'MATRIBHASHA DIWAS'

(a)  to  (e):  The  National  Education  Policy,  2020  lays  lot  of  stress  on  promoting multilingualism and making efforts to keep Indian languages vibrant. NEP provides, wherever  possible,  for  medium  of  instruction  to  be  in  the  home  language/  mother tongue/  local  language/  regional  language  upto  at  least  class  5  and  preferably  upto class 8. The policy also provides for making available high quality text books in home language/  mother  tongue  and  encouraging  teachers  to  use  bilingual  approach  while teaching. In order to achieve this objective the Government is integrating multilingualism at school and higher education levels by providing reading materials in  Indian  languages  so  that  students  have  the  choice  to  study  in  their  mother tongue/local language.  NEP-2020 places strong emphasis on leveraging technology for strengthening various facets of education including preserving and promoting the nation's diverse linguistic heritage/diversity.  Higher Educational Institutions are free to impart education through any language as per needs and local conditions.

Matribhasha Diwas is celebrated on 21 st February of every year to promote the dissemination  of  mother  tongues  and  awareness  of  linguistic  and  cultural  traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.    Languages  are  powerful  instruments  of  preserving  and  developing  our tangible  and  intangible  heritage.  Initiatives  to  recognize  and  promote  the  use  and dissemination  of  mother  tongues  encourage  linguistic  diversity  and  multilingual education  and  develop  awareness  and  understanding  of  linguistic  and  cultural traditions. In this direction, in consonance with NEP, the Government of India every year celebrates the Matribhasha Diwas in various Educational Institutions across the country.

Government of India has initiated various programmes to encourage mother tongue.  In  order  to  further  facilitate  education  through  Indian  languages  and  to promote  mother  tongues,  Central  Board  of  Secondary  Education  (CBSE)  has  also asked its affiliated schools to consider using Indian languages, as enumerated in the Schedule 8 of the Indian Constitution, as the medium  of instruction from

Foundational stage till end of Secondary stage i.e. from pre-primary classes till class XII as an optional medium in addition to other existing options.

All  India  Council  for  Technical  Education  (AICTE)  and  University  Grants Commission  (UGC)  have  leveraged  Anuvadini  App  to  translate  books  for  Under Graduate and Post Graduate courses and Technical books like engineering and law in multiple Indian languages.  The translated books are available on e-KUMBH portal. UGC and AICTE have issued guidelines for preparation of text books and supporting the teaching-learning process in the mother  tongue/local languages. Technical education  is  being  imparted  in  certain  AICTE  approved  institutions  in  various languages.  To activate promoting mother tongues in teaching and research in various States and create maximum educational content in different Indian Language, AICTE launched  'Vibrant  Advocacy  for  Advancement  and  nurturing  of  Indian  Languages (VAANI)'  scheme  which  provides  financial  assistance  to  approved  institutions  for organising  seminars/  workshops/  conferences.    Financial  assistance  of  Rs.4.00  lakh was provided to two institutions from Uttar Pradesh.  Common University Entrance Test  (Under  Graduate),  National  Eligibility  cum  Entrance  Test  (NEET)  and  Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) are conducted in 13 languages.

Ministry of Electronics  and  Information Technology (MEITY) has launched Mission Digital India Bhashini in the year 2022 to develop core language technologies for speech and text translation for 22 Scheduled Indian languages in the open  source.  The  Bhashini  open  Application  Programming  Interface  (APIs)  for language translation in text and voice have been listed on API Setu (https://apisetu.gov.in). Bhashini APIs are available for anyone to integrate with any application.

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