AUG 21: The Government of India has reiterated its commitment to the promotion and development of Indian languages as a vital part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which places strong emphasis on multilingualism and teaching in the home or regional language, particularly up to Class 5 and preferably Class 8. The policy envisions integrating Indian languages into school and higher education to ensure students have the choice of pursuing studies in their mother tongue.
While funds are not allocated on a language-specific basis, financial support is extended through various institutions and schemes including the Central Hindi Directorate (CHD), Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT), Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), and Grants for Promotion of Indian Languages (GPIL). Notably, support is also extended to Sanskrit universities in Delhi and Tirupati.
Institutions such as Kendriya Hindi Sansthan, National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language, National Council for Promotion of Sindhi Language, Central Institute of Classical Tamil, and Maharishi Sandipani Rashtriya Ved Vidya Pratishthan continue to receive funding to advance Hindi, Urdu, Sindhi, Tamil, and Vedic studies.
Budget allocation data for the past five years reflects consistent investment, with 2024–25 allocations including ₹514.09 lakh for Sanskrit Universities, ₹310.10 lakh under GPIL, and substantial funds for CHD, CSTT, and CIIL.
Alongside linguistic development, the government has also prioritized archaeological excavations, with several significant projects funded across states such as Haryana (Rakhigarhi, Asandh), Gujarat (Vadnagar, Lothal), Odisha (Ratnagiri, Barabati Fort), Tamil Nadu (Adichanallur, Vadakapattu), and Uttar Pradesh (Hastinapur). These excavations aim to preserve India’s rich civilizational history while adding to global archaeological knowledge.
Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat informed the Rajya Sabha that excavation reports are being thoroughly vetted by experts to ensure methodological rigor, authenticity, and accurate interpretation.
Through parallel promotion of Indian languages and preservation of archaeological heritage, the government seeks to strengthen India’s cultural identity and knowledge traditions, ensuring both linguistic diversity and historical treasures remain vibrant for future generations.
