Parliament Question: Promotion of sanskrit language in Sikkim

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No-1304 ANSWERED ON- 11/02/2026 Promotion of Sanskrit Language in Sikkim 1304 Shri Dorjee Tshering Lepcha: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) Whether Government has taken any specific steps or initiatives for the promotion, preservation and propagation of the Sanskrit language in the State of Sikkim; (b) if so, the details thereof including financial assistance provided during the last three years and the current year; (c) whether any Sanskrit schools, colleges, research centres or teacher training programmes are being supported by the Central Government in Sikkim; and (d) the future roadmap or proposals, if any, to further strengthen Sanskrit education and awareness in the State, particularly among youth and education institutions? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR) (a) to (d): The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 highlights the importance of multilingualism and places strong emphasis on the promotion of all Indian languages. In alignment with the objectives of NEP 2020, the Government of India has undertaken several initiatives promoting education, preservation and research on Indian languages. Several initiatives have been undertaken across the country for the promotion, preservation and propagation of the Sanskrit language including the state of Sikkim. To promote Sanskrit language and support Sanskrit schools, colleges and research centres, three Central Universities namely Central Sanskrit University (CSU), Delhi; Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University (SLBSNSU), New Delhi; and National Sanskrit University (NSU), Tirupati have been established. These universities not only impart Sanskrit education to students but also conduct training programmes for capacity building of teachers in various institutions.CSU Delhi, serves as the nodal agency for implementing several Government of India initiatives aimed at promoting the Sanskrit language across the country. 260 institutions across the country are affiliated to the CSU. Besides Grants to Senior Secondary/High Schools, CSU also provides financial support under initiatives such as ‘Samman Rashi to Eminent Sanskrit Pandits’, ‘Traditional Pathshala’ and ‘Merit Scholarships to Students’etc. Accordingly, under these initiatives, CSU has provided financial assistance of Rs.76.10 lakhs, Rs.73.63 lakhs and Rs.68.04 lakhs to 25, 13 and 16 Institutions respectively for the years 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25 in the state of Sikkim. ***