National Language of India
India’s Constitution does not assign the status of “national language” to any language. Although Hindi is spoken by around 44% of the population, it has never been officially declared the national language. Debates have taken place for decades, but no unanimous agreement has been reached.
The nation instead follows a balanced linguistic approach where no single language symbolizes national identity, while Hindi and English serve administrative purposes at the central level.
Official Language of India
Article 343 of the Constitution states that Hindi in the Devanagari script is the official language of the Union. English functions as an associate official language and continues to be extensively used for central government communication, legal processes, and parliamentary work. This dual-language framework ensures smooth governance across India’s linguistically diverse states.
Hindi
Under Article 343, Hindi is used by the Central Government when communicating with Hindi-speaking states.
English
English serves as the medium of communication between the Centre and states where Hindi is not widely spoken, supporting integration and administrative ease.
List of 22 Officially Recognized Languages
The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution lists 22 scheduled languages, which receive recognition for cultural, educational, and administrative purposes. The Schedule originally included 14 languages, with more added through constitutional amendments over the years.
The 22 languages are:
Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu.
These languages are associated with specific states and regions, reflecting India’s linguistic depth and heritage.
Official Language vs National Language
India’s Constitution clearly differentiates between these two concepts:
Official Language National Language
Hindi and English None
Used for government communication No language holds national status
Hindi for Hindi-speaking states National language usually symbolizes cultural identity
English for non-Hindi-speaking states Constitution assigns no such designation
22 languages recognized for cultural value –
Thus, while India has official languages for administrative use, it intentionally avoids choosing a national language to preserve linguistic equality.
Expansion of the Eighth Schedule
The number of scheduled languages increased from 14 to 22 through the following amendments:
Amendment | Year | Added Languages | Total |
21st | 1967 | Sindhi | 15 |
71st | 1992 | Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali | 18 |
92nd | 2003 | Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santali | 22 |
These additions recognize the linguistic richness and cultural significance of various communities across India.
FAQs
Q1. What is India’s national language?
India does not have a national language.
Q2. Which is the national language of India in 2024?
India still has no national language.
Q3. What is India’s Rashtra Bhasha?
Hindi in the Devanagari script is the official language of the Union, not the national language.
Q4. Is Hindi the national language of India?
No. The Constitution does not grant national language status to any language.
Q5. Which is the oldest language in India?
Tamil is widely regarded as one of the oldest languages in India.
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