An official language is one that has been granted special status by a country, state, or other entity. Typically, the word "official language" refers to the language used by a government for example court, legislature, and/or administration. The UPSC Indian Polity and Governance Syllabus include the Official Language which is discussed in this article.

Article 343 of the Indian Constitution states The official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script. Also according to Article 345, the legislature of a state may adopt any one or more of the state's official languages, including Hindi, like the language or languages to be used for all or some of the state's official purposes.

Official Language – Constitutional Provisions

• The Indian Constitution gives Hindi (in Devanagari Script) as the official language of the union.
• The Constitution states that, till January 25,1965, English shall continue to be used for all official purposes of the Union. This is mainly because complete replacement by Hindi was not expected within the short time. Thus, English along with Hindi became an associate official language.
• Article 343(1) of our constitution specifically provided;
• Hindi in Devanagari script shall be the official language of the Union.
• For official purposes, the international form of Indian numerals shall be used."
• In the eighth schedule of the Indian constitution there are 22 languages that have been recognized (Originally 14 languages were mentioned).

The Schedules Languages

Articles 344(1) and 351 of the Constitution (the eighth schedule) provided the following 22 languages as the official:

Extension of the language list

• 1950: Originally 14 languages were included in the Constitution.
• 1967: the Sindhi language added via 21st Constitutional Amendment Act.
• 1992: The 71st Constitutional Amendment Act provided Konkani, Manipuri (Meitei), and Nepali as official languages.
• 2003: Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, and Santali included via 92nd Constitutional Amendment Act.
• 2011: The word Oriya was changed to Odia by the 96th Constitutional Amendment Act.

Regional Languages

The Constitution does not provide for the official language of states. However, It says that :

• The legislature of a state may adopt any one or more of the languages belonging to the state or Hindi as the official language of that state. Until then, English will continue as the official language of that state.
• As a response to this the states have adopted the following regional languages as their official language:
  • Andhra Pradesh - Telugu
  • Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland - English
  • Jammu and Kashmir - Urdu (and not Kashmiri)
  • Goa - Marathi and Konkani
  • Gujarat - Hindi and Gujarati
  • Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Haryana, and Rajasthan - Hindi.
  • Odisha–Odia
  • West Bengal–Bengali
  • Assam–Assamese
  • Kerala–Malayalam

    • Note, There is no compulsion for the state to choose the language from the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

• For the time being, English would remain the communication language between the Union and the states or between various states.
• Any two or more states are free to agree to use Hindi (instead of English) for communication between themselves (Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar are communicating in Hindi among themselves).
• The Official Languages Act (1963) provides that English should be the communication language between the Union and the non-Hindi states.
• The act also provides that, The communication between Hindi and Non-Hindi states if done in Hindi then it must be accompanied by an English translation.
• If a demand is made to the president and he is satisfied that a substantial proportion of the population of a state wish to use any language spoken by them to be recognized by that state, then he may direct them to recognize that language as an official language of the state. The main objective here is to protect the linguistic interests of minorities in states.

The Language of judiciary and laws

The constitutional provisions:

• The parliament by law can provide for the language of the Supreme court’s proceedings and the language of the union laws.
• Currently, the language of SC proceedings is English only.
• As per the provisions of the Official Languages Act of 1963, the Hindi translation of acts, ordinances, orders, regulations and bye-laws published under the authority of the president must be considered as the authoritative texts.
• Also, any bill introduced in the Parliament must be accompanied by its Hindi translation.
• The act also provides for the Hindi translation of state acts or ordinances in specific cases.
• The governor of a state, by seeking the previous consent of the president, can authorize the use of Hindi or any other official language of the state, in the proceedings in the high court of the state
• However, it must be noted that with respect to the judgments, decrees, and orders of HC can be pronounced in English only (until Parliament does not provide otherwise).
• As per the act, the governor of a state, with the previous consent of the president, to authorize the use of Hindi or any other official language of the state for judgements, decrees and orders passed by the high court of the state along with English translation.
• The translation of any official language, wherever provided, must be done as per the prescriptions of the Authorised Translations (Central Laws) Act of 1973.
• A state legislature can provide the use of any language (other than English) with respect to bills, acts, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations or bye-laws, with a compulsory translation of the same in the English.

Recently in the News

Supreme Court tells Centre about Consideration of amending Official Languages Act 1963:

• The Supreme Court said the Central government should consider amending the Official Languages Act of 1963, for the inclusion of scheduled languages other than Hindi and English as official languages.
• Chief Justice of India (CJI), SA Bobde said that all the people in the country might not know either English or Hindi, and communication by the Central government in vernacular languages will help them.
• “There might be people in Karnataka, Nagaland or rural Maharashtra who might not know Hindi or English. Your government should consider amending the Official Languages Act,” - CJI Bobde

The Anti-Hindi agitations of Tamil Nadu:

• These agitations took place in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu (formerly Madras State) before and after the Independence periods. The agitations were marked with mass protests, riots, student and political movements in Tamil Nadu as a reaction to the imposition of Hindi as an official language.
• The first agitation happened in 1937, in opposition to the introduction of mandatory teaching of Hindi in the schools. This compulsory Hindi education was later abandoned by the British Governor of Madras Lord Erskine in February 1940.
• During 1946–50, again there were agitations against Hindi by the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) and Periyar. This time also there were attempts made by the government to introduce Hindi as a compulsory language in schools.
• A solution was reached between the government and agitators. Finally, the government kept Hindi teaching optional in the schools. Also,, students are allowed to participate in other activities as optional to Hindi learning.

Conclusion

 The language, in a diverse country like India, is a complex and controversial issue. One country's one language is certainly not a practical solution with reference to issues like strengthening national integration. The makers of the constitution as well as our judiciary were aware of this fact. And hence, they brought a multilanguage formula. However, though a large section of the society adopted English and Hindi language, an equal large number of people don't know these languages well. The recent opinion of SC in this regard certainly demands serious attention.

FAQs

Q1: What is the official language of India as per the Constitution?

Q2: Is English still used as an official language in India?

Q3: What does Article 351 of the Indian Constitution state regarding the official language?

Q4: Can states have their own official languages?

Q5: How is the use of official languages in India regulated?

MCQs

1. Which Article of the Indian Constitution designates Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of India?

a) Article 343

b) Article 351

c) Article 345

d) Article 370

2. According to which Act was the use of English for official purposes extended in India?

a) Official Languages Act, 1956

b) Official Languages Act, 1963

c) Official Languages Act, 1987

d) Languages of India Act, 1960

3. Under which Article can a state choose its own official language?

a) Article 343

b) Article 345

c) Article 351

d) Article 356

4. Which article promotes the development of Hindi and its use as a medium of expression of India's composite culture?

a) Article 343

b) Article 348

c) Article 351

d) Article 370

5. What is the role of English in India's official language framework?

a) It is the only official language

b) It is not recognized

c) It is used for official purposes alongside Hindi

d) It is used only in the states

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the significance of Article 343 and the role of English in the official language policy of India.

Answer: Article 343 of the Indian Constitution designates Hindi in the Devanagari script as the official language of the Union. This decision was taken to promote the use of a common language for administrative purposes across India. However, given the linguistic diversity of India and the significant role English played in administration, English was also permitted to continue as an associate official language.
The Official Languages Act of 1963 extended the use of English for official purposes alongside Hindi. This dual-language policy helped bridge linguistic differences between various states, allowing smooth communication between the Union and non-Hindi-speaking states. The coexistence of Hindi and English in official work symbolizes India's linguistic pluralism and ensures that governance remains inclusive, respecting the diversity of regional languages.

Q2: Analyze the provisions of Article 351 and their impact on the development and spread of Hindi in India.

Answer: Article 351 of the Indian Constitution provides for the promotion of Hindi, encouraging its development as a language capable of serving as a medium of expression for India’s diverse culture. The provision emphasizes enriching Hindi by assimilating elements from other Indian languages, reflecting India's cultural diversity.
The government's efforts to implement Article 351 have led to the creation of policies promoting Hindi in education, administration, and media. However, the imposition of Hindi has been a sensitive issue in non-Hindi-speaking states, leading to linguistic tensions. The challenge lies in balancing the promotion of Hindi without undermining the importance of regional languages. The promotion of Hindi as per Article 351 should thus coexist with the preservation and encouragement of India’s linguistic diversity.

Q3: Evaluate the importance of the Official Languages Act, 1963, in maintaining linguistic harmony in India.

Answer: The Official Languages Act, 1963, plays a crucial role in maintaining linguistic harmony in India by recognizing both Hindi and English as languages for official purposes. This Act acknowledges the linguistic diversity of India and ensures that non-Hindi-speaking states are not at a disadvantage in communication with the central government.
The Act has successfully facilitated communication across the Union while ensuring that Hindi remains the official language as per the Constitution. By allowing the continued use of English, the Act prevents linguistic divisions and ensures that all states can participate in the governance process on equal terms. This dual-language approach helps maintain the unity and integrity of India, preventing regional or linguistic alienation.

Previous Year Questions on  Official Language

1. UPSC CSE 2017

Question: Discuss the challenges faced in the implementation of India’s official language policy, as outlined in the Constitution. 

Answer: India’s official language policy, as outlined in the Constitution (Articles 343-351), has faced several challenges due to the country’s linguistic diversity. The decision to designate Hindi as the official language under Article 343 led to apprehensions in non-Hindi-speaking states, particularly in South India, where linguistic movements opposed the imposition of Hindi.
The continued use of English, as provided under the Official Languages Act of 1963, helped mitigate some of these tensions by allowing a more inclusive approach to governance. However, periodic efforts to promote Hindi, such as making Hindi compulsory in educational institutions or expanding its use in official work, have often led to protests in non-Hindi-speaking states. The key challenge in implementing the official language policy lies in balancing the promotion of Hindi as a unifying language while respecting the importance of regional languages. Thus, the linguistic diversity of India requires sensitive handling of language policies to maintain national unity and harmony.

2. UPSC CSE 2019

Question: Analyze the role of the Official Languages Act, 1963, in promoting linguistic inclusivity in India. 

Answer: The Official Languages Act, 1963, was enacted to ensure linguistic inclusivity in India’s governance system. While the Constitution designates Hindi as the official language, the Act recognizes the need to accommodate English, particularly in official communication between the central government and non-Hindi-speaking states.
The Act has helped avoid linguistic divisions by allowing English to remain a bridge language, ensuring that governance is accessible to all states, irrespective of their linguistic preferences. It also ensures that the judiciary and legal processes remain inclusive by permitting the use of English in higher courts. By maintaining a balance between Hindi and English, the Act promotes inclusivity and prevents any single language from dominating the administrative framework. The Official Languages Act has played a significant role in maintaining linguistic harmony in India’s diverse society.