India is well-known for its extensive cultural heritage. The country has many different languages, with multiple languages spoken across different regions. India's cultural differences make it a special and attractive country. India does not have one national language; it has 121 languages and 270 mother tongues. For official purposes, the government of India has adopted Hindi (written in Devnagari script) and English for official government business or communications. This article offers a clear overview of India's linguistic framework, focusing on the importance of the 22 official languages of India recognized in the Constitution.
India is such a large and diverse country, which has 28 states and 8 union territories. India's own culture and traditions are reflected in the spoken languages. According to the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, there are 22 official languages of India spoken extensively across various regions. The absence of a designated national language has consistently prompted debate, considering the languages of all states of India.
The Official Language used for government communication, administration, and legal proceedings. A country can have multiple official languages. In India, Hindi and English are designated as the official languages, while no language has been officially recognized as the national language. The following sections examine the intricacies of India's linguistic policies and the significance of scheduled languages.
The Languages of India are a symbol of its cultural depth and language diversity in India. To maintain effective governance and administration, the Constitution had to specify a common medium of official communication. According to Article 343(1) of the Indian Constitution, Hindi written in Devanagari was stated as the Union’s official language. In addition, the international form of Hindu-Arabic numerals was adopted for official purposes. This decision was meant to support Hindi as a common link across the nation while respecting India’s wide range of languages.
At the same time, the framers of the Constitution recognized the multilingual reality of India. To ensure smooth administration, English was retained as an additional medium for a transitional period of fifteen years since the Constitution was enacted. However, widespread opposition from non-Hindi-speaking states led to the Official Languages Act of 1963, which allowed English to continue indefinitely as an Associate Official Language. Unlike Hindi, English is not listed among the 22 official languages of India. These 22 languages represent the languages of all states of India and form the backbone of India’s linguistic heritage.
By balancing Hindi with English, India created a practical system that supports both regional communication and national unity. The framework reflects the official languages of India policy while embracing the incredible language diversity in India. Through this approach, the Constitution acknowledges and protects the rich variety of languages of all states of India, ensuring that the 22 official languages of India and English together serve administrative, legislative, and cultural purposes.
The Languages of India represent centuries of culture and tradition. Articles 343 to 351 of Part XVII of the Indian Constitution address the country's official languages. The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, with 22 official Languages of India, reflects one of the world’s greatest examples of language diversity in India. Each language is somehow rooted in regional literature, history, and everyday communication of Indian people, so together they make the vibrant fabric of Indian society. To understand this diversity better, the following section provides a List of Official Languages of Indian states and union territories, highlighting the 28 states of India and their languages through detailed tables that present the state-wise distribution of official languages across different regions.
North India Languages:
| No. | Languages | States / UTs Where Official | Notes/Segment Info |
| 1 | Hindi | Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Jharkhand | Widely used for official communication in northern India |
| 2. | Punjabi | Punjab, Haryana, Delhi | Predominant in Punjab; also spoken in Delhi & Haryana |
| 3. | Dogri | Jammu & Kashmir | Spoken mainly in the Jammu region |
| 4. | Kashmiri | Jammu & Kashmir | Predominantly in the Kashmir valley |
| 5. | Sindhi | Maharashtra & Gujarat | Minority language, mainly spoken in some communities in Maharashtra & Gujarat |
| 6. | Sanskrit | - | Classical language; official in some educational institutions |
East India Languages:
| No. | Languages | States / UTs Where Official | Notes / Segment Info |
| 7. | Bengali | West Bengal, Tripura | The second most spoken language in India |
| 8. | Assamese | Assam | Main language of Assam |
| 9. | Bodo | Assam | Spoken by the Bodo tribal community |
| 10. | Maithili | Bihar | Mainly in the Mithila region of Bihar |
| 11. | Odia | Odisha | Main language of Odisha |
| 12. | Santhali | Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal | Tribal language, gaining recognition officially |
West India Languages:
| No. | Languages | States / UTs Where Official | Notes / Segment Info |
| 13. | Gujarati | Gujarat | The main language of Gujarat |
| 14. | Konkani | Goa | Also spoken in parts of Maharashtra & Karnataka |
| 15. | Marathi | Maharashtra | Widely spoken in western India |
South India Languages:
| No. | Languages | States / UTs Where Official | Notes / Segment Info |
| 16. | Kannada | Karnataka | Main language of Karnataka |
| 17. | Malayalam | Kerala | Main language of Kerala |
| 18. | Tamil | Tamil Nadu | Main language of Tamil Nadu |
| 19. | Telugu | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana | Widely spoken in southeastern India |
| 20. | Manipuri (Meitei) | Manipur | Predominant language of Manipur |
Other Recognized Languages:
| No. | Languages | States / UTs Where Official | Notes / Segment Info |
| 21. | Nepali | Sikkim | Also spoken in parts of West Bengal (Darjeeling) |
| 22. | Urdu | Jammu & Kashmir, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar | Used widely among Muslim communities |
This detailed List of Official Languages of Indian regions not only reflects the cultural depth of the nation but also connects closely with the 28 states of India and their languages, showing how each state contributes to the country’s linguistic diversity.
Unlike the 28 states, India’s Union Territories have distinct administrative structures and language policies shaped by history, geography, and culture. This section highlights the official and additional recognized languages of the Union Territories, offering a clearer view of how governance and communication differ here compared to the states’ language distribution.
| No. | Languages | States / UTs Where Official | Notes / Segment Info |
| 1. | Hindi | Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh | Widely used for official communication across several UTs |
| 2. | English | Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Delhi, Lakshadweep, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Puducherry | Commonly used in administration and official documents |
| 3. | Gujarati | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | Predominant in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu |
| 4. | Konkani | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | Spoken regionally in some parts of the UT |
| 5. | Marathi | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | Recognized due to historical migration from Maharashtra |
| 6. | Urdu | Delhi, Jammu and Kashmi | Used widely among Muslim communities |
| 7. | Punjabi | Delhi | Spoken mainly by Punjabi communities in Delhi |
| 8. | Malayalam | Lakshadweep | Native language of Lakshadweep |
| 9. | Kashmiri | Jammu and Kashmir | Predominantly spoken in the Kashmir valley |
| 10. | Dogri | Jammu and Kashmir | Spoken mainly in the Jammu region |
| 11. | Tamil | Puducherry | Main language of the Tamil region in Puducherry |
| 12. | French | Puducherry | Reflects historical colonial influence |
| 13. | Telugu | Puducherry | Recognized regionally in Yanam area |
| 14. | Malayalam | Puducherry | Recognized regionally in Mahe area |
Many people often get confused between the National Language and the Official Languages of India. This confusion is stronger in the context of the Languages of India, because Hindi is widely mistaken as the country’s “national language”.The reality is - India does not have any declared national language. Instead, the Constitution recognizes Hindi (in Devanagari script) and English as the official languages of the Union for administrative, legal, and parliamentary purposes.
| Point | National Language | Official Language |
| 1. Meaning | Spoken by the majority of people. | Used for government and administrative work. |
| 2. Basis | Represents culture and identity. | Decided by law/constitution. |
| 3. Role | Symbol of national unity. | A tool for courts, parliament, and offices. |
| 4. Use | Daily life, cultural expression. | Official records, documents, and communication. |
| 5. Example (general) | Often, one main language of the nation. | Chosen language(s) for governance. |
| 6. In India | None declared. | Hindi (Devanagari) & English. |
| 7. Misconception | People think Hindi is India’s national language. | Actually, Hindi & English are just the official ones. |
| 8. Reality Check | India = No national language. | India 2 official languages. |
Languages of all states of India are for official recognition, and from literature to cultural identity, the numerous languages represent the diverse cultures and nations within India:
Important Amendments Related to the Scheduled Official Languages of India: