Lok Sabha Question No. 1188 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-08
Subject: Promotion of Bangla Language and Culture
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Azad Kirti Jha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NUMBER 1188

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025

## PROMOTION OF BANGLA LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

## 1188. SHRI AZAD KIRTI JHA:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  specific  measures  undertaken  by  the  Government  to  promote  Bangla language and culture across India, including digital, educational and cultural initiatives;
- (b)  the  manner  in  which  Government  is  leveraging  modern  technologies  such  as  AI platforms developed under the Digital India Bhashini Division to support and enhance the usage and preservation of Bangla;
- (c)   the details of any ongoing or planned collaborations, programmes or frameworks aimed at  preserving,  propagating  and  promoting  Bangla  in  educational  curricula,  official communication, cultural events, and digital media: and
- (d)  the details of the strategies implemented for engaging the Bangla-speaking community and cultural experts to ensure relevance and effectiveness of these promotion efforts?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM

## (GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) Bangla is one of the 14 languages included in scheduled languages initially when the  Constitution  was  adopted  in  1950.   Subsequently,  vide  Gazette  Notification dated  04.10.2025,  Bangla/Bengali  was  also  notified  as  one  of  the  Classical Languages of India.

The Ministry of Culture has established seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCC) across the  country.  Eastern  Zonal  Cultural  Centre  is  headquartered  in  Kolkata,  West Bengal, functioning as a cultural nerve centre, between and among the numerous ethnic  cultural  centres/groups  of  excellence  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  country including Bangla Culture.

The Ministry also organizes Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs) through ZCCs where a large  number  of  artists  from  all  over  India  are  engaged  who  showcase their  talents  during  these  programmes.  The  2021  iteration  of  the  Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsava was celebrated at multiple locations in West Bengal (Cooch Behar,  Darjeeling  and  Murshidabad)  with  participation  of  artists  including  Bangla Artists.

Bangla  is  also  fully  supported  in  The  National  Language  Translation  Mission (Bhashini),  Bangla  across  all  core  services  and  applications,  such  as  Anuvaad (Translation) Web  Services, Mobile applications, and Developer APIs and language technologies.

- (b) To  ensure  seamless  access  to  comprehensive  suite  of  state-of-the-art  Natural Language  Processing  (NLP)  capabilities,  the  Bhashini  Division  of  Ministry  of Electronics  and  Information  Technology  of  India  (MEITY)  has  developed  the National Hub for Language Technology (NHLT), a unified platform through which these services are delivered at scale. For Bangla specifically, 20+ AI services are currently  available.  The  platform  has  facilitated  over  112  million  inferences  wrt Bangla.

Recognising the importance of open knowledge ecosystems, the Division has also made  high-quality  datasets  for  the  Bangla  language  publicly  accessible  through both the BHASHINI platform and India's national AI dataset repository, AI Kosh.

To  expand  real-world  adoption  and  bridge  digital  access  gaps,  the  Division  has deployed  multiple  user-centric  applications  and  solutions.  These  include  website translation tools, document translation systems, and voice-first interfaces designed to ensure that users can interact with digital services without needing any technical expertise.  Through  voice-based  interaction,  citizens  can  now  speak  in  Bangla, receive  information  in  Bangla,  and  navigate  digital  platforms  without  reliance  on typing or complex interfaces thereby effectively reducing barriers related to literacy, language, and digital familiarity.

- (c) & (d)  The Ministry of Culture, through its various schemes, extends support to a number of  organizations/  artists  engaged  in  the  promotion  and  preservation  of  culture across  the  country, including Bangla  culture.  Details  of  funds  disbursed  to beneficiaries in West Bengal under different schemes of the Ministry are enclosed at Annexure I .

Sahitya Akademi, an autonomous body under the Ministry working on promotion and preservation of literary culture of the country recognizes literary compositions in 24 langauges including Bangla and provides awards and recognition to Bangla in all its award categories.

The recent prominent activites  organized  in  West Bengal  by Sahitya Akademi  is enclosed in Annexure II .

In addition to the specific events, Sahitya Akademi also organizes various umbrella festivals such as UNMESHA, Festival of Letters, and Sahityotsava. These events function  as  a  melting  pot  of  number  of  different  languages  and  culture  of  India witnessing an enthusiastic participation of writers,  thinkers,  playwrights,  creators, and readers of various languages including Bangla.

ANNEXURE I DETAILS OF FUNDS DISBURSED AND NUMBER OF BENEFICIARIES (INDIVIDUALS /ORGANIZATIONS) IN WEST BENGAL UNDER VARIOUS SCHEMES ADMINISTERED

| Sl. No.   | Name of the scheme                                                                                  | 2020-2021                 | 2020-2021             | 2021-2022                 | 2021-2022            | 2022-2023                 | 2022-2023             | 2023-2024                 | 2023-2024             | 2024-25                   | 2024-25              |
|-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------|---------------------------|----------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------|---------------------------|----------------------|
| Sl. No.   | Name of the scheme                                                                                  | Number of Benefic- iaries | Amount (Rs. In lakh.) | Number of Benefic- iaries | Amount (Rs. In lakh) | Number of Benefic- iaries | Amount (Rs. In lakh.) | Number of Benefic- iaries | Amount (Rs. In lakh.) | Number of Benefic- iaries | Amount (Rs. In lakh) |
| 1.        | Financial Assistance for Promotion of Guru Shishya Parampara (Repertory Grant)                      | 112                       | 821.76                | 333                       | 2060.8               | 418                       | 2288.48               | 208                       | 1432.21               | 112                       | 821.76               |
| 2.        | Financial Assistance to Cultural Organizations with National Presence (including R.K. Mission, West | 0                         | 0.00                  | 2                         | 6.75                 | 0                         | 0.00                  | 2                         | 37.50                 | 3                         | 31.25                |
| 3.        | Bengal) Cultural Function and Production Grant                                                      | 229                       | 216.09                | 310                       | 364.14               | 410                       | 544.44                | 357                       | 206.86                | 302                       | 435.61               |
| 4.        | Scheme For the Award of Fellowship to Outstanding Persons in The Field Of Culture                   | 67                        | 59.40                 | 81                        | 115.00               | 87                        | 118.20                | 100                       | 93.00                 | 102                       | 116.40               |
| 5.        | Scheme for Scholarships to Young Artistes in Different Cultural Fields                              | 161                       | 48.30                 | 195                       | 58.50                | 67                        | 20.10                 | 278                       | 83.70                 | 219                       | 65.70                |
| 6.        | Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists                                                            | 37                        | 5.09                  | 32                        | 12.31                | 27                        | 11.71                 | 35                        | 28.53                 | 39                        | 20.37                |
| 7.        | Financial Assistance for the Development of Buddhist / Tibetan Culture and Art                      | 29                        | 99.25                 | 12                        | 40.22                | 72                        | 168                   | 92                        | 175.51                | 70                        | 82.75                |

## ANNEXURE II

## LIST OF ACTIVITIES BY SAHITYA AKADEMI FOR PROMOTION OF BANGLA

|   S.No | Programme Title                                                    | Date & Time           | Venue / Collaboration                                                 | Location                                 |
|--------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
|      1 | Literary Forum: Poetry Readings by Bengali Poets                   | 18 Sept 2025, 5:00 PM | Sahitya Akademi Regional Office, Kolkata Auditorium                   | Kolkata                                  |
|      2 | Literary Forum: Readings of Bengali Poetry & Short Stories         | 30 Aug 2025, 11:00AM  | Durgapur Govt. College & Tristoop Magazine                            | Durgapur, Paschim Bardhaman, West Bengal |
|      3 | Gramalok: Readings & Discussion by Bengali Writers                 | 29 Aug 2025, 11:00AM  | Rajganj College                                                       | Jalpaiguri, West Bengal                  |
|      4 | Bal Sahiti: Readings & Discussion on Bengali Children's Literature | 27 Aug 2025, 2:00 PM  | University of North Bengal & Mallar Magazine                          | Darjeeling, West Bengal                  |
|      5 | Kathasandhi with Nalini Bera                                       | 26 Aug 2025, 5:30 PM  | Sahitya Akademi Eastern Regional Office Auditorium                    | Kolkata                                  |
|      6 | Yuva Sahiti: Readings & Discussion with Young Bengali Writers      | 26 Aug 2025, 4:00 PM  | Sahitya Akademi Eastern Regional Office Auditorium                    | Kolkata                                  |
|      7 | Symposium: Bengali Literature, Theatre & Cinema Relationship       | 25 Aug 2025, 11:00AM  | IQAC & St. Xavier's College (Autonomous), Father Depelchin Auditorium | Kolkata                                  |
|      8 | Symposium: Tribal Voice in Bengali Literature                      | 13 Aug 2025, 11:00AM  | Bankura University, Purandarpur                                       | Bankura, West Bengal                     |
|      9 | Kavi-Anuvadak with Aditya Mandi                                    | 31 Jul 2025, 5:45 PM  | Sahitya Akademi Regional Office, Kolkata Auditorium                   | Kolkata                                  |
|     10 | Contemporary Bengali Dalit Literature (Literary Forum)             | 31 Jul 2025, 4:00 PM  | Sahitya Akademi Regional Office, Kolkata Auditorium                   | Kolkata                                  |
|     11 | Literary Forum: Influence of Technology on Bengali Literature      | 31 Jul 2025, 11:00AM  | Sadhu Ramchand Murmu University of Jhargram, Jitusol                  | Jhargram, West Bengal                    |
|     12 | Mulakat: Readings &                                                | 30 Jul 2025,          | Baneswar Sarathibala                                                  | Cooch Behar,                             |

|    | Discussion by Young Bengali Writers                                  | 12:00 PM                                     | Mahavidyalaya                                           | West Bengal                    |
|----|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| 13 | Kathasandhi with Nirmal Halder                                       | 4 Jul 2025, 11:30AM                          | Seminar Hall, Kashipur Michael Madhusudan Mahavidyalaya | Purulia, West Bengal           |
| 14 | Literary Forum: Mahabharata Studies                                  | 25 Jun 2025, 11:00AM                         | Vidyasagar Sabhagriha, University of Kalyani            | Nadia, West Bengal             |
| 15 | Literary Forum: 125th Birth Anniversary of Sailajananda Mukhopadhyay | 25 Jun 2025, 11:00AM                         | Mankar College                                          | Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal   |
| 16 | Seminar: Depiction of the Marginalized in Bengali Literature         | 24 Jun 2025, 11:00AM                         | Presidency University                                   | Kolkata                        |
| 17 | Asmita: Readings by Bengali Women Writers                            | 23 Jun 2025, 11:00AM                         | Saltora Netaji Centenary College                        | Bankura, West Bengal           |
| 18 | Symposium: Bengali Novels in the 21st Century                        | 30 May 2025, 10:00AM                         | Vidyasagar University, Dept. of Bengali                 | Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal |
| 19 | Kathasandhi with Abhijit Tarafdar                                    | (Date not specified; paired with next entry) | -                                                       | -                              |
| 20 | Literary Forum: Readings by Bengali Writers                          | 28 Feb 2025, 2:30 PM                         | Bidhannagar College                                     | Salt Lake, Kolkata             |