Panel to look into Rajasthani as second official language

Subject : Polity

Section: MSc

Concept :

On March 16, 2023, Education Minister of Rajasthan, Dr. B.D. Kalla said in the assembly that the Minister of State for Languages has approved the formation of a committee in connection with declaring Rajasthani language as the second official language of Rajasthan.

Background

Kalla said that on August 25, 2003, a resolution was unanimously passed by all the members of the State Legislative Assembly regarding recognition of Rajasthani language and its inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
The Central Government has been urged from time to time to include Rajasthani language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
In this regard, requests have been made to the Central Government by the Chief Ministers in the years 2009, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2023. He told that at present the matter is under consideration at the level of the Government of India.
The education minister said that it has come to the notice of the state government that different languages have been made official languages in different states.
At present, the Rajasthan Official Languages Act-1956 is in force in the state. The matter is being examined for amendment in the said Act to include Rajasthani language in the official language.
He said that Mahapatra Committee has also considered Rajasthani language eligible to be included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Dr. Kalla said that in this regard, the members of the party and the opposition should unite and request the Prime Minister.

Official Language of the State

The Indian Constitution does not specify the official language of different states.
The State legislature may adopt any one or more of the languages in use in the state or Hindi as the official language of that state. Until that is done, English is to continue as the official language of that state.
The choice of the state to adopt state official language is not limited to the languages listed in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
The Official Languages Act (1963) lies down that English should be used for purposes of communication between the Union and the non-Hindi states.
When the President (on a demand being made) is satisfied that a significant proportion of the population of a state prefers the use of any language spoken by them to be recognised by that state, then he may direct that such language shall also be officially recognised in that state.
This provision aims at protecting the linguistic interests of minorities in the states.