Classical Language Status

About Classical Language Status:

• The current criteria evolved by the government to determine the declaration of a language as a classical language are
  • It should have high antiquity in its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1,500-2,000 years.
  • A body of ancient literature or texts that is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers.
  • The literary tradition should be original and not borrowed from another speech community.
  • The said language and literature should be distinct from its modern format; there may also be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or its offshoots.
• Once a language is notified as a classical language, the Education Ministry provides certain benefits to promote it, which include two major annual international awards for scholars of eminence in the said languages. 
• Apart from this, a centre of excellence for studies in the classical language is set up, and the University Grants Commission is requested to create a certain number of Professional Chairs in Central universities for the languages that get the classical tag.
• Classical Languages in India:
  • Till date, six languages have been conferred the status of ‘Classical Language’ in India.
  • The first language to be accorded that status is Tamil, which was declared a classical language back in 2004.
  • In the following year, Sanskrit was accorded with the status.
  • In 2008, Telugu and Kannada were conferred with the status, followed by Malayalam in 2013.
  • Odia is the latest addition to the list and received status in 2014.

Q1: What is the University Grants Commission (UGC)?

The UGC came into existence on 28th December, 1953 and became a statutory Organization of the Government of India by an Act of Parliament in 1956, for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of teaching, examination and research in university education.

Source: Centre set to tweak criteria for according classical language status