In a significant move to preserve and promote India’s linguistic and cultural heritage, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved conferring the status of Classical Language to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali. The decision recognizes the rich historical, literary, and cultural contributions of these languages, furthering their prominence in India’s diverse linguistic landscape.

The status of Classical Language serves as a recognition of languages with a high degree of antiquity, a valuable body of ancient literature, and a distinct linguistic tradition that is considered a cultural heritage by its speakers. The approval follows recommendations by the Linguistic Experts Committee (LEC) under the Sahitya Akademi, which revised the criteria for recognizing classical languages in July 2024.

Criteria for Classical Language Status:
The following criteria were revised in 2024 and used to assess the eligibility of the languages:

• High antiquity of early texts or recorded history over 1500-2000 years.
• A body of ancient literature/texts that is regarded as heritage by successive generations.
• Evidence of knowledge texts, including prose, poetry, epigraphical, and inscriptional records.
• Distinctness from modern versions of the language, with possible discontinuity from later forms.

The decision reflects the Government of India’s ongoing efforts to safeguard and promote the country’s linguistic diversity. Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali join the ranks of previously recognized Classical Languages such as Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia.

Impact on Employment and Education:
The inclusion of these languages as Classical Languages is expected to create significant employment opportunities, particularly in academic and research sectors. Efforts to preserve, document, and digitize ancient texts will lead to job creation in fields such as archiving, translation, publishing, and digital media.

Promoting Classical Languages:
In recent years, the Government has taken various steps to promote Classical Languages, including the establishment of Central Universities for Sanskrit in 2020, research institutions for Tamil, and Centres of Excellence for Classical Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia. National and international awards, university chairs, and research centers continue to support the study and preservation of these languages.

This decision will not only enhance the study and recognition of the linguistic heritage of Maharashtra, Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, and other regions but will also boost India’s global standing as a custodian of ancient and diverse cultures.