Criteria to Include Language Under Eighth Schedule
There is no specific criteria mentioned in the constitution for the inclusion of the language in the Eighth schedule. Pahwa (1996) and Sitakant Mohapatra (2003) committes were formed to decide the criteria for the inclusion of the language but yielded no results. It is difficult to decide the criteria as the evolution of dialects and languages is dynamic and is influenced by socio-eco-political developments of the time. The general criteria followed for the inclusion of language are as follows:
- Have well established history.
- Language is spoken by large number of people.
- Have a rich cultural and literary heritage.
- Have a distinct geographical distribution.
- The addition or removal of languages from the Eighth Schedule requires the approval of both houses of Parliament by a special majority.
Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution
Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution deals with the 22 official languages of India. The languages are Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili and Dogri. These languages were included in the schedule to preserve linguistic diversity and grant special status and protection under the Constitution. The provision can be amended by the parliament to adapt to evolving linguistic considerations. The schedule strengthens the constitutional commitment to unity in diversity.
Table of Content
- List of Language in the Eighth Schedule
- Chronology of Addition of Languages to the Eighth Schedule
- Constitutional Provision Related to the 8th Schedule
- Criteria to Include Language under Eighth Schedule
- Classical Languages
- Benefits of inclusion of Language under the Eighth Schedule
- Steps that Should be Taken to protect the Linguistic Diversity of India
- Demands of languages for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule