Syllabus: GS1/Culture
Context
- As of 2025, a total of 11 Indian languages hold the status of Classical Language.
About Classical Languages
- The Government of India conferred the ‘Classical Language’ status to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali languages in 2024.
- Six Indian languages —Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia—were earlier accorded the status of classical languages between 2004 to 2024.
- All the Classical Languages are listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
- Criteria for Classical Language:
- High antiquity of its early texts or recorded history, spanning a period of 1,500-2,000 years.
- A body of ancient literature or texts that is considered heritage by generations of speakers.
- Knowledge texts, especially prose texts, in addition to poetry, epigraphical and inscriptional evidence.
- The Classical Language and its literature may be distinct from its current form or show discontinuity with later forms derived from the original.
- Significance:
- Recognising a language as Classical is a way of honouring and acknowledging its historical importance and profound impact on India’s cultural and intellectual identity.
- It is significant in preserving and transmitting ancient knowledge, philosophies, and values over thousands of years.
- This status not only enhances their prestige but also supports efforts to protect, promote, and further study these languages.
Steps Undertaken to Promote Classical Languages
- Central Institute: The promotion of all Indian languages, including Classical Languages, is done through the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL).
- It is a subordinate office of the Ministry of Education, was set up in 1969 at Mysore.
- The Institute promotes Indian languages through several comprehensive schemes.
- Special Centres: In addition to this special centres have been set up for the study and promotion of the classical languages, either independently or under CIIL.
- While four of the centres for classical languages function under the aegis of the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru, the centre for Tamil is autonomous.
- For the promotion of Sanskrit, dedicated universities also receive funds directly from the Union Education Ministry.
| Eighth Schedule – The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India lists the official languages of the Republic of India. Part XVII of the Indian Constitution deals with the official languages in Articles 343 to 351.The Eighth Schedule includes the recognition of the following 22 languages: 1. Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili and Dogri are the 22 languages presently in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. 2. Of these languages, 14 were initially included in the Constitution. Subsequently, Sindhi was added in 1967; Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were added in 1992; and Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santali were added by the 92nd Amendment Act of 2003. |
Source: PIB
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