What is a scheduled language ?

What is a scheduled language ?

Introduction

A Scheduled Language refers to a language listed in a country’s constitution or official framework for special recognition or promotion.

In India, the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution lists 22 scheduled languages that the government protects and promotes for cultural and administrative purposes.

The 22 scheduled languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution enjoy several benefits and special protections.

Key advantages of a Scheduled Language 

1. Official Recognition & Government Use

  • The government must promote these languages and use them in official communication.
  • Hindi and English serve as the official languages of the Union, but states can adopt any scheduled language as their official language.

2. Parliamentary & Judicial Use

  • Members of Parliament and State Legislatures can speak in any scheduled language.
  • Scheduled languages can be used in court proceedings, making legal access easier.

3. Education & Cultural Preservation

  • The Government promotes teaching, publishing, and cultural programs in these languages.
  • The Sahitya Akademi (India’s national literary body) recognizes and supports literature in all scheduled languages.
  • University Grants Commission (UGC) and National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) encourage education in scheduled languages.

4. Public Service Examinations & Government Jobs

  • Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and other government exams can be taken in any scheduled language.
  • This helps non-English and non-Hindi speakers compete fairlyfor jobs.

5. Constitutional Safeguards

  • Article 344: Recommends ways to improve the spread and development of these languages.
  • Article 351: Promotes Hindi development, considering other scheduled languages.

6. Media & Broadcasting

  • Scheduled languages are used in All India Radio (AIR), Doordarshan, and government publications.
  • More funding is allocated for films, TV programs, and news in these languages.

7. Promotion of Indigenous & Minority Languages

  • Many tribal and regional languages (like Bodo, Santhali, Maithili, and Dogri) gained national recognition, ensuring their survival.

8. Further Inclusion Possibilities

  • Being in the Eighth Schedule increases the chances of a language receiving more funding, preservation efforts, and status upgrades.
  • More languages may be added, further diversifying India’s linguistic heritage.

These benefits ensure linguistic diversity is protected and promoted in India’s multilingual society!

Listed by region to help understand their distribution:

Here’s a regional classification of the 22 Scheduled languages in India. As listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

1. Northern Region

  • Hindi (Widely spoken across North India, official language of the Union)
  • Punjabi (Punjab, Haryana, Delhi)
  • Urdu (Jammu & Kashmir, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi)
  • Kashmiri (Jammu & Kashmir)
  • Dogri (Jammu region of Jammu & Kashmir)

2. Eastern & Northeastern Region

  • Bengali (West Bengal, Tripura, Assam)
  • Assamese (Assam)
  • Bodo (Assam, parts of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh)
  • Manipuri (Manipur)
  • Odia (Odisha)

3. Western Region

  • Gujarati (Gujarat, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu)
  • Marathi (Maharashtra, Goa)
  • Sindhi (Sindhi-speaking communities, mainly in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra)

4. Central Region

  • Hindi (Also included in this region for being widespread)
  • Sanskrit (Ancient language, used in religious and literary contexts)

5. Southern Region

  • Tamil (Tamil Nadu, Puducherry)
  • Telugu (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana)
  • Kannada (Karnataka)
  • Malayalam (Kerala, Lakshadweep)

6. Tribal & Indigenous Languages

  • Santhali (Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar)
  • Maithili (Bihar, Jharkhand)
  • Konkani (Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala)

Conclusion

This classification is based on geographical spread and linguistic communities.     Some languages, like Urdu, Sindhi, and Sanskrit, are spoken across multiple regions due to historical and cultural factors.

Read more about India’s endangered and Scheduled Languages:

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