Classical Languages of India

The Tally Rises to Eleven: Expanding the Classical Languages List

In 2024, the Government of India conferred Classical Language status on five languages: Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali. This brought the total number of classical languages to 11, after the initial recognition of Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia between 2004 and 2014. The move amplifies India's linguistic heritage, but it also highlights a critical tension: is merely granting status enough to secure these languages' future? Or does it risk becoming a symbolic exercise with limited material impact?

Institutional Framework and Criteria

To accord a language the title of “Classical Language,” a set of rigorous criteria must be met. These include documented antiquity over at least 1,500 years, a significant body of ancient literature and texts, evidence of sustained cultural importance, and a demonstrable distinction between the classical form and its modern derivative. All classical languages are, as of 2025, part of the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, which itself lists 22 official languages of India.

The Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), under the Ministry of Education, serves as the nodal agency for language promotion. Of the five designated centres for classical languages, the ones for Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia function under CIIL’s aegis in Mysuru. Notably, Tamil enjoys a separate autonomous institution, while Sanskrit language promotion is supported through dedicated universities. Yet, despite this institutional scaffolding, questions linger over practical execution: are these arrangements robust enough to ensure preservation, much less revival, of classical languages, or do they remain perfunctory administrative enclosures?

The Case for the Expansions

The 2024 expansion, adding languages such as Bengali and Marathi, certainly holds merit. Both have long-standing literary traditions dating back over a millennium. Whether it is the epic poetry of Govindadasa in Bengali or the compositions of Dnyaneshwar in Marathi, the historical richness of these languages meets all the prescribed criteria.

There are benefits to this recognition. First, it raises academic and scholarly interest, allowing for targeted funding, curriculum integration, and interdisciplinary research. For instance, the National Education Policy, 2020 already advocates mother-tongue education and the study of classical languages by linking them to language learning among younger generations. Second, linguistic recognition carries prestige, bringing marginalized or overlooked traditions into the cultural mainstream. Lastly, granting Classical status can function as a diplomatic soft-power tool. Languages like Sanskrit and Pali connect India to the larger South and Southeast Asian heritage—a connection emphasized through India’s Buddhist diplomacy with Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand.

The Case Against: Symbolism Over Substance

While the recognition of classical languages garners applause on paper, the actual benefits of this status are less clear-cut. Consider the funding allocated. Tamil, the first recipient of the Classical Language designation (2004), is yet to see commensurate investment in sustainable language revival. Autonomous status for Tamil’s promotion has failed to produce comparable institutional outputs next to other classical studies models globally, such as China’s investment in Classical Chinese or Greece’s funding of ancient Hellenic research. For languages newly elevated in 2024, the government has yet to outline dedicated allocations or endowments through the Union Budget. Without sustained financial resources, the label runs the risk of being a hollow recognition.

Moreover, the focus on classical languages inadvertently sidelines the linguistic needs of numerous languages listed within the Eighth Schedule, such as Maithili or Bodo, which struggle for survival amidst neglect from central frameworks. This raises the question: does the prioritisation of “classical” languages create a hierarchy that disadvantages languages with less ancient literary evidence but equally vibrant contemporary traditions?

International Comparison: The French Academy Model

France offers a striking contrast in institutional mechanisms for language preservation. The Académie Française, established in 1635, functions as a state-supported yet independent body that not only monitors the evolution of French but also influences global Francophone policies. Unlike India, where institutional responsibility is diffuse across CIIL centres, universities, and ministry-level bodies, the French model offers a consolidated approach with direct access to state funding. The result? A thriving international ecosystem of French-language promotion, from literature to digitalization projects.

Why hasn’t India taken a similar approach? Centralising the classical language promotion infrastructure under a robust national authority or empowering an academy to build long-term initiatives could provide greater coherence. Whether this can be politically feasible given the federal structure and linguistic diversities of India is another matter entirely.

Where Things Stand in 2025

Ultimately, the elevation of five new languages to Classical status in 2024 is emblematic of India’s commitment to its rich linguistic heritage. However, the gap between symbolic gestures and substantive action undermines the potential of this initiative. To date, there is no concrete plan ensuring that Classical status translates into tangible language preservation. Much depends on whether the CIIL and other nodal centres are equipped with sufficient funding, manpower, and autonomy by the central government.

Linguistic preservation is not merely an academic or cultural exercise but has political and social ramifications, including minority representation, cultural diplomacy, and regional identity. In respecting these complexities, the government must account for representation without compromising the operational capacity of its promotional institutions.

UPSC Practice Questions

• Prelims MCQ 1: Which of the following is a requirement for a language to be designated as a Classical Language in India?
  1. It must have a recorded history or literary tradition over at least 1000 years.
  2. It must be listed in the eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
  3. It must show evidence of distinctiveness from its contemporary form.
  Answer: 3 only
• Prelims MCQ 2: Which of the following institutions specifically supports the promotion of India’s Classical Languages?
  1. Ministry of External Affairs
  2. Central Institute of Indian Languages
  3. Election Commission of India
  Answer: 2 only

Practice Questions for UPSC

Prelims Practice Questions

Frequently Asked Questions