View source for Languages with official recognition in India

{{Short description|Languages designated official status by the Constitution of India }}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2025}}
[[File:Language Map of India.jpg|thumb|States and union territories of India by the most commonly spoken (L1) first language]]
[[File:Road_sign_Kochi.jpeg|thumb|A pentalingual highway sign in Kochi written in Malayalam, English, Hindi, Tamil and Kannada.]]

{{As of|2025}}, 22 languages have been classified as '''scheduled languages''' under the [[Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India]].<ref name="Eight">{{cite web|title=Eighth Schedule|url=https://www.mea.gov.in/Images/pdf1/S8.pdf|publisher=[[Government of India]]|access-date=5 December 2023}}</ref> There is no national language of India.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hindi, not a national language|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/hindi-not-a-national-language-court/article94695.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |agency=PTI |date=25 January 2010 |access-date=20 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131202420/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Hindi-not-a-national-language-Court/article16839525.ece |archive-date=31 January 2017}}</ref>

While the constitution was adopted in 1950, article 343 declared that Hindi would be the official language and English would serve as an additional official language for a period not exceeding 15 years.<ref name="Rajbasha">{{cite web|title=Constitutional Provisions: Official Language Related Part-17 of The Constitution Of India|url=https://www.mea.gov.in/Images/pdf1/Part17.pdf|access-date=1 July 2015|publisher=[[Government of India]]}}</ref> Article 344(1) defined a set of 14 regional languages which were represented in the [[Official Languages Commission]]. The commission was to suggest steps to be taken to progressively promote the use of Hindi as the official language of the country.<ref name="Constitution">{{cite web|title=Constitution of India, Eighth schedule|url=https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/Eighth_Schedule.pdf|publisher=[[Government of India]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref> The [[Official Languages Act, 1963]], which came into effect on 26 January 1965, made provision for the continuation of English as an official language alongside Hindi.<ref>{{cite act|title=Official Languages Act|year=1963|url=https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/1526/1/A1963__19.pdf|legislature=[[Parliament of India]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>

== History ==
The official languages of British India before independence were English, [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]] and [[Languages of India|other Indian vernaculars]], with English being used for purposes at the central level.<ref>{{cite book|last=Mollin|first=Sandra|title=Euro-English: assessing variety status|year=2006|publisher=Gunter Narr Verlag|isbn=978-3-8233-6250-0|page=17|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qPhULmMmqJMC&pg=PA17}}</ref> The origins of official Hindi usage traces back to the late 19th century. In 1881, Hindi replaced Urdu as the official language of Bihar; and in 1900, [[Antony MacDonnell, 1st Baron MacDonnell|MacDonnell]] issued an order, which allowed the “permissive — but not exclusive — use” of Devanagari for [[Hindustani language]] in the courts of [[North-Western Provinces]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rai|first=Alok|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fmnpssOM_3kC|title=Hindi Nationalism (tracks for the Times)|date=2001|publisher=Orient Blackswan|isbn=978-81-250-1979-4|language=en}}</ref>

Following independence, the [[Constituent Assembly of India|Constituent Assembly]] remained divided on the language issue, with some like [[Raghunath Vinayak Dhulekar|R. V. Dulekar]] and [[Seth Govind Das]] favouring declaring Hindi written in [[Devanagari]] the national language of India immediately, while within the camp favouring Hindi there were divisions over whether the script of the language should be Devanagari or Roman, whether Hindustani with both Devanagari and Urdu scripts be retained, and whether the numerals should be international or Devanagari. Meanwhile, some like [[Frank Anthony]], [[T. A. Ramalingam|T A Ramalingam Chettiar]], and [[Naziruddin Ahmad]] wanted to continue the usage of English, while Nehru, although supporting the dropping of English as an official language in favour of Hindi/Hindustani, cautioned against forcefully doing so in face of opposition in the South.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 September 2022 |title=Hindi Diwas, and the history of the debate over Hindi's status |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-culture/explained-hindi-diwas-and-the-history-of-the-debate-over-hindis-status-8150724/ |access-date=18 September 2023 |newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=14 September 2023 |title=Hindi Diwas: How Constituent Assembly decided on Hindi as the official, and not national, language of India |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-history/hindi-diwas-constituent-assembly-official-language-8940309/ |access-date=18 September 2023 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> The [[Constitution of India|Indian constitution]], adopted in 1950, as a compromise envisaged that English would be phased out in favour of Hindi over a fifteen-year period, but gave Parliament the power to, by law, provide for the continued use of English even thereafter.<ref>[[Kanchan Chandra]], [http://www.nyu.edu/gsas/dept/politics/faculty/chandra/ps2001.pdf "Ethnic Bargains, Group Instability, and Social Choice Theory", Politics and Society 29, 3: 337–62.]</ref>

Plans to make Hindi the sole official language of the Republic were met with resistance in many parts of the country, especially [[Anti-Hindi agitations of Tamil Nadu|in Tamil Nadu]], which had a history of opposing imposition of the Hindi language dating back to 1937, when the [[Justice Party (India)|Justice Party]] opposed the then Congress led [[Chief Ministership of C. Rajagopalachari|Madras Government's]] decision to make Hindi compulsory in secondary/middle schools.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramakrishnan |first=T. |date=17 October 2022 |title=Explained {{!}} Hindi imposition and its discontents |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/explained-hindi-imposition-and-its-discontents/article66023522.ece |access-date=18 September 2023 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

The Indian constitution, in 1950, declared Hindi in Devanagari script to be the official language of the union. Unless Parliament decided otherwise, the use of English for official purposes was to cease 15 years after the constitution came into effect, that is, on 26 January 1965. The prospect of the changeover, however, led to much alarm in the non-Hindi-speaking areas of India, especially [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]]-speaking states whose languages were not related to Hindi whatsoever. As a result, Parliament enacted the [[Official Languages Act, 1963]], which provided for the continued use of English for official purposes along with Hindi, even after 1965.<ref name=uopu>{{cite web | url=http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | title=The Official Languages (Use for Official Purpose of the Union) – Rules 1976 (As Amended, 1987) – Section 3(3) | access-date=10 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325173337/http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/dolruleseng.htm | archive-date=25 March 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/35.htm |title=Commissioner of Linguistic Minorities |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008113359/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/35.htm |archive-date=8 October 2007 |access-date=1 June 2007}}
</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.languageinindia.com/april2002/officiallanguagesact.html |title=Language in India Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow |date=2 April 2002 |publisher=languageinindia.com |access-date=19 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423161906/http://www.languageinindia.com/april2002/officiallanguagesact.html |archive-date=23 April 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Scheduled Languages Act, 1963 |url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/RPF/Files/law/BareActs/officiallang1963act.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601185802/http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/RPF/Files/law/BareActs/officiallang1963act.htm |archive-date=1 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Union: Official Language |url=http://india.gov.in/knowindia/official_language.php |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070417150059/http://india.gov.in/knowindia/official_language.php |archive-date=17 April 2007 |website=www.india.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{cite report |url=http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/khand8-eng7.pdf |title=Committee of Parliament on Official Language report |access-date=1 June 2011}}</ref> 

In late 1964, an attempt was made to expressly provide for an end to the use of English, but it was met with protests from states and territories, including [[Maharashtra]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[West Bengal]], [[Karnataka]], [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]], [[Nagaland]], [[Mizoram]] and [[Andhra Pradesh]]. Some of these protests also turned violent.<ref>Hardgrave, Robert L. (August 1965). "The Riots in Tamilnadu: Problems and Prospects of India's Language Crisis". Asian Survey (University of California Press)</ref> As a result, the proposal was dropped,<ref>{{Citation |title=The force of words |date=19 February 1965 |magazine=Time |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,940936,00.html |access-date=5 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014111537/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,940936,00.html |archive-date=14 October 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{citation |last=Forrester |first=Duncan B. |title=The Madras Anti-Hindi Agitation, 1965: Political Protest and its Effects on Language Policy in India |date=Spring–Summer 1966 |journal=Pacific Affairs |volume=39 |issue=1/2 |pages=19–36 |doi=10.2307/2755179 |jstor=2755179}}</ref> and the Act itself was amended in 1967 to provide that the use of English would not be ended until a resolution to that effect was passed by the legislature of every state that had not adopted Hindi as its official language, and by each house of the Indian Parliament.{{r|uopu|at=3(5)}}

The position was thus that the Union government continues to use English in addition to Hindi for its official purposes{{r|uopu|at=3(1)}} as a "subsidiary official language",<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100502221154/http://www.rajbhasha.gov.in/preseng.htm Notification No. 2/8/60-O.L. (Ministry of Home Affairs), dated 27 April 1960] archived from ''www.rajbhasha.gov.in'', accessed 4 August 2020</ref> but is also required to prepare and execute a program to progressively increase its use of Hindi.{{r|uopu|at=1)}}The exact extent to which, and the areas in which, the Union government uses Hindi and English, respectively, is determined by the provisions of the Constitution, the Official Languages Act, 1963, the Official Languages Rules, 1976, and [[statutory instrument]]s made by the Department of Official Language under these laws.

[[Department of Official Language]] was set up in June 1975 as an independent Department of the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Functions of Department {{!}} Department of Official Language {{!}} Ministry of Home Affairs  |url=https://rajbhasha.gov.in/en/functions-department |access-date=15 June 2021 |publisher=[[Government of India]]}}</ref>

== Scheduled languages of the Indian Constitution ==
{{anchor|Schedule|Scheduled}}
The Eighth Schedule to the [[Constitution of India|Constitution of the Republic of India]] lists the official languages of the Republic of India. At the time when the Constitution was enacted, inclusion in this list meant that the language was entitled to representation on the [[Official Languages Commission]], and that the language would be one of the bases that would be drawn upon to enrich Hindi and English, the [[official languages]] of the Union. The list has since, however, acquired further significance. The Government of India is now under an obligation to take measures for the development of these languages, such that "they grow rapidly in richness and become effective means of communicating modern knowledge." In addition, candidates sitting for an examination conducted for public service are entitled to use any of these languages as a medium to answer the paper.

=== Chronology ===

* 1950: 14 languages were initially included in the Constitution.<ref name="sch">{{cite report |title=Constitutional provisions relating to Eighth Schedule |url=http://mha.nic.in/hindi/sites/upload_files/mhahindi/files/pdf/Eighth_Schedule.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305010536/http://mha.nic.in/hindi/sites/upload_files/mhahindi/files/pdf/Eighth_Schedule.pdf |archive-date=5 March 2016 |access-date=4 October 2016 |publisher=Ministry Of Home Affairs, [[Government of India]]}}</ref>
* 1967: Sindhi was added by [[Twenty-first Amendment of the Constitution of India|21st Constitutional Amendment Act]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Constitution (Twenty-first Amendment) Act, 1967 |url=http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend21.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130174023/http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend21.htm |archive-date=30 January 2012 |access-date=5 December 2013}}</ref>
* 1992: Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were added by [[Seventy-first Amendment of the Constitution of India|71st Constitutional Amendment Act]]<ref>{{cite web |title=The Constitution (Seventy-first Amendment) Act, 1992{{!}} National Portal of India |url=https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/constitution-india/amendments/constitution-india-seventy-first-amendment-act-1992 |access-date=19 May 2023 |publisher=India.gov.in}}</ref>
* 2003: Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santali were added by [[Ninety-second Amendment of the Constitution of India|92nd Constitutional Amendment Act]].<ref name="sch" />
* 2011: The spelling Oriya was replaced by Odia by 96th Constitutional Amendment Act.<ref name="Odia_spelling_change">{{cite web |url=https://1drv.ms/b/s!AoSY7m8bBHQlkxFE7SoviMzbdFto?e=7dAUv8 |title=The Constitution (Ninety-Sixth Amendment) Act, 2011 |publisher=eGazette of India |date=23 September 2011 |access-date=1 May 2024}}</ref>

{{Static row numbers}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+List of scheduled languages
! Language{{efn|Includes variants and dialects}}
!Speakers<br /><small>(millions,&nbsp;2011)</small><ref name="CensusData 2011, Language and Mother Tongue">{{cite report|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/C-16_25062018_NEW.pdf|title=Statement 1 – Abstract of Speakers' Strength of Languages and Mother Tongues – 2011|publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627064326/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/C-16_25062018_NEW.pdf|archive-date=27 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
!class=unsortable|Notes<ref name="Offlang">{{cite report|url=http://164.100.166.181/annualreport/52ndReport_CLM_English.pdf|page=124|title=52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India|date=9 August 2021|access-date=6 November 2021|work=[[Government of India]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807223707/http://164.100.166.181/annualreport/52ndReport_CLM_English.pdf|archive-date=7 August 2023 }}</ref>
!Year included
!Writing system
|-
|[[Assamese language|Assamese]]|| 15.3 ||Official language of [[Assam]]
|1950
|[[Bengali–Assamese script]] 
|-
|[[Bengali language|Bengali]]|| 97.2 ||Official language of [[West Bengal]], [[Tripura]] and the [[Barak Valley]] region of Assam, additional official in [[Jharkhand]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bihardays.com/jharkhands-11-second-languages-will-create-new-jobs-enrich-national-culture/ |title=Jharkhand's 11 second languages will create new jobs: But also enrich national culture |publisher=BiharDays |access-date=5 January 2014 |archive-date=6 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106033703/http://www.bihardays.com/jharkhands-11-second-languages-will-create-new-jobs-enrich-national-culture/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|1950
|Bengali–Assamese script 
|-
|[[Bodo language|Bodo]]|| 1.48 ||Official language of [[Bodoland]], Assam.
|2003
|[[Devanagari]]
|-
|[[Dogri language|Dogri]]|| 2.6 ||Official language of [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]<ref name="DogriKashmiri">{{cite news |last1=Das |first1=Ananya |title=Cabinet approves Bill to include Kashmiri, Dogri, Hindi as official languages in Jammu and Kashmir |url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/cabinet-approves-bill-to-include-kashmiri-dogri-hindi-as-official-languages-in-jammu-and-kashmir-2307085.html |access-date=8 September 2020 |work=Zee News |date=2 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
|2003
| Devanagari
|-
|[[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]|| 55.5 ||Official language in [[Gujarat]] and additional official language of [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]]<ref>{{cite web |title=The Goa, Daman and Diu Official Language Act, 1987 |url=https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/6809/1/official_language_act.pdf |access-date=12 November 2022 |publisher=Indiacode }}</ref>
|1950
|[[Gujarati script]]
|-
|[[Hindi]]|| 528||Official language in [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]], [[Bihar]], Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, [[Chhattisgarh]], [[Delhi]], Gujarat,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/4501/1/officiallanguages.pdf |title=The Gujarat Official Languages Act, 1960 |publisher= Indiacode |year=1961 |access-date=21 December 2022 }}</ref> [[Haryana]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, [[Ladakh]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Rajasthan]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Uttarakhand]]. An additional official language in [[West Bengal]]<ref name="Telegraph:1" /><ref name="Indiatoday:1" /> Major spoken language in Northern India, and one of the official languages of the Government of India along with [[English language|English]].
| 1950
|Devanagari
|-
|[[Kannada]]|| 43.7 ||Official language of [[Karnataka]]
|1950
|[[Kannada script]]
|-
|[[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]]|| 6.8 ||Official language of Jammu and Kashmir<ref name="DogriKashmiri" />
|1950
|[[Perso-Arabic script]]
|-
|[[Konkani language|Konkani]]|| 2.25 ||Official language of [[Goa]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/konkani/konkani.htm|title=The Origins of the Konkani Language|date=15 January 2016|website=www.kamat.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://languages.iloveindia.com/konkani.html|title=Indian Languages: Konkani Language|website=iloveindia.com|access-date=4 August 2020}}</ref>
|1992
|Devanagari
|-
|[[Maithili language|Maithili]]|| 13.6 ||Additional official language in the [[Mithila (proposed Indian state)|Mithila region]] of Jharkhand<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/news/ranchi/jharkhand-raghubar-das-cabinet-decision-maithili-bhojpuri-angika-magahi-second-language/1135878.html |title = झारखंड : रघुवर कैबिनेट से मगही, भोजपुरी, मैथिली व अंगिका को द्वितीय भाषा का दर्जा |trans-title =  Jharkhand: Second language status to Magahi, Bhojpuri, Maithili and Angika from Raghuvar cabinet |website=prabhatkhabar.com|date = 21 March 2018 |access-date=4 August 2020}}</ref>
|2003
| Devanagari<ref>{{cite web |title=Maithili Script and Spelling |url=http://lisindia.ciil.org/Maithili/Maith_Script.html |website=lisindia.ciil.org |access-date=20 March 2025}}</ref>
|-
|[[Malayalam]]|| 34.8 ||Official language of [[Kerala]]; additional official language in [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]
|1950
|[[Malayalam language|Malayalam script]]
|-
|[[Manipuri language|Manipuri]]|| 1.8 ||Official language of [[Manipur]]
|1992
|[[Meitei script]]
|-
|[[Marathi language|Marathi]]|| 83 ||Official language of [[Maharashtra]]; additional official language of Goa.
|1950
|Devanagari
|-
|[[Nepali language|Nepali]]|| 2.9 ||Official language of [[Sikkim]]. Additional official language in the [[Gorkhaland]] region of West Bengal.
|1992
|Devanagari
|-
|[[Odia language|Odia]]|| 37.5||Official language of [[Odisha]]; additional official language in Jharkhand, West Bengal<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/oriya-gets-its-due-in-neighbouring-state/181258-60-117.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815161939/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/oriya-gets-its-due-in-neighbouring-state/181258-60-117.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 August 2012|title=Oriya gets its due in neighbouring state- Orissa- IBNLive|date=4 September 2011|publisher=Ibnlive.in.com|access-date=29 November 2012}}</ref> The spelling Oriya was replaced by Odia by 96th Constitutional Amendment Act.<ref name="Odia_spelling_change"/>
|1950
|[[Odia script]]
|-
|[[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]|| 33.1 ||Official language of [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]; additional official language of Delhi, Haryana, West Bengal<ref name="Telegraph:1" /><ref name="Indiatoday:1" />
|1950
|[[Gurmukhi]]
|-
|[[Sanskrit]]|| 0.02 ||Classical and scriptural language of India, but not widely spoken, nor the language of any modern Indian community.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sreevatsan |first=Ajai |date=9 August 2014 |title=Where are the Sanskrit speakers? |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Where-are-the-Sanskrit-speakers/article60089403.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307070709/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Where-are-the-Sanskrit-speakers/article60089403.ece |archive-date = 7 March 2022 |work=The Hindu |issn=0971-751X |access-date=23 February 2024}}</ref> Additional official language of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
|1950
|Devanagari, [[Brahmi Script|Brahmi]] and [[Brahmic scripts]]
|-
|[[Santali language|Santali]]|| 7.6 || Additional official language of Jharkhand, West Bengal<ref name="The Avenue Mail" />
|2003
|[[Ol Chiki]]
|-
|[[Sindhi language|Sindhi]]|| 2.7 || Not the official language of any state, but spoken by nearly three million Indians, mainly in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census Tables |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/census.website/data/census-tables |access-date=23 February 2024 |website=Census of India |publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India}}</ref>
|1967
|Perso-Arabic script or Devanagari<ref>{{cite journal|url =https://brill.com/view/journals/joss/1/1/article-p1_3.xml?language=en |title =Like Community, Like Language: Seventy-Five Years of Sindhi in Post-Partition India |year = 2021|journal =Journal of Sindhi Studies |doi =10.1163/26670925-bja10002 |access-date = 12 November 2021 |last1 =Iyengar |first1 =Arvind |last2 =Parchani |first2 =Sundri |volume =1 |pages =1–32 |s2cid =246551773 |doi-access =free }}</ref>
|-
|[[Tamil language|Tamil]]|| 69 ||Official language of [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]].
|1950
|[[Tamil script]]
|-
|[[Telugu language|Telugu]]|| 81.1 ||Official language in [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Telangana]]. An additional official language in Puducherry and West Bengal.
|1950
|[[Telugu script]]
|-
|[[Urdu]]|| 50.7 ||An official language of Jammu and Kashmir; an additional official language in Andhra Pradesh,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=24 March 2022 |title=Urdu second official language in Andhra Pradesh |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/politics/240322/assembly-passes-two-bills-of-minorities-component-and-urdu-as-2nd-offi.html |access-date=26 March 2022 |website=Deccan Chronicle |language=en}}</ref> Bihar, Delhi, Jharkhand, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.<ref name="Telegraph:1" /><ref name="Indiatoday:1" />
|1950
| Perso-Arabic script
|}

==Official languages of the Union==
[[File:Indian_Passport.svg|thumb|The front cover of a contemporary [[Indian passport]], with the [[National Emblem of India|national emblem]] and inscriptions in the two official languages of Hindi and English.]]

=== Parliamentary proceedings and laws ===
The Indian constitution distinguishes the language to be used in Parliamentary proceedings, and the language in which laws are to be made. Parliamentary business, according to the Constitution, may be conducted in either Hindi or English. The use of English in parliamentary proceedings was to be phased out at the end of fifteen years unless Parliament chose to extend its use, which Parliament did through the Official Languages Act, 1963.{{r|uopu|at=3(1b)}} Also, the constitution permits a person who is unable to express themself in either Hindi or English to, with the permission of the [[Speaker (politics)|Speaker]] of the relevant House, address the House in their mother tongue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.constitution.org/cons/india/p05120.html|title=First proviso of Constitution|publisher=Constitution.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030115044918/http://www.constitution.org/cons/india/p05120.html |access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=15 January 2003 }}</ref>

In contrast, the constitution requires the authoritative text of all laws, including Parliamentary [[enactment (British legal term)|enactments]] and [[statutory instruments]], to be in English, until Parliament decides otherwise. Parliament has not exercised its power to so decide, instead merely requiring that all such laws and instruments, and all bills brought before it, also be translated into Hindi, though the English text remains authoritative.{{r|uopu|at=5(1, 2))}} The Official Languages Act, 1963 provides that the authoritative English text of passed acts, rules, regulations, etc., are published in Hindi as well in the official gazette by President of India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://socialjustice.nic.in/UserView/PrintUserView?mid=64581|title=Official Language Act |publisher=Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, [[Government of India]]|access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref>

=== Judiciary ===
The constitution provides, and the [[Supreme Court of India]] has reiterated, that all proceedings in the Supreme Court and the High Courts shall be in English.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/court-language-is-english-says-supreme-court/articleshow/50080870.cms|title=Court language is English, says Supreme Court |newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lawtrend.in/supreme-court-objects-to-use-of-hindi-in-proceedings-reiterates-english-as-official-language/ |title=Supreme Court Objects to Use of Hindi in Proceedings, Reiterates English as Official Language |date=16 September 2024 |access-date=17 September 2024 |website=lawtrend.in}}</ref> Parliament has the power to alter this by law but has not done so. However, in many high courts, there is, with consent from the president, allowance of the optional use of Hindi. Such proposals have been successful in the states of [[Rajasthan]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], and [[Bihar]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/government-press-release/use-of-hindi-language-in-courts-116042801074_1.html|title=Use of Hindi Language in Courts |newspaper=[[Business Standard]]|date=28 April 2016|access-date=4 August 2020}}</ref>

=== Administration ===
The Official Language Act provides that the Union government shall use both Hindi and English in most administrative documents that are intended for the public, though the Union government is required by law to promote the use of Hindi{{r|uopu|at=3(3)}} names, among others, resolutions, general orders, rules, notifications, administrative or other reports or [[press release|press communiques]] issued by a [[government department]], [[government agency|agency]] or [[Public Sector Undertaking|corporation]]; administrative and other reports and official papers laid before a House or the [[Houses of Parliament]]; and contracts and agreements executed, and licences, permits, notices and forms of tender issued by or on behalf of the government (including government companies).

The Official Languages Rules, in contrast, provide for a higher degree of use of Hindi in communications between offices of the central government (other than offices in [[Tamil Nadu]], to which the rules do not apply).{{r|uopu|at=1(ii)}} Communications between different departments within the central government may be in English and Hindi (though the English text remains authoritative), although a translation into the other language must be provided if required. Communications within offices of the same department, however, must be in Hindi if the offices are in Hindi-speaking states, and in either Hindi or English otherwise with Hindi being used in proportion to the percentage of staff in the receiving office who have a working knowledge of Hindi.{{r|uopu|at=4}} Notes and memos in files may be in English and Hindi (though the English text remains authoritative), with the Government having a duty to provide a translation into the other language if required.{{r|uopu|at=8}}

Besides, every person submitting a petition for the redress of a grievance to a government officer or authority has a constitutional right to submit it in any language used in India.

*12 out of the 22 scheduled languages are made available in the official website of the [[Prime Minister's Office (India)|Indian Prime Minister's Office]], namely Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Meitei (Manipuri), Odia, Punjabi, Tamil and Telugu, in addition to English.<ref>{{cite press release |title=PMINDIA Multilingual Website now available in 13 languages Assamese and Manipuri versions of Prime Minister's Official Website launched |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1514873 |access-date=10 March 2023 |publisher=[[Government of India]]}}</ref>
* 15 out of the 22 scheduled languages are made available in the [[Press Information Bureau]] (PIB) by the [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Ministry of Information and Broadcasting]] of the [[Government of India]] (GOI), namely Assamese, Bengali, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, Marathi, Meitei (Manipuri), Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu, in addition to English.<ref>{{cite news|title=PIB press releases in Manipuri |date=25 November 2015 |url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=17..251115.nov15 |access-date=10 March 2023 |work=e-pao}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=Imphal Free Press |title=PIB website has news in regional languages now |date=24 November 2015 |url=http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/pib-website-has-news-in-regional-languages-now/ |access-date=10 March 2023 }}</ref>
* 14 out of the 22 scheduled languages are selected by the [[Staff Selection Commission]] (SSC) of the [[Government of India]], to be made available in the conduction of the Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff examination across the country, namely Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, Marathi, Meitei (Manipuri), Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu, in addition to English.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh lauds SSC for deciding to conduct the Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff examination 2022 in 13 regional languages in addition to Hindi and English for the first time |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1892439 |access-date=10 March 2023 |publisher=[[Government of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=হিন্দি অমসুং ইংলিসকী মথক্তা অহানবা ওইনা লম-লমগী লোন ১৩দা মল্তি-তাস্কিং(নন-তেক্নিকেল) স্তাফ এজামিনেসন ২০২২ পাংথোক্নবা ৱারেপ লৌখিবগীদমক য়ুনিয়ন মিনিস্তর দোক্তর জিতেন্দ্র সিংহনা এস.এস.সি থাগৎখ্রে |trans-title=13th Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff Examination 2022 Panthoknba Wrap Loukhibgidmak Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singha SSC Ray|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1892624 |access-date=10 March 2023 |publisher=[[Government of India]] |language=mni}}</ref>

===Implementation===
Various steps have been taken by the Indian government to implement the use and familiarisation of Hindi extensively. [[Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha]] headquartered at [[Chennai]] was formed to spread Hindi in [[South India|South Indian states]]. Regional Hindi implementation offices at [[Bangalore]], [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Mumbai]], [[Kolkata]], [[Guwahati]], [[Bhopal]], [[Delhi]] and [[Ghaziabad]] have been established to monitor the implementation of Hindi in Central government offices and PSUs.

Annual targets are set by the [[Department of Official Language]] regarding the amount of correspondence being carried out in Hindi. A Parliament Committee on Official Language constituted in 1976 periodically reviews the progress in the use of Hindi and submits a report to the President. The governmental body which makes policy decisions and established guidelines for the promotion of Hindi is the ''Kendriya Hindi Samiti'' (est. 1967). In every city that has more than ten central Government offices, a Town Official Language Implementation Committee is established and cash awards are given to government employees who write books in Hindi. All Central government offices and PSUs are to establish Hindi Cells for implementation of Hindi in their offices.<ref>{{cite web|title=Official Language – Constitutional/Statutory Provisions |url=http://india.gov.in/knowindia/official_language.php |publisher=[[Government of India]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070417150059/http://india.gov.in/knowindia/official_language.php |archive-date=17 April 2007}}</ref>

In 2016, the government announced plans to promote Hindi in government offices in Southern and [[Northeast India]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/centre-to-promote-use-of-hindi-in-south-india-northeast-jitendra-singh/|title=Centre to promote the use of Hindi in South India, Northeast:Jitendra Singh|quote=In response to this several NGO and political parties have started agitation and some have even resorted to violent protests in the Darjeeling for separate statehood, which started in after the official statement in a press meet by Central parliamentary affairs minister. The monster himself hails from South India and many party leader of the government has felt like an insult to the mother language. The TANA has stated "It's high time the North should learn the lessons from the past and should try not to stir the broth"<br/>The ADMK leader has said in New Delhi "It's a shame to see my neighboring state leader hailing from Telugu state speaking against his own mother tongue.<br/>The Dravida Samrakshana Samiti Head has said " it's a direct assault on our culture and is an insult for saying the minister hailing from South India|date=9 June 2016|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|access-date=11 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Govt-to-promote-use-of-Hindi-in-routine-conversation-NE/articleshow/52659063.cms|title=Govt to promote use of Hindi in routine conversation|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=8 June 2016 |access-date=11 June 2016}}</ref>

The Indian constitution does not specify the official languages to be used by the states for the conduct of their official functions and leaves each state free to, through its legislature, adopt Hindi or any language used in its territory as its official language or languages.<ref>{{cite web|title=Constitution of India, Article|url=http://www.constitution.org/cons/india/p17345.html|publisher=Constitution.org|access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref> The language need not be one of those listed in the [[Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India|Eighth Schedule]], and several states have adopted official languages which are not so listed. Examples include [[Kokborok]] in [[Tripura]] and [[Mizo language|Mizo]] in [[Mizoram]].

=== Legislature and administration ===
The constitutional provisions in relation to use of the official language in legislation at the State level largely mirror those relating to the official language at the central level, with minor variations. State legislatures may conduct their business in their official language, Hindi or (for a transitional period, which the legislature can extend if it so chooses) English, and members who cannot use any of these have the same rights to their mother tongue with the Speaker's permission. The authoritative text of all laws must be in English unless Parliament passes a law permitting a state to use another language, and if the original text of a law is in a different language, an authoritative English translation of all laws must be prepared.

The state has the right to regulate the use of its official language in public administration, and in general, neither the constitution nor any central enactment imposes any restriction on this right. However, every person submitting a petition for the redress of a grievance to any officer or authority of the state government has a constitutional right to submit it in any language used in that state, regardless of its official status.

Besides, the constitution grants the central government, acting through the [[President of India|President]], the power to issue certain directives to the government of a state in relation to the use of minority languages for official purposes. The President may direct a State to officially recognise a language spoken in its territory for specified purposes and in specified regions if its speakers demand it and satisfy him that a substantial proportion of the State's population desires its use. Similarly, States and local authorities are required to endeavour to provide [[primary education]] in the mother tongue for all linguistic minorities, regardless of whether their language is official in that State, and the President has the power to issue directions he deems necessary to ensure that they are provided these facilities.

=== State judiciary ===
States have significantly less freedom in relation to determining the language in which judicial proceedings in their respective [[High Courts of India|High Courts]] will be conducted. The constitution gives the power to authorise the use of Hindi, or the state's official language in proceedings of the High Court to the [[Governor (India)|Governor]], rather than the state legislature and requires the Governor to obtain the consent of the [[President of India]], who in these matters acts on the advice of the Government of India. The Official Languages Act gives the Governor a similar power, subject to similar conditions, in relation to the language in which the High Court's judgements will be delivered.{{r|uopu|at=3(3)}}

Four states—[[Bihar]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Madhya Pradesh]] and [[Rajasthan]]—<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.barandbench.com/index.php?title=Language%20in%20Courts%20-%20a%20bridge%20or%20a%20barrier?&page=brief&id=805&gn=0|title=Language in Courts – a bridge or a barrier?|publisher=Bar and Bench|access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref> have been granted the right to conduct proceedings in their High Courts in their official language, which, for all of them, was Hindi. However, the only non-Hindi state to seek a similar power—[[Tamil Nadu]], which sought the right to conduct proceedings in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] in the [[Madras High Court]]—had its application rejected by the central government earlier, which said it was advised to do so by the Supreme Court.<ref>{{citation |last= Special Correspondent |title=Karunanidhi stands firm on Tamil in High Court |page=1 |date=12 March 2007 |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/12/stories/2007031205180100.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070313221430/http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/12/stories/2007031205180100.htm|url-status=dead|newspaper= [[The Hindu]] |archive-date=13 March 2007}}</ref> In 2006, the law ministry said that it would not object to Tamil Nadu state's desire to conduct Madras High Court proceedings in Tamil.<ref>{{cite news |date=7 January 2007 |title=The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Thanjavur News : No objection to Tamil as court language: A.P. Shah |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/03/stories/2006120306220800.htm |access-date=19 June 2024 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070107191048/http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/03/stories/2006120306220800.htm |archive-date=7 January 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.silobreaker.com/DocumentReader.aspx?Item=5_848171789|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230004201/http://www.silobreaker.com/DocumentReader.aspx?Item=5_848171789|url-status=dead|title=Silobreaker: Make Tamil the language of Madras High Court|archive-date=30 December 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=30 April 2008 |title=Karunanidhi hopeful of Centre's announcement |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/21/stories/2008042159970800.htm |access-date=19 June 2024|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430135931/http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/21/stories/2008042159970800.htm |archive-date=30 April 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/iep/sunday/story/299161.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080425182337/http://www.indianexpress.com/iep/sunday/story/299161.html|title=Govt likely to allow Tamil in Madras HC|url-status=dead|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|archive-date=25 April 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.tn.gov.in/pressrelease/archives/pr2007/pr110307/pr110307_45.pdf|title=Tamil Nadu government press release|publisher=[[Government of Tamil Nadu]]|access-date=4 August 2020}}</ref> In 2010, the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court allowed lawyers to argue cases in Tamil.<ref>{{cite news|title= Advocate argues in Tamil in High Court |url=http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/article443474.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402175831/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/article443474.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 April 2015 |access-date=27 June 2010|newspaper=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=23 June 2010}}</ref>

===Demands for additional official languages===
At present, as per the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]],<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=Eighth schedule |url=http://mha.nic.in/hindi/sites/upload_files/mhahindi/files/pdf/Eighth_Schedule.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305010536/http://mha.nic.in/hindi/sites/upload_files/mhahindi/files/pdf/Eighth_Schedule.pdf |archive-date=5 March 2016 |access-date=4 October 2016}}</ref> there are demands for inclusion of 38 more languages
in the [[Eighth Schedule to the Constitution]]. These are: 
{{columns-list|colwidth=10em|
*[[Angika]] 
*[[Lambadi|Banjara]] 
*[[Bajjika]] 
*[[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]] 
*[[Bundeli language|Bundelkhandi]] 
*[[Chhattisgarhi language|Chhattisgarhi]] 
*[[Dhatki language|Dhatki]] 
*[[English language|English]] 
*[[Garhwali language|Garhwali]] 
*[[Gondi language|Gondi]] 
*[[Gujari language|Gujjari]] 
*[[Ho language|Ho]] 
*[[Kachhi language|Kachhi]] 
*[[Kamtapuri language|Kamtapuri]] 
*[[Karbi language|Karbi]] 
*[[Khasi language|Khasi]] 
*[[Kodava language|Kodava]] 
*[[Kokborok language|Kokborok]] 
*[[Kumaoni language|Kumaoni]] 
*[[Kurukh language|Kurukh]] 
*[[Kurmali language|Kurmali]] 
*[[Ladakhi language|Ladakhi]] 
*[[Lepcha language|Lepcha]] 
*[[Limbu language|Limbu]] 
*[[Mizo language|Mizo]] 
*[[Magahi language|Magahi]] 
*[[Mundari language|Mundari]] 
*[[Nagpuri language|Nagpuri]] 
*[[Nicobarese language|Nicobarese]] 
*[[Himachali language|Himachali]] 
*[[Pali]] 
*[[Rajasthani language|Rajasthani]] 
*[[Saraiki Language|Saraiki]] 
*[[Sambalpuri Language|Sambalpuri]] 
*[[Shauraseni Prakrit]] 
*[[Sikkimese language|Sikkimese]] 
*[[Tenyidie language|Tenyidie]] 
*[[Tulu language|Tulu]]<ref name="auto" />
}}

== Official status in states and territories ==
=== Official languages of States ===
In addition to official languages, a few states also designate official scripts. 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! scope="col" |State
! scope="col" |Official language(s)
! scope="col" |Additional official language(s)
!Mandated scripts
|-
| [[Andhra Pradesh]] || [[Telugu language|Telugu]]<ref name="APOnline">{{cite web |url=http://www.aponline.gov.in/Quick%20links/HIST-CULT/languages.html |title=Languages |work=APOnline |year=2002 |access-date=25 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208110254/http://www.aponline.gov.in/Quick%20links/HIST-CULT/languages.html |archive-date=8 February 2012 }}</ref> || [[Indian English|English]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Andhra Pradesh Official Language Act, 1966 |url=https://www.courtkutchehry.com/Judgement/Search/AdvancedV2?s_acts=Andhra%20Pradesh%20Official%20Language%20Act,%201966 |access-date=23 June 2023 |publisher=Courtkutchehry.com}}</ref> Urdu<ref name=":1" />
|
|-
| [[Arunachal Pradesh]] || [[Indian English|English]]<ref name="NCLM52">{{cite report|title=52nd report of Commissioner of Linguistic Minorities|url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|publisher=[[Ministry of Minority Affairs]]|access-date=15 February 2018|page=18|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141614/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|archive-date=25 May 2017}}</ref> ||
|
|-
| [[Assam]]<ref>{{cite web |title=The Assam Official Language Act, 1960 |url=https://www.indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/19560 |website=India Code |publisher=Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India |access-date=28 February 2024}}</ref> || [[Assamese language|Assamese]] and [[Bodo language|Bodo]] || rowspan="1" | [[Bengali language|Bengali]] in three districts of [[Barak Valley]]<ref name="BarakValley">{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-assam-government-withdraws-assamese-as-official-language-in-barak-valley-restores-bengali-2017504|title=Assam government withdraws Assamese as official language in Barak Valley, restores Bengali|work=DNA India|date=10 September 2014|author=ANI|access-date=25 December 2014}}</ref>
|Bodo is officially written in the Devanagari script.
|-
| [[Bihar]] || Hindi<ref name="BiharOLACt1950">{{cite web|url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |title=The Bihar Official Language Act, 1950 |page=31 |date=29 November 1950 |publisher=National Commission for Linguistic Minorities |access-date=26 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708012438/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |archive-date= 8 July 2016}}</ref> || [[Urdu]]<ref name="BiharOLACt1950" />
|
|-
| [[Chhattisgarh]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/12800/1/the_chhattisgarh_official_language_act%2c_1957_no._5_of_1958%2c_date_24.01.1958.pdf |title=The Chhattisgarh Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2007 |publisher=Indiacode |year=2008 |access-date=25 December 2022 }}</ref> || Hindi<ref name="Comment">The National Commission for Linguistic Minorities, 1950 (ibid) makes no mention of Chhattisgarhi as an additional state language, despite the 2007 notification of the State Govt, presumably because Chhattisgarhi is considered as a dialect of Hindi.</ref>  || [[Chhattisgarhi language|Chhattisgarhi]]
|Devanagari
|-
| [[Goa]] || [[Konkani language|Konkani]], English<ref name="GDDOLAct1987">{{cite web|url=http://www.daman.nic.in/acts-rules%5CHindi-department%5Cdocuments/Official%20Language%20Act.pdf|title=The Goa, Daman and Diu Official Language Act, 1987|date=19 December 1987|website=U.T. Administration of Daman & Diu|access-date=26 December 2014}}</ref>||[[Marathi language|Marathi]]<ref name="langoff">{{cite web|url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |title=Report of the Commissioner for linguistic minorities: 50th report (July 2012 to June 2013) |publisher=Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India |access-date=26 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708012438/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |archive-date= 8 July 2016}}</ref>{{rp|27}}<ref name="Kurzon2004">{{cite book|last=Kurzon|first=Dennis|title=Where East Looks West: Success in English in Goa and on the Konkan Coast|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p5iK3CmIW6EC&pg=PA48|access-date=26 December 2014|year=2004|publisher=Multilingual Matters|isbn=978-1-85359-673-5|pages=42–58|chapter=3. The Konkani-Marathi Controversy : 2000-01 version}} Dated, but gives a good overview of the controversy to give Marathi full "official status".</ref>
|
|-
| [[Gujarat]] || [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], Hindi<ref name="Benedikter2009">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vpZv2GHM7VQC&pg=PA89|title=Language Policy and Linguistic Minorities in India: An Appraisal of the Linguistic Rights of Minorities in India|last=Benedikter|first=Thomas|publisher=LIT Verlag Münster|year=2009|isbn=978-3-643-10231-7|page=89}}</ref> ||
|
|-
| [[Haryana]]<ref name="HOLA1969">{{cite web |title=The Haryana Official Language Act, 1969 |url=https://www.indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/18246 |website=India Code |publisher=Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India |access-date=28 February 2024}}</ref> || Hindi||[[Indian English|English]],<ref name="langoff" /> [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Haryana grants second language status to Punjabi |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/haryana-grants-second-language-status-to-punjabi/article1-502720.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903231506/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/haryana-grants-second-language-status-to-punjabi/article1-502720.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 September 2015|work=Hindustan Times|date=28 January 2010}}</ref>
|Hindi should be written in Devanagari.<br/>Punjabi should be written in Gurmukhi.
|-
| [[Himachal Pradesh]]<ref>{{cite web |title=The Himachal Pradesh Official Language Act, 1975 |url=https://www.indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/5711 |website=India Code |publisher=Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India}}</ref> || Hindi ||[[Sanskrit]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Bill to make Sanskrit second official language of HP passed |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/bill-to-make-sanskrit-second-official-language-of-hp-passed/730075.html |date=17 February 2019 |access-date=10 March 2019 |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |author=Pratibha Chauhan |location=Shimla}}</ref>
| Both Hindi and Sanskrit are written in Devanagari.
|-
| [[Jharkhand]] || Hindi<ref name="NCLM52" /> || [[Angika]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]], [[Bhumij language|Bhumij]], [[Ho language|Ho]], [[Kharia language|Kharia]], [[Khortha language|Khortha]], [[Kurmali language|Kurmali]], [[Kurukh language|Kurukh]], [[Magahi language|Magahi]], [[Maithili language|Maithili]], [[Mundari language|Mundari]], [[Sadri language|Nagpuri]], [[Odia language|Odia]], [[Santali language|Santali]], [[Urdu]]<ref name="The Avenue Mail">{{cite news |title=Jharkhand gives second language status to Magahi, Angika, Bhojpuri and Maithili |url=https://www.avenuemail.in/ranchi/jharkhand-gives-second-language-status-to-magahi-angika-bhojpuri-and-maithili/118291/ |work=The Avenue Mail |date=21 March 2018 |access-date=30 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328090028/https://www.avenuemail.in/ranchi/jharkhand-gives-second-language-status-to-magahi-angika-bhojpuri-and-maithili/118291/ |archive-date=28 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Jharkhand notifies Bhumij as second state language |url=https://avenuemail.in/jharkhand-notifies-bhumij-as-second-state-language/ |access-date=17 April 2022 |work=The Avenue Mail |date=5 January 2019}}</ref>
|
|-
| [[Karnataka]] || [[Kannada]] ||
|
|-
| [[Kerala]] || [[Malayalam]] || English
|
|-
| [[Madhya Pradesh]]<ref name="mp">{{Citation|url=http://www.mpgovt.nic.in/culture/language.htm |title=Language and Literature |work=Official website of Government of Madhya Pradesh |publisher=Government of Madhya Pradesh |access-date=16 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929062809/http://www.mpgovt.nic.in/culture/language.htm |archive-date=29 September 2007}}</ref> || Hindi ||
|
|-
| [[Maharashtra]]<ref>{{cite web |title=The Maharashtra Local Authorities Official Language Act, 2022 |url=https://www.indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/17944 |website=India Code |publisher=Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India |access-date=28 February 2024}}</ref> || [[Marathi language|Marathi]] ||
|Devanagari
|-
| [[Manipur]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Manipur Official Language (Amendment )Act 2021 |url=https://manipurgovtpress.nic.in/en/details_gazzete/?gazette=658 |publisher=Directorate of Printing & Stationery, Government of Manipur. |access-date=28 February 2024}}</ref> || [[Meitei language|Manipuri]] || English || [[Meitei script|Meetei mayek]]
|-
| [[Meghalaya]] || English<ref>{{citation |last=Commissioner Linguistic Minorities |title=42nd report: July 2003 – June 2004 |page=para 25.5 |url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/35.htm | access-date = 16 July 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071008113359/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/35.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 8 October 2007}}</ref> || [[Khasi language|Khasi]] and [[Garo language|Garo]]<ref>{{citation|last=Commissioner Linguistic Minorities |title=43rd report: July 2004 – June 2005 |page=para 25.1 |url=http://nclm.nic.in/index1.asp?linkid=203 |access-date=16 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410022828/http://nclm.nic.in/index1.asp?linkid=203 |archive-date=10 April 2009}} On 21 March 2006, the Chief Minister of Meghalaya stated in the State Assembly that a notification to this effect had been issued. {{citation |title=Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Budget session: Starred Questions and Answers – Tuesday, the 21st March 2006. |url=http://megassembly.gov.in/questions/2006/21-03-2006s.htm | access-date = 16 July 2007}}.</ref> (associate official in districts)
|
|-
| [[Mizoram]] || [[Mizo language|Mizo]], [[Indian English|English]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, North East India |url=https://mdoner.gov.in/about-north-east/mizoram |website=mdoner.gov.in |access-date=26 March 2022}}</ref> ||
|
|-
| [[Nagaland]] || [[Indian English|English]] ||
|
|-
| [[Odisha]] || [[Odia language|Odia]]<ref name="IE2Jan2016">{{cite news|title=Oriya to be official language in Orissa – Indian Express|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/oriya-to-be-official-language-in-orissa/562572/|access-date=15 May 2016|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|date=2 January 2016}}</ref> || [[Indian English|English]]
|
|-
| [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] || [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]<ref name="langoff" /> ||
|Gurmukhi
|-
| [[Rajasthan]] || Hindi ||
|
|-
| [[Sikkim]] || [[Indian English|English]], [[Nepali language|Nepali]], [[Sikkimese language|Sikkimese]], [[Lepcha language|Lepcha]]<ref name="langoff" /><ref name="SikkimGazette">{{cite web |title=1977 Sikkim government gazette |url=https://www.sikkim.gov.in/stateportal/UsefulLinks/Gazette1977.pdf |website=sikkim.gov.in |publisher=Governor of Sikkim |access-date=22 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722164022/https://www.sikkim.gov.in/stateportal/UsefulLinks/Gazette1977.pdf |archive-date=22 July 2018 |page=188}}</ref> || [[Gurung language|Gurung]], [[Limbu language|Limbu]], [[Magar language|Magar]], [[Sunwar language|Mukhia]], [[Newari language|Newari]], [[Kiranti languages|Rai]], [[Sherpa language|Sherpa]] and [[Tamang language|Tamang]]<ref name="langoff" />
|
|-
| [[Tamil Nadu]] || [[Tamil language|Tamil]] || [[Indian English|English]]
|
|-
| [[Telangana]] || [[Telugu language|Telugu]] ||Urdu<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 November 2017 |title=Urdu is Telangana's second official language |language=en-US |work=[[The Indian Express]] |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/urdu-is-telanganas-second-official-language-4940595/ |access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=17 November 2017 |title=Urdu is second official language in Telangana as state passes Bill |work=The News Minute |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/urdu-second-official-language-telangana-state-passes-bill-71742 |access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>
|
|-
| [[Tripura]] || [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Indian English|English]], [[Kokborok]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://tripura.gov.in/knowtripura |title=Bengali and Kokborok are the state/official language, English, Hindi, Manipuri and Chakma are other languages |work=Tripura Official government website |access-date=29 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212025154/http://tripura.gov.in/knowtripura |archive-date=12 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160216142700/http://www.lawsofindia.org/pdf/tripura/1964/1964TRIPURA5.pdf Tripura Official Language Act, 1964]}} ''www.lawsofindia.org''</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Laws of India : The Tripura Official Language Act, 1964 |url=https://lawsofindia.blinkvisa.com/statelaw/2251/TheTripuraOfficialLanguageAct1964.html |access-date=5 October 2023 |website=lawsofindia.blinkvisa.com|date=18 May 2022 }}</ref>||
|
|-
| [[Uttar Pradesh]] || Hindi || Urdu<ref name="upofflang">{{citation|last=Commissioner Linguistic Minorities |title=43rd report: July 2004 – June 2005 |pages=paras 6.1–6.2 |url=http://nclm.nic.in/index1.asp?linkid=203 |access-date=16 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410022828/http://nclm.nic.in/index1.asp?linkid=203 |archive-date=10 April 2009}}</ref>
|
|-
| [[Uttarakhand]] || Hindi || [[Sanskrit]]
|
|-
| [[West Bengal]] || [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Indian English|English]]<ref name="langoff" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Fact and Figures|url=https://wb.gov.in/portal/web/guest/facts-and-figures;jsessionid=JzdD9RHb7aMY5esZPtcsIVLy |website=www.wb.gov.in|access-date=30 March 2018}}</ref>|| [[Nepali language|Nepali]] in [[Darjeeling Sadar subdivision|Darjeeling]] and [[Kurseong subdivision|Kurseong]] sub-divisions;<ref name="langoff" /> Urdu, Hindi, [[Odia language|Odia]], [[Santali language|Santali]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[KRNB lects|Kamtapuri]], [[Rangpuri language|Rajbanshi]],<br/>[[Kurmali language|Kudmali/Kurmali]], [[Kurukh language|Kurukh]] and [[Telugu language|Telugu]] in blocks, divisions or districts with population greater than 10 per cent<ref name="Telegraph:1">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1121211/jsp/bengal/story_16301872.jsp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325232340/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1121211/jsp/bengal/story_16301872.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 March 2018 |title=Multi-lingual Bengal |date=11 December 2012 |newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]]}}</ref><ref name="Indiatoday:1">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/kamtapuri-rajbanshi-make-it-to-list-of-official-languages-in-1179890-2018-02-28 |title=Kamtapuri, Rajbanshi make it to list of official languages in |last=Roy |first=Anirban |date=28 February 2018 |magazine=[[India Today]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Shiv Sahay Singh|date=2 March 2017 |title=Revitalising a language|work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/revitalising-a-language/article17395995.ece |access-date=31 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=West Bengal shows 'Mamata' to Telugus |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/west-bengal-shows-mamata-to-telugus-663381 |access-date=23 March 2021 |work=Hans India |date=24 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
|
|}

=== Official languages of Union Territories ===
{| class = "wikitable sortable"
|-
! scope="col" |Union territory
! scope="col" |Official language(s)<ref name="langoff" />
! scope="col" |Additional official language(s)
|-
| [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]<ref>{{cite web|date=7 October 2020|title=Most Spoken Language In Andaman And Nicobar Islands : Here's All You Need To Know|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/lifestyle/most-spoken-language-in-andaman-and-nicobar-islands-524657.html|access-date=30 November 2021|website=IndiaTimes|language=en-IN}}</ref> 
| rowspan="4" | Hindi, [[Indian English|English]] ||
|-
| [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dnh.nic.in/deptdoc/D_OfficialLang_citizenchart2011_12.pdf |title=Administration of Dedra and Nagar Haveli, U.T. (Official Language Department) Secretariat Citizens charter-2011 |access-date=1 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202163507/http://dnh.nic.in/deptdoc/D_OfficialLang_citizenchart2011_12.pdf |archive-date=2 February 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu – Culture and Tradition |url=https://www.ritiriwaz.com/dadra-and-nagar-haveli-and-daman-and-diu-culture-and-tradition/ |website=RitiRiwaz|date=7 April 2020 }}</ref>|| [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]
|-
| [[Delhi]]<ref name="delhi1">Urdu and Punjabi are the two secondary official languages of Delhi under the Delhi Official Language Bill, 2000 {{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Punjabi-Urdu-made-official-languages-in-Delhi/articleshow/43388.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811072013/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-06-25/delhi/27182151_1_urdu-second-official-official-languages|url-status=live|archive-date=11 August 2011|title=Punjabi, Urdu made official languages in Delhi |access-date=17 July 2007 |date=25 June 2003 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>|| [[Urdu]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]
|-
| [[Ladakh]]||
|-
| [[Chandigarh]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Languages in Chandigarh |url=https://www.chandigarhcity.com/information/languages/ |website=Chandigarh City}}</ref>
| rowspan="2" | English ||
|-
| [[Lakshadweep]]<ref name=":3">{{cite web|url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |page=153 |title=50th Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India |date=16 July 2014 |access-date=6 November 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708012438/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |archive-date= 8 July 2016 }}</ref><ref name="Benedikter2009-134">{{cite book|author=Thomas Benedikter|title=Language Policy and Linguistic Minorities in India: An Appraisal of the Linguistic Rights of Minorities in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vpZv2GHM7VQC&pg=PA134|year=2009|publisher=LIT Verlag Münster|isbn=978-3-643-10231-7|page=134}}</ref> || [[Malayalam]]<ref>{{cite report|url=https://lakshadweep.gov.in/notice/the-draft-lakshadweep-open-places-regulation-2021-malayalam-translation/|title=The draft Lakshadweep open places regulation, 2021 Malayalam translation|access-date=6 November 2021|website=lakshadweep.gov.in }}</ref>
|-
| [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] 
| [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]], [[Dogri language|Dogri]], [[Hindi]], [[Urdu]], English<ref name="Jammu">{{cite web |url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2020/222037.pdf |title=The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020 |publisher=The Gazette of India |page=2 |access-date=27 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019215035/http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2020/222037.pdf |archive-date=19 October 2020}}</ref> ||
|-
| [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]] 
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]] (in [[Yanam]]), [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]] (in [[Mahé district|Mahe]]){{efn|See [[Official languages of Puducherry]]}}<ref>There are three primary languages used for official purposes – Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam. The official language policy of the union territory states that the Tamil language should be the primary language used for all or any of the official purposes of the union territory. In the case of Mahe and Yanam, Malayalam and Telugu, respectively, may be used instead of or in conjunction with Tamil. The English language may also be used for official purposes. (ACT 28, Gazetteer, Pondicherry Vol. 1, P. II)[http://www.languageinindia.com/feb2004/multilingual.html Multilingualism and second language acquisition and learning in Pondicherry]</ref><ref>{{citation|last=Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Puducherry |title=General Information on Pondicherry |url=http://www.ceopondicherry.nic.in/Bkground/GeneralInfo.htm |access-date=6 June 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928180538/http://www.ceopondicherry.nic.in/Bkground/GeneralInfo.htm |archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref> || English, [[Indian French|French]]<ref name="Statesmen1969Reference">{{cite book |title=The Statesman's Year-Book 1969-70: The one-volume Encyclopaedia of all nations|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8UvODQAAQBAJ|first1=S.|last1=Steinberg|first2=J.|last2=Paxton| date=28 December 2016 |publisher=McMillan St Martin Press|page=386|isbn=978-0-230-27098-5 |access-date=2 August 2022}}</ref>
|}<section end="Lists of Official Languages of States and Union Territories of India" />

== Union–state and interstate communication rules ==
[[File:Trilingual Signboard at Bhubaneswar Railway Station Ticket Counter.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|In places like railway stations, signboards are usually written in three languages - the state language (here [[Odia language|Odia]]) and the two official languages Hindi and English.]]
The language of communications between different states or between the union government and a state or a person in a state, is regulated by the Official Languages Act and, except for communications involving [[Tamil Nadu]], which are governed by the Official Languages Rules. Communication between states which have Hindi as an official language must be in Hindi, whereas communication between a state where Hindi is an official language and one where it is not Hindi and must be in English, or, in Hindi with an accompanying English translation (unless the receiving state agrees to dispense with the translation).<ref name=uopu/>

Communication between the union and states which use Hindi as their official language (classified by the Official Language Rules as "the states in Region A"), and with persons who live in those states, is generally in Hindi, except in certain cases. Communication with a second category of states "Region B", which do not have Hindi as an official language but have elected to communicate with the union in Hindi is usually in Hindi, while communications ''sent'' to an individual in those states may be in Hindi and English.{{r|uopu|at=3(2))}} Communication with all other states "Region C", and with people living in them, is in English.{{r|uopu|at=3(3))}}

{| class = "wikitable sortable"
|-
! scope="col" |Region
! scope="col" |States/Union Territories
! scope="col" |Communication
|-
| '''Region A'''
| [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]], [[Bihar]], [[Chhattisgarh]], [[Delhi]], [[Haryana]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Jharkhand]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Rajasthan]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| Hindi
|-
| '''Region B'''
| [[Chandigarh]], [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]], [[Gujarat]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
| Hindi or English
|-
| '''Region C'''
| [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[Assam]], [[Goa]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[Karnataka]], [[Kerala]], [[Ladakh]], [[Lakshadweep]], [[Manipur]], [[Meghalaya]], [[Mizoram]], [[Nagaland]], [[Odisha]], [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]], [[Sikkim]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Telangana]], [[Tripura]], [[West Bengal]]
| English
|}

== Arts and literature ==
* Best Feature Film in any of the scheduled languages are eligible for the [[National Film Awards]].{{Efn|In certain years, films of languages other than the scheduled languages also get eligible.<ref>{{cite web|date=22 July 2022 |title=68th National Film Awards: Here is the list of winners |url=http://nenow.in/entertainment/68th-national-film-awards-here-is-the-list-of-winners.html |access-date=10 March 2023 |work=Northeast Now}}</ref>}}
* Literary works in any of the scheduled languages are eligible for the [[Sahitya Akademi Award]]s, the [[Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize]]s and the [[Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last1=Malik |first1=Ravindra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oNMuEAAAQBAJ&dq=saraswati+samman+languages&pg=PA158 |title=HARYANA GK: HARYANA AT THE START OF 2021 |last2=ARSu |first2=Team |publisher=MyARSu |pages=158 |language=en}}</ref>
* People who contribute to the literature of any of the scheduled languages are eligible for the [[Sahitya Akademi Fellowship]].<ref name=":2" />
* Literary works in any of the scheduled languages are eligible for the [[Gyanpeeth Award]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jnanpith Award {{!}} Indian literary award |publisher=Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/art/Jnanpith-Award |access-date=10 March 2023}}</ref>
* Prose or poetry literary works in any of the scheduled languages are eligible for the [[Saraswati Samman]], the highest among all the literary awards in India.<ref name=":2" />
* Writers who contribute to the literature of any of the scheduled languages are eligible for the [[:hi:भाषा सम्मान पुरस्कार|Bhasha Samman]] Awards.<ref name=":2" />

== See also ==
{{Wikisource|Official Languages Act, 1963}}
* [[Languages of India]]
* [[List of languages by number of native speakers in India]]
* [[Indian states by most spoken scheduled languages]]
* [[Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India|The Eighth Schedule to the Indian Constitution]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://rajbhasha.nic.in/ Department of Official Language (DOL)]&nbsp;– Official webpage explains the chronological events related to ''Official Languages Act'' and amendments

{{Languages of India}}
{{Languages of South Asia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Languages With Official Status In India}}
[[Category:Lists of Indo-European languages|India]]
[[Category:Languages of India|Languages of India]]
[[Category:Official languages]]
[[Category:Official languages of India| ]]