At a glance
PaperPaper ISubjectPolitySyllabusThe country's political system and Constitution of India, social systems and public administration, and regional and international security issues and human rights including its indicatorsImportanceMedium
Eighth ScheduleOfficial LanguagePart XviiArticle 343Article 351HindiClassical LanguagesLinguistic Rights
Language is a clean static-fact area with one frequent twist: the difference between the official language (Part XVII) and the scheduled languages (the Eighth Schedule). CAPF examiners ask which Article makes Hindi in Devanagari the official language of the Union (Art 343), how many languages are in the Eighth Schedule (22), which were added by which amendment, and which languages are classified as "classical". Language also carries a security and human-rights dimension through the anti-Hindi agitations and the constitutional safeguards for linguistic minorities. This note gives the Part XVII framework, the Eighth Schedule list and its growth, and the classical-language list. The standard references are Part XVII of the Constitution, the Official Languages Act, 1963, the Eighth Schedule, and Laxmikanth's chapter on the official language.
| Article |
Provision |
| Art 343 |
Hindi in the Devanagari script is the official language of the Union; English was to continue for official purposes for 15 years from commencement (until 1965) |
| Art 344 |
A Commission and a Parliamentary Committee on official language |
| Art 345 |
A State may adopt one or more languages in use in the State, or Hindi, as its official language(s) |
| Art 346 |
Language for communication between States and between a State and the Union |
| Art 347 |
Special provision for a language spoken by a section of the population of a State |
| Art 348 |
The language of the Supreme Court and High Courts, and of Bills and Acts, shall be English (until Parliament provides otherwise) |
| Art 350 |
The right to submit a representation for the redress of a grievance in any language used in the Union or a State |
| Art 350A |
Facilities for instruction in the mother tongue at the primary stage to children of linguistic-minority groups |
| Art 350B |
A Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities, appointed by the President (added by the 7th Amendment, 1956) |
| Art 351 |
A directive to promote the spread of Hindi so that it may serve as a medium of expression for the composite culture of India |
The Official Languages Act, 1963 provided that English may continue to be used along with Hindi for official purposes of the Union and for transaction of business in Parliament even after 1965. This continuation answered the fear in the non-Hindi-speaking States that Hindi would become the sole official language.
Note: there is no "national language" in the Constitution. Hindi is the official language of the Union, not the national language. This is a recurring trap.
The Eighth Schedule lists the languages the Constitution recognises (Art 344 and 351 refer to it). It now lists 22 languages, having grown from the original 14.
| Stage |
Languages added |
Amendment |
| Original (14) |
Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya (Odia), Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu |
Original |
| +1 (15) |
Sindhi |
21st Amendment, 1967 |
| +3 (18) |
Konkani, Manipuri (Meitei), Nepali |
71st Amendment, 1992 |
| +4 (22) |
Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali (Santali) |
92nd Amendment, 2003 |
Being in the Eighth Schedule entitles a language to representation on the Official Language Commission and a place in the development of Hindi (Art 351), and it can be used in certain examinations. Several languages (such as Tulu, Bhojpuri, Rajasthani) seek inclusion; verify the latest as inclusion requires a constitutional amendment.
The Government of India confers "classical language" status on a separate track (it is not the Eighth Schedule), and the list has grown over time. The earliest recognised were Tamil (2004) and Sanskrit (2005), followed by Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Odia, and more recently a further set of languages. Classical status brings recognition and funding for study. Verify the latest full list of classical languages, as new additions have been made.
- Language has been a recurring trigger of mass agitation. The anti-Hindi agitations in the south (notably in Tamil Nadu in 1965, on the expiry of the 15-year English continuation) shaped the Official Languages Act, 1963 and the formula of continuing English. Linguistic identity also drove the linguistic reorganisation of States (States Reorganisation Act, 1956).
- The Constitution provides safeguards for linguistic minorities: Art 29 (protection of a distinct language, script or culture), Art 30 (the right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions), Art 350A (mother-tongue instruction at the primary stage) and Art 350B (the Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities). These connect language to the broader minority-rights limb of the syllabus. See fundamental rights.
- Single-correct: how many languages are in the Eighth Schedule (22); which Article makes Hindi the official language (Art 343).
- Matching: amendment to languages added (21st Sindhi; 71st Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali; 92nd Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali).
- How-many-statements-correct: a cluster on Part XVII (no national language; English continued by the 1963 Act; Art 350B Special Officer).
- Assertion-reason: the Official Languages Act, 1963 continued English because the non-Hindi States feared the loss of English.
Authored practice, not a verbatim PYQ.
Q1How many languages are listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
- A14
- B18
- C22
- D24. Answer
- C. The list has grown from the original 14 to 22.
Q2Which Article declares Hindi in the Devanagari script to be the official language of the Union.
- AArt 343
- BArt 348
- CArt 351
- DArt 29. Answer
- A.
Q3Consider the following. (1) Hindi is the national language of India. (2) The Official Languages Act, 1963 allowed English to continue beyond 1965. (3) Sindhi was added to the Eighth Schedule by the 21st Amendment. How many are correct.
- Aone
- Btwo
- Cthree
- Dnone. Answer
- B. Statements 2 and 3 are correct; the Constitution names no national language.
Q4Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhali were added to the Eighth Schedule by which amendment.
- A21st
- B71st
- C92nd
- D100th. Answer
- C. The 92nd Amendment, 2003 added these four.
Q5The Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities is provided for under which Article.
- AArt 343
- BArt 350A
- CArt 350B
- DArt 351. Answer
- C. Art 350B, added by the 7th Amendment, 1956.
| Often mixed up |
The correct position |
| National vs official language |
The Constitution names no national language; Hindi is the official language of the Union |
| Eighth Schedule vs classical languages |
The Eighth Schedule (22) is constitutional; classical status is conferred separately by the Government |
| Art 343 vs Art 351 |
Art 343 declares Hindi the official language; Art 351 directs the promotion and spread of Hindi |
| When English was to end |
The 15-year period ended in 1965; the Official Languages Act, 1963 continued English |
| Which amendment added what |
21st Sindhi; 71st Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali; 92nd Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali |
- "22 in the Eighth, 343 for Hindi." Count and Article.
- "21-1, 71-3, 92-4." The additions: one (Sindhi), three (Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali), four (Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali).
- "No national language," only an official language of the Union.
- "350A teaches, 350B officer," the two minority-language safeguards in Part XVII.
- Part XVII (Art 343 to 351) deals with language; Art 343 makes Hindi in Devanagari the official language of the Union.
- There is no national language in the Constitution.
- The Official Languages Act, 1963 continued the use of English along with Hindi after 1965.
- The Eighth Schedule lists 22 languages (originally 14).
- 21st Amendment added Sindhi; 71st added Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali; 92nd added Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali.
- Safeguards: Art 29, 30, 350A (mother-tongue instruction), 350B (Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities).
- Classical languages are recognised separately; Tamil was the first (2004), then Sanskrit (2005) and others; verify the latest list.
- Part XVII (Art 343 to 351) governs language.
- Hindi in the Devanagari script is the official language of the Union (Art 343).
- There is no national language in the Constitution.
- English continued after 1965 under the Official Languages Act, 1963.
- The Eighth Schedule lists 22 languages.
- The original Eighth Schedule had 14 languages.
- Sindhi was added by the 21st Amendment, 1967.
- Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were added by the 71st Amendment, 1992.
- Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhali were added by the 92nd Amendment, 2003.
- Art 350B provides for a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities.
- Art 351 directs the promotion and spread of Hindi.
- Classical-language status is conferred separately by the Government.
- Official language: the language for the official work of the Union or a State.
- National language: a constitutionally designated language for the whole nation; India has none.
- Eighth Schedule: the constitutional list of recognised languages (currently 22).
- Classical language: a language given a special heritage status by the Government, outside the Eighth Schedule.
- Linguistic minority: a group whose language differs from the majority of the State.
- Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities: the Art 350B authority that safeguards their language interests.