**Executive Summary**
This report, issued by the Ministry of Education on December 15, 2025, answers Unstarred Question No. 2370 in Lok Sabha regarding the promotion of classical languages in India. It details the funds allocated to classical languages, the estimated number of speakers for each language, and lists the top five most spoken languages in the country. The information provided pertains to the period leading up to the current fiscal year 2025-26.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Government Policy:** The Government promotes all Indian languages, including classical languages.
* **Implementation:**
* The Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru, promotes all Indian languages including Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia.
* The Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), Chennai, promotes Classical Tamil.
* Three Central Universities promote Sanskrit Language.
* **New Classical Languages:** The Government has recently declared Assamese, Marathi, Bengali, Pali, and Prakrit as classical languages. Funds are allocated for these languages based on requirement and utilisation.
* **Funds Allocation (Rs. in lakhs):**
* The report provides a table detailing the funds allocated to Odia, Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu from 2014-15 to 2025-26.
* **Classical Language Speakers (2011 Census):**
* The report includes a table showing the estimated number of speakers for Assamese, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Sanskrit, Tamil, and Telugu as per the 2011 census.
* **Top 5 Spoken Languages:** Hindi is the most spoken language in India, followed by Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, and Tamil.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Education**
* **Impact:** Responsible for promoting Indian languages, including classical languages.
* **Action Required:** Continue funding and overseeing the activities of CIIL, CICT, and Central Universities involved in the promotion of classical languages.
**Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru**
* **Impact:** Responsible for promoting Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia.
* **Action Required:** Utilise allocated funds to support the development and promotion of these languages.
**Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), Chennai**
* **Impact:** Responsible for promoting Classical Tamil.
* **Action Required:** Use allocated funds to support development and promotion of Classical Tamil.
**Central Universities promoting Sanskrit Language**
* **Impact:** Responsible for teaching and research in Sanskrit.
* **Action Required:** Use allocated funds to provide teaching and research in Sanskrit leading to award of degree, diploma, certificate to students.
**Speakers of Classical Languages**
* **Impact:** Benefit from the promotion and preservation of their languages.
* **Action Required:** Continue using and promoting their languages within their communities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Education: Primary government body responsible for promoting Indian languages including classical languages.
Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru: Subordinate office of the Ministry of Education responsible for the promotion of all Indian languages including classical languages.
Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), Chennai: Institute responsible for the development and promotion of Classical Tamil
Classical Languages: Refers to Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Odia, Tamil, Sanskrit, Assamese, Marathi, Bengali, Pali and Prakrit as specified in the document.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2370
ANSWERED ON - 15/12/2025
Promotion of Classical Languages
2370. Shri Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia :
Dr.Sharmila Sarkar :
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the amount of funds spent on promotion of classical languages during the
last eleven years, year and language-wise;
(b) the details of the estimated number of people in India speaking each classical language,
language-wise; and
(c) the details of the top five most spoken languages in the country?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) : The policy of the Government is to promote all Indian languages including classical
languages. Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru a subordinate office under
Ministry of Education works for the promotion of all Indian languages including four classical
languages viz. Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Odia. Development and promotion of
Classical Tamil is done by Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), Chennai. The
Government of India is promoting Sanskrit Language through three Central Universities. Funds
are provided to these universities for teaching and research in Sanskrit language leading to
award of degree, diploma, certificate to students. Recently, Government of India has declared
five new classical languages viz. Assamese, Marathi, Bengali, Pali and Prakrit. Funds are
provided as per the requirement and utilisation. The details of funds allocated for various
Classical Languages are given below:
Year Funds allocated (Rs. in lakhs)
Odia Malayalam
2020-21 8.00 8.00
2021-22 58.38 63.97
2022-23 176.75 186.75
2023-24 138.50 112.50
2024-25 86.00 86.00
2025-26 106.50 106.50Year Funds allocated (Rs. in lakhs)
Kannada Tamil Telugu
2014-15 100.00 800.00 100.00
2015-16 100.00 1199.00 100.00
2016-17 100.00 500.00 100.00
2017-18 100.00 1059.00 100.00
2018-19 99.00 465.00 99.00
2019-20 107.00 770.00 107.00
2020-21 127.50 1200.00 147.00
2021-22 106.50 1200.00 103.15
2022-23 171.75 1200.00 171.75
2023-24 154.50 1525.00 154.50
2024-25 86.00 1430.00 86.00
2025-26 106.50 1697.00 106.50
(b) : Estimated number of people speaking classical language as per census 2011 has been
given below:
Language Total population
Assamese 1,53,11,351
Bengali 9,72,37,669
Kannada 4,37,06,512
Malayalam 3,48,38,819
Marathi 8,30,26,680
Odia 3,75,21,324
Sanskrit 24,821
Tamil 6,90,26,881
Telugu 8,11,27,740
(c) : Hindi is the most spoken language in the country followed by Bengali, Marathi, Telugu
and Tamil.
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