Understanding India's Language Policies: National vs Official Languages
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of States/UTs | 28 states and 8 union territories |
| National Language | India does not have a national language |
| Official Languages | Hindi and English (Article 343 of the Indian Constitution) |
| Scheduled Languages | 22 languages recognized under the Eighth Schedule |
| Official Language Act | Official Languages Act, 1963 |
| Colonial Official Languages | English, Urdu, and Hindi |
| Initial Scheduled Languages | 14 languages (1950) |
| Amendments | - 1967: Sindhi added (21st Amendment) |
| - 1992: Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali added (71st Amendment) | |
| - 2003: Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, and Santali added (92nd Amendment) | |
| - 2011: Oriya changed to Odia (96th Amendment) | |
| Government's Stance | Hindi is often referred to as the national language, but it is not constitutionally designated |