Prelims: Polity (Organization), Bharatatiya Bhasha Samiti, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University (SLBSNSU),
Mains: General Studies II – Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation.
Why in the News ?
The Chairman of Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti advocated for the promotion of Indian languages in education and stated that textbooks will soon be available in Indian languages on digital platforms.
Source: HT
Key Facts 🗝️
- Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti comes under Min of Education.
- Article 344(1): It mandates the appointment of a Commission by the President after 5 years from the date the Constitution comes into effect.
- Article 351: It places the responsibility on the Union to promote and develop the Hindi language, enabling it to be a medium of expression for India’s diverse cultural elements.
- Article 351(1): The President is required to establish a commission every five years, and subsequently every ten years, with a chairman and members representing languages listed in the Eighth Schedule. The primary role is to provide advice to the President on the effective use of Hindi for official purposes by the GOI.
About:
Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti
- It is a High Powered Committee for Promotion of Indian Languages.
- Mandate: The mandate of this committee would be to explore and recommend pathways of the holistic and multi-disciplinary growth of Indian languages as envisaged in the National Education Policy-2020.
- Functions: It has also been entrusted to advise the Ministry on all matters pertaining to revitalization of existing language teaching and research and its extension in various institutions in the country.
- To perform the tasks assigned to it, the High Powered Committee may appoint sub-committees/study groups.
- The committee may organize seminars, workshops, conferences, and webinars to highlight the need for the promotion of Indian languages.
- It may also interact and coordinate with any institution of the Central/State Government dealing with teaching, research, and extension/promotion of languages.
- Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University (SLBSNSU), New Delhi would provide secretarial assistance and space to house the High Powered Committee and meet the related expenditure as per the Government of India rules, regulations and instructions from time to time.
- The SLBSNSU has been also entrusted to appoint consultants and experts/scholars/officials/young professionals on short-term basis and to conduct seminars, workshops, webinars, etc. as per the recommendations of the Committee.
- Finances: Provided by the Ministry of Education (MoE) to the University under relevant budget heads.
UPSC CSE EXAMS Corner
Prelims: PYQ/FAQ
Q. Consider the following languages:
- Gujarati
- Kannada
- Telugu
Which of the above has/have been declared as ‘Classical Language / Languages’ by the Government?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: c. 2 and 3 only
Explaination:
- Currently there are six languages that enjoy the ‘Classical’ status in India:
- Tamil (declared in 2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014).
- All the Classical Languages are listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
- The Ministry of Culture provides the guidelines regarding Classical languages.
- Guidelines for declaring a language as ‘Classical’ are:
- High antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1500-2000 years;
- A body of ancient literature/texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers;
- The literary tradition be original and not borrowed from another speech community;
- The classical language and literature being distinct from modern, there may also be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or its offshoots.
