Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India

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The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India lists the official languages recognized by the Indian Constitution. The purpose of the Eighth Schedule is to promote the development of these languages and ensure their use in the official communication of the government, as well as in the legislative process.

History[edit | edit source]

The Eighth Schedule was originally included in the Constitution in 1950 with 14 languages. Since then, it has been amended several times to include additional languages, reflecting the linguistic diversity of India. As of the latest amendment, there are 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule.

List of Languages[edit | edit source]

The languages included in the Eighth Schedule are as follows:

  1. Assamese
  2. Bengali
  3. Gujarati
  4. Hindi
  5. Kannada
  6. Kashmiri
  7. Konkani
  8. Malayalam
  9. Manipuri
  10. Marathi
  11. Nepali
  12. Odia
  13. Punjabi
  14. Sanskrit
  15. Sindhi
  16. Tamil
  17. Telugu
  18. Urdu
  19. Bodo
  20. Santhali
  21. Maithili
  22. Dogri

Implications and Usage[edit | edit source]

The recognition of languages in the Eighth Schedule has several implications. It allows for the use of these languages in the official documents and communications of the central government and gives them a status that promotes their preservation and propagation. Additionally, candidates in certain examinations conducted by the Government of India may opt to take the exams in any of these languages.

Controversies and Criticisms[edit | edit source]

The criteria for inclusion of languages in the Eighth Schedule are not explicitly defined, leading to demands from various linguistic groups for their languages to be included. This has occasionally led to linguistic agitations and demands for official language status.

Future Prospects[edit | edit source]

There are ongoing discussions and proposals to include more languages in the Eighth Schedule, reflecting the dynamic and evolving linguistic landscape of India. The inclusion of more languages would potentially enhance the cultural inclusivity and linguistic diversity of the nation.

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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD