Following the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP), members of Tamil Nadu’s ruling party, the DMK, intensified protests against the perceived imposition of Hindi. As part of their demonstration, party functionaries removed Hindi inscriptions from the name boards at various railway stations. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin reiterated the state’s opposition to the NEP, asserting that the union government is attempting to impose Hindi and Sanskrit through the policy, thereby threatening linguistic diversity and the primacy of regional languages in education. However, an in-depth analysis revealed that these allegations lack substantive backing.
Conducting government examinations in regional languages
Over the past nine years, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, significant progress has been made in promoting regional languages along with Hindi. A landmark decision on August 16, 2023, allowed government job exams to be conducted in 15 Indian languages, ensuring that language barriers do not hinder employment opportunities. In addition to Hindi and English, exams now include Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Odia, Urdu, Punjabi, Manipuri, and Konkani, fostering greater local participation.
Although the Official Language Rules of 1976 laid the groundwork, major advancements have occurred in recent years. The Staff Selection Commission conducts exams in 15 languages, with plans to extend this to all 22 Scheduled Languages. Key national exams, such as JEE, NEET, and UGC, are already offered in 12 regional languages. Efforts to expand higher education in the Indian language are also underway. Madhya Pradesh pioneered medical education in Hindi, which was followed by Uttarakhand.
National Education Policy 2020
The NEP emphasises mother tongue instruction in primary, technical, and medical education. Engineering textbooks are being translated into eight languages, and medical education in Hindi has commenced with plans to extend it to other regional languages. Additionally, 56 of the 650 training modules under the Mission Karmayogi Prarambh initiative were made available in Hindi with potential expansion to other languages. These initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to strengthening India’s linguistic diversity and making education and employment more accessible in the regional languages. The National Education Policy 2020 has further reinforced language development by prioritising mother-tongue-based education up to Class 5 (and, where possible, Class 8). Bilingual textbooks, regional-language STEM education, and career counselling initiatives aim to strengthen comprehension and cognitive development. Over 104 primary books have been introduced in 22 states, while Indian Sign Language (ISL) resources now support inclusive learning. Additionally, DIKSHA offers over 3.66 lakh e-content resources in 133 languages, complemented by 200 TV channels that broadcast educational content in 29 languages.
Increased funding for language promotion
In the Union Budget 2023-24, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman allocated Rs 300.7 crore to national institutions promoting Indian languages, marking a 20 per cent increase from the previous year and a 70 per cent rise from 2021-22. This funding aims to support indigenous languages and Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) among youth. Beneficiary institutions include Central Sanskrit University, Kendriya Hindi Sansthan, and councils for Urdu, Sindhi, and Classical Tamil, among others. Additionally, the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore, saw its allocation rise to Rs 53.61 crore from Rs 43.50 crore, reinforcing efforts to promote Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Odia, and other Indian languages.
Advancing Linguistic Inclusivity
Atal Bihari Vajpayee once remarked, “Language is not merely a medium of expression but the soul of our culture.” Reflecting on this ethos, India has progressively expanded its linguistic recognition. The Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, initially listing 14 languages, now includes 22, showing the nation’s diversity. Key additions include Sindhi (1967), Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali (1992), followed by Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, and Santhali (2003) under Vajpayee’s leadership.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the promotion of Indian languages gained momentum. The recognition of Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu, Hindi, and English as official languages in Jammu and Kashmir after the Article 370 abrogation marked a significant step in linguistic inclusivity. Technological initiatives, such as the National Language Translation Mission and the Bhashini Project, enhance digital accessibility for regional languages. In higher education, significant progress includes the establishment of 51 Indian Knowledge Systems centres, the translation of 1,500 undergraduate textbooks into 12 Indian languages, and conducting national entrance exams (JEE, NEET, CUET) in 13 regional languages. Engineering courses are now available in eight Indian languages, while central universities offer 428 undergraduate programs in 12 Indian languages supported by platforms such as e-KUMBH and Anuvadini.
Promotion of Classical Languages by the Ministry of Education
The Ministry of Education has undertaken several initiatives to promote the use of Classical Languages in India. In 2020, three Central Universities were established under the Act of Parliament to advance Sanskrit studies. The Central Institute of Classical Tamil was established to facilitate translation, research, and academic programs in ancient times. Similarly, the Centres for Excellence for Classical Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia were established under the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru, to support research and preservation efforts. To further encourage scholarship in Classical Languages, the government has introduced National Awards, university chairs, and dedicated research centres. These measures aimed to promote linguistic heritage and foster academic excellence.
Recognition of Classical Languages has created significant employment prospects in academia, research, archiving, translation, publishing, and digital documentation. The digitisation and preservation of ancient texts have also expanded career opportunities in linguistic research and cultural studies. Meanwhile, proposals from Bihar, Assam, and West Bengal have been submitted to grant Classical Language status to Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali, reflecting continued efforts to preserve India’s rich linguistic heritage.
Cultural Initiatives
Cultural programs under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, including Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam and Kashi Tamil Sangamam, promote linguistic and cultural exchange. PM Modi’s emphasis on preserving Tamil, one of the world’s oldest languages, underscores the need to protect India’s rich linguistic heritage. Literature festivals, language-based tourism, and linguistic research have further highlighted India’s global linguistic diversity.
As an official language, Hindi has also received a boost, with 75 years of recognition. The government has strengthened its role in governance through the Hindi Advisory Committees, Town Official Language Implementation Committees (TOLIC), and the Hindi Shabd Sindhu dictionary. PM Modi’s advocacy on global platforms has enhanced Hindi’s international recognition while ensuring a balanced promotion of all Indian languages.
Over the past decade, Bharat has witnessed a profound yet often unnoticed linguistic transformation. Unlike previous governments that primarily adhered to the three-language formula, the current BJP-led government implemented structured policies aimed at strengthening all Bharatiya languages. These efforts focus on Bhasha Kshemam (linguistic well-being), ensuring the systematic revival of native languages in education, governance, and daily life, and Basha Ekata (linguistic solidarity), emphasising linguistic diversity as a unifying force distinct from the European model of one language per nation.
Colonial influences historically created linguistic divisions in India by categorising languages into binaries, such as Aryan vs. Dravidian, statutory vs. non-statutory, and classical vs. non-classical, undermining national unity. The true challenge for Tamil and other regional languages is not Hindi but the increasing dominance of English. The Bharatiya Bhasha Parivar initiative seeks to bridge these divisions by promoting a shared linguistic identity across all Indian languages. The opposition to Hindi imposition appears contradictory when critics readily accept English—a colonial legacy—while voicing concerns about Hindi “swallowing” North Indian languages. The DMK-led Tamil Nadu government, known for its strong resistance to Hindi, should first evaluate its linguistic policies and assess whether they have effectively safeguarded the state’s tribal languages. Reports indicate that nearly 17 tribal languages in Tamil Nadu are on the verge of extinction, often sidelined by a rigid perception of Tamil linguistic “purity.” Rather than fearing Hindi, the focus should be on preserving and revitalising these endangered indigenous languages. After all, “Charity begins at home.”
