Government lists support for India's 11 classical languages in Lok Sabha reply
On 3 February 2025, in Parliament in New Delhi, Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat told the Lok Sabha that, besides six earlier classical languages, five more were notified on 4 October 2024.
Summary
On 3 February 2025, in Parliament in New Delhi, Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat told the Lok Sabha in a written reply that classical languages get awards, centres of excellence and professional chairs in central universities. The languages earlier notified as classical were Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Telugu (2008), Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013) and Odia (2014). Five more, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali, were notified by Gazette Notification dated 4 October 2024. Centres include the Central Institute of Classical Tamil in Chennai and centres of excellence for Telugu (Nellore), Kannada (Mysuru), Malayalam (Tirur) and Odia (Bhubaneswar).
Key facts
- Date / place
- 3 Feb 2025, Lok Sabha, New Delhi (written reply)
- Minister
- Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
- Earlier classical languages
- Tamil 2004, Sanskrit 2005, Telugu 2008, Kannada 2008, Malayalam 2013, Odia 2014
- Added on 4 Oct 2024
- Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, Bengali
- Support
- Awards, centres of excellence, professional chairs
- Centres
- CICT Chennai; Telugu - Nellore; Kannada - Mysuru; Malayalam - Tirur; Odia - Bhubaneswar
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Which was the first language notified as a classical language by the Government of India, in 2004?
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Correct answer: D — Tamil
PIB (3 Feb 2025, Lok Sabha reply): the languages earlier notified as classical were Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Telugu (2008), Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013) and Odia (2014).
Which of the following languages was NOT among the five notified as classical languages on 4 October 2024?
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Correct answer: B — Odia
PIB (3 Feb 2025): Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali were notified on 4 October 2024. Odia was notified earlier, in 2014.
Consider the following statements based on the Lok Sabha reply of 3 February 2025: 1. The Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Kannada is in Mysuru. 2. The Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Malayalam is in Thiruvananthapuram. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
PIB (3 Feb 2025): the Classical Kannada centre is located in Mysuru, Karnataka, so statement 1 is correct. The Classical Malayalam centre operates from Tirur, Malappuram, Kerala, not Thiruvananthapuram, so statement 2 is wrong. Answer: 1 only.