Parliament Question: Inclusion of Gondi Language in Eight Schedule

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4122 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 17TH MARCH, 2026/ PHALGUNA 26, 1947 (SAKA) INCLUSION OF GONDI LANGUAGE IN EIGHT SCHEDULE 4122. SHRI GODAM NAGESH: Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has received any proposal or representation for inclusion of the Gondi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India; (b) if so, the present status of the said proposal and the criteria adopted for inclusion of new languages in the Eighth Schedule; (c) whether the Government has conducted any linguistic, socio-cultural or demographic assessment regarding the number of Gondi-speaking population across the country, including Telangana; and (d) the details time by which the Government proposes to take a decision on inclusion of Gondi language in the Eighth Schedule and the steps taken by the Government in this regard? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI) (a) to (d):There have been demands from time to time for inclusion of several languages, including Gondi, in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. However, there are no fixed criteria for consideration of any language for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. As the evolution of dialects and languages is a dynamic process, influenced by socio-cultural, economic and political developments, it is difficult to fix any-2- L.S.US.Q.NO. 4122 FOR 17.03.2026 criterion for languages for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. The earlier attempts, through the Pahwa (1996) and Sitakant Mohapatra (2003) Committees, to evolve such fixed criteria have been inconclusive. The Government is conscious of the sentiments and requirements for inclusion of other languages in the Eighth Schedule. Such requests have to be considered keeping in mind these sentiments, and the other relevant considerations. Since at present, there are no fixed criteria for any language to be considered for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution, no time-frame can be fixed for consideration of the demands for inclusion of more languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. *****