Lok Sabha Question No. 425 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-02
Subject: Promotion of Classical Languages
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Smt. Rachna Banerjee

## MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 425

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026

## PROMOTION OF CLASSICAL LANGUAGES

## 425. SMT. RACHNA BANERJEE:

Will the Minister of Culture be pleased to state:

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

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a)  &  (b)  Government  of  India  recognized  the  following  eleven  languages  as  the  Classical Language:

| Sl. No.   | Classical Language   | Date of Recognition   |
|-----------|----------------------|-----------------------|
| i.        | Tamil                | 12.10.2004            |
| ii.       | Sanskrit             | 25.11.2005            |
| iii.      | Telugu               | 31.10.2008            |
| iv.       | Kannada              | 31.10.2008            |
| v.        | Malayalam            | 08.08.2013            |
| vi.       | Odia                 | 01.03.2014            |
| vii.      | Marathi              | 04.10.2024            |
| viii.     | Assamese             | 04.10.2024            |
| ix.       | Bangla               | 04.10.2024            |
| x.        | Pali                 | 04.10.2024            |
| xi.       | Prakrit              | 04.10.2024            |

The  Ministry  of  Education  works  for  the  Promotion  and  preservation  of  the  Classical Language.  Sanskrit  Language  is  promoted  through  three  Central  University,  viz  Central Sanskrit University, New Delhi Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University, New Delhi and National Sanskrit University, Tirupati. The details of the funds provided to other five classical languages declared prior to 04.10.2024 are at Annexure 'A'.

As per the Census of India 2011, (Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India). Estimate number of people in India speaking 9 classical languages are as follows:

|   Sl. No | Language   |   Number of People speaking (Approximately in Lakh) |
|----------|------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Tamil      |                                              690    |
|        2 | Kannada    |                                              437    |
|        3 | Telugu     |                                              811    |
|        4 | Sanskrit   |                                                0.24 |
|        5 | Malayalam  |                                              348    |
|        6 | Odia       |                                              375    |
|        7 | Marathi    |                                              830    |
|        8 | Assamese   |                                              153    |
|        9 | Bangla     |                                              972    |

It is estimated that part of 1038 Lakh population of Bihar speak in Pali.

- (c) As  per  the  Census  of  India  2011,  (Office  of  the  Registrar  General  &  Census Commissioner, India), the top five most spoken languages in the country are as follows:
- i. Hindi
- ii. Bengali
- iii. Marathi
- iv. Telugu
- v. Tamil

****

## ANNEXURE- 'A'

## Budget Grant Sanctioned to Classical Languages (Rs. In Lakhs)

| Year    |   Kannada |   Telugu | Odia   | Malayalam   |   Tamil |
|---------|-----------|----------|--------|-------------|---------|
| 2015-16 |    100    |   100    | --     | --          |   11.89 |
| 2016-17 |    100    |   100    | --     | --          |    5.02 |
| 2017-18 |    100    |   100    | --     | --          |   10.27 |
| 2018-19 |     99    |   100    | --     | --          |    5.46 |
| 2019-20 |    107    |   107    | --     | --          |    9.83 |
| 2020-21 |    108    |   147    | 8.00   | 8.00        | 1200    |
| 2021-22 |    106    |   103    | 58.38  | 63.97       | 1200    |
| 2022-23 |    171.75 |   171.75 | 176.75 | 186.75      | 1200    |
| 2023-24 |    154.5  |   154.5  | 138.50 | 112.50      | 1525    |
| 2024-25 |     86    |    86    | 86.00  | 86.00       | 1430    |
| 2025-26 |    106.5  |   106.5  | 106.50 | 106.50      | 1697    |