**Summary:**
Since 2022, the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has been conducting three all-India competitive examinations—Multi-Tasking Non-Technical Staff and Havaldar (CBIC & CBN) Examination, Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, and Constable (GD) Examination—in 13 regional languages, along with Hindi and English. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) permits candidates in the Civil Services Mains Examination to answer in any of the 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, in addition to Hindi and English, with exceptions for language and literature papers. The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) and Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) also conduct examinations in 13 regional languages, alongside Hindi and English. This information was provided by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on August 21, 2025. The policy addresses the promotion of regional languages in competitive examinations conducted by various recruitment agencies in India.
Key Entities Referenced
Staff Selection Commission: A government organisation responsible for conducting examinations for recruitment to various posts in the Government of India.
Multi-Tasking Non-Technical Staff and Havaldar CBIC CBN Examination: An all-India competitive examination conducted by the Staff Selection Commission.
Combined Higher Secondary 10+2 Level Examination: An all-India competitive examination conducted by the Staff Selection Commission.
Constable GD Examination: An all-India competitive examination conducted by the Staff Selection Commission.
Union Public Service Commission: The central agency of the Government of India responsible for conducting civil services examinations.
Eighth Schedule of the Constitution: A schedule to the Constitution of India listing the official languages of the Republic of India.
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection: An autonomous body that conducts recruitment exams for various public sector banks in India.
Railway Recruitment Boards: Organizations in India that conduct examinations for recruitment to various posts in the Indian Railways.
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: PROMOTION OF
REGIONAL LANGUAGES IN COMPETITIVE
EXAMINATIONS
Posted On: 21 AUG 2025 5:49PM by PIB Delhi
Since 2022, Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has been conducting three all-India competitive examinations
viz. Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff and Havaldar (CBIC & CBN) Examination, Combined Higher
Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, and Constable (GD) Examination, in 13 regional languages along with
Hindi & English.
As regards other competitive examinations, the Civil Services (Mains) Examination conducted by UPSC
allows candidates to write answers in any of the 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the
Constitution, besides Hindi or English (except in the case of language and literature papers). Other
recruitment agencies such as Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) and Railway Recruitment
Boards (RRBs) also conduct examinations in 13 regional languages along with Hindi and English.
This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science
and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of
Atomic Energy and Department of Space, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
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NKR/PSM
(Release ID: 2159267)