India, Feb. 2 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
Sl. No.
Classical Language
Date of Recognition
i.
Tamil
12.10.2004
ii.
Sanskrit
25.11.2005
iii.
Telugu
31.10.2008
iv.
Kannada
31.10.2008
v.
Malayalam
08.08.2013
vi.
Odia
01.03.2014
vii.
Marathi
04.10.2024
viii.
Assamese
04.10.2024
ix.
Bangla
04.10.2024
x.
Pali
04.10.2024
xi.
Prakrit
04.10.2024
Sl. No
Language
Number of People speaking (Approximately in Lakh)
1.
Tamil
690
2.
Kannada
437
3
Telugu
811
4.
Sanskrit
0.24
5.
Malayalam
348
6.
Odia
375
7.
Marathi
830
8.
Assamese
153
9.
Bangla
972
Year
Kannada
Telugu
Odia
Malayalam
Tamil
2015-16
100.00
100.00
--
--
11.89
2016-17
100.00
100.00
--
--
5.02
2017-18
100.00
100.00
--
--
10.27
2018-19
99.00
100.00
--
--
5.46
2019-20
107.00
107.00
--
--
9.83
2020-21
108.00
147.00
8.00
8.00
1200
2021-22
106.00
103.00
58.38
63.97
1200
2022-23
171.75
171.75
176.75
186.75
1200
2023-24
154.50
154.50
138.50
112.50
1525
2024-25
86.00
86.00
86.00
86.00
1430.00
2025-26
106.50
106.50
106.50
106.50
1697.00
Government of India recognized the following eleven languages as the Classical Language:
The Ministry of Education works for the Promotion and preservation of the Classical Language. Sanskrit Language is promoted through three Central University, viz Central Sanskrit University, New Delhi Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University, New Delhi and National Sanskrit University, Tirupati. The details of the funds provided to other five classical languages declared prior to 04.10.2024 are at Annexure 'A'.
As per the Census of India 2011, (Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India). Estimate number of people in India speaking 9 classical languages are as follows:
It is estimated that part of 1038 Lakh population of Bihar speak in Pali.
As per the Census of India 2011, (Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India), the top five most spoken languages in the country are as follows:
This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha today
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
