Lok Sabha Question No. 1124 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-02
Subject: Promotion of Kannada as Classical Language
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri G Kumar Naik

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1124 ANSWERED ON - 02/12/2024

## PROMOTION OF KANNADA AS CLASSICAL LANGUAGE

## 1124  Shri G Kumar Naik:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  met  all  requirements  from  the  2004  resolution  for promoting  Kannada  as  a  classical  language,  specifically  establishing  a  Centre  of Excellence for Classical Kannada Studies, instituting two annual international awards for  distinguished  scholars  in  classical  Kannada  and  creating  academic  chairs  in Central Universities for Kannada studies;
- (b) if so, the details there and if not, the details of remaining projects and the time by which these are completed;
- (c) the details of the total funds allocated for promotion of classical language- Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Odia, Sanskrit and others during the last three years and the current year, year-wise;
- (d) whether there is any disparities in allocation of funds, if so, the reasons thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has any plans to grant greater autonomy to Kannada (similar to the Central Institute of Classical Tamil) to ensure effective use of funds and timely project completion?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c):  The Centre of Excellence for studies in Classical Kannada (CESCK) was established in 2011 under Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru and works on research, promotion, publication of Classical Kannada.  The policy of the Government is to promote all Indian languages including classical languages. CIIL 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 and no separate funds are provided for undertaking any work related to classical aspect of Sanskrit.   University Grants Commission (UGC) has approved a centre for classical language in Kannada in Central University of Karnataka and an amount of Rs.45.00 lakhs was provided for the centre during the year 2021-22.  The details of funds provided for various classical languages by CIIL are given below:

## (Rs. in lakhs)

|           |   2021-22 |   2022-23 |   2023-24 |   2024-25 |
|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Kannada   |    106.5  |    171.75 |     154.5 |      83.5 |
| Telugu    |    103.15 |    171.75 |     154.5 |      83.5 |
| Malayalam |     63.97 |    186.75 |     112.5 |      83.5 |
| Tamil     |   1200    |   1200    |    1525   |    1430   |
| Odia      |     58.38 |    176.75 |     138.5 |      83.5 |

(d) & (e):  There is no disparity in the allocation of funds to these classical languages.  However, funds are provided as per requirement and utilisation. At present, Government of India has constituted a High Powered Committee under the Chairmanship of Padmashri Chamu Krishna Shastry  to explore and recommend pathways for the holistic and multidisciplinary growth of Indian  Languages  as  envisaged  in  the  National  Education  Policy,  2020  including  regional languages and classical languages. At present, there is no proposal to grant greater autonomy to classical Kannada language.

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