Chapter Info (Click Here)
Book No. – 006 (Indian Polity)
Book Name – Introduction to the Indian Constitution (D.D. Basu)
What’s Inside the Chapter? (After Subscription)
1. Languages and the Constitution of India
2. National Language vs Official Language
3. Official Language of the Union
4. Provisions Under Article 343
5. Official Language Commission and Parliamentary Committee
6. Report of the Official Language Commission (1955-1957)
7. Implementation of Official Language Policy.
8. Standing Commissions for Terminology Development
9. Key Directions in President’s Order
10. Language for Inter-State and Union Communication
11. State Official Language Article 345
12. Right to Submit Representation – Article 350
13. Distinguishing Articles 345 and 347
14. Use of Language in Courts and Legislation – Article 348
15. Modifications by Subsequent Laws
16. Authorised Translations and Constitutional Provisions
17. Provisions of the Official Languages Act (As Amended)
18. Directives for the Promotion of Hindi and Other Languages
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Languages
Chapter – 33
Languages and the Constitution of India
The linguistic diversity of India posed a significant challenge to the makers of the Constitution. According to the 2011 Census, India had a population of 1,210,569,573, speaking a total of 1,652 languages, including 63 non-Indian languages. Managing official communication across such a vast linguistic spectrum required careful constitutional provisions.
National Language vs Official Language
The Constitution of India does not declare Hindi as the national language.
In UP Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, the Supreme Court, referring to Acharya Dr. Durga Das Basu’s commentary, highlighted that:
The Constitution makers failed to declare a national language. What exists is a compromise between diverse linguistic claims.
Dr. Basu emphasized that the Constitution instead provides:
An “official language” for the Union (Articles 343–344).
Regional official languages for the States (Articles 345–347).
Official language usage for:
Supreme Court and High Court proceedings, and
Bills, Acts, Ordinances, Regulations, and bye-laws at Union and State levels.
Similarly, T.K. Tope confirms that Hindi is not recognized as the national language, and the Constitution does not lay down any national language.