{"id":4111,"date":"2026-10-29T14:08:10","date_gmt":"2026-10-29T08:38:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/?p=4111"},"modified":"2026-10-29T15:25:17","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T09:55:17","slug":"classical-languages-of-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/classical-languages-of-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Classical Languages of India 2026, List With Year, Criteria, UPSC Notes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><b>Classical Languages of India<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> are languages recognised by the Government of India for their antiquity, rich literary heritage, and contribution to the country\u2019s cultural and intellectual traditions. India has 11 recognised Classical Languages: Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Pali, and Prakrit.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tamil became the first language to receive classical status in 2004. The latest expansion took place on 3 October 2024, when the Union Cabinet approved classical status for Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali. This increased the number of recognised languages from six to eleven.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Classical Languages of India 2026<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Indian classical languages, also called <\/span><b>Shastriya Bhasha<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, are ancient Indian languages with a rich and unique literary history. India has recognised these languages as 'Classical Languages' due to their rich literary and historical heritage dating back to ancient times.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Classical language status is a Government of India designation. It is not a UNESCO recognition.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Proposals are examined through a Linguistic Experts Committee constituted under the Sahitya Akademi, with the Ministry of Culture involved in the recognition process.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">First Classical Language of India<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tamil was the first language to receive classical language status in India, on 12 October 2004. The Government of India introduced the classical language category to recognise languages with substantial antiquity and a rich body of ancient literature. Sanskrit received the status in 2005, followed by Telugu and Kannada in 2008.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Latest Classical Languages of India<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">On 3 October 2024, the Union Cabinet approved classical language status for five languages: Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Pali, and Prakrit. This update raises the total number of recognised classical languages in India from six to eleven.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3>Classical Language Status Importance<\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A language is declared classical to acknowledge its historical significance and its role in preserving India\u2019s cultural and intellectual heritage. These languages have played a vital role in transmitting ancient knowledge, philosophies, and values over thousands of years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">By designating them as classical, the government recognises their deep antiquity, rich literary traditions, and invaluable contributions to India\u2019s cultural fabric.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This status enhances their stature and supports efforts for their promotion, preservation, and further research, ensuring their relevance in the modern world.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Classical Languages of India Eligibility Criteria<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To be considered for Classical Language status, a language must meet specific criteria set by the Government of India. These criteria were revised in July 2024 by the <\/span><b>Linguistics Experts Committee<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> under the <\/span><b>Sahitya Akademi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. The committee was set up to review requests for such recognition. The concept of <\/span><b>originality and not borrowing<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> from others was replaced by the new criteria in 2024. The current eligibility criteria include:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>High Antiquity:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The language must have a recorded history of early texts dating back 1500-2000 years.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Ancient Literature: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The language should possess a body of ancient literature or texts considered valuable heritage by generations of speakers.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Knowledge Texts:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> In addition to poetry, the language must have a corpus of prose, which includes knowledge texts, epigraphic evidence, and inscriptions.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Distinct Evolution: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The classical form of the language and its literature should either be distinct from its modern form or show discontinuity with the later versions or offshoots.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">11 Classical Languages in India List With Year<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The following table presents the list of all 11 classical languages of India and their respective years of recognition.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\">\r\n<p><b>S. No.<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\">\r\n<p><b>Classical Language<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\">\r\n<p><b>Year of Recognition<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><b>1<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tamil<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2004<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><b>2<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sanskrit<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2005<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><b>3<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Telugu<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2008<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><b>4<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kannada<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2008<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><b>5<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Malayalam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2013<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><b>6<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Odia<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2014<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><b>7<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Marathi<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2024<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><b>8<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Assamese<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2024<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><b>9<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bengali (Bangla)<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2024<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><b>10<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pali<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2024<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><b>11<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prakrit<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2024<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Classical Language Tamil<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tamil was the <\/span><b>first language<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to be granted classical status in 2004. Developed from the Tamil-Brahmi script, Tamil boasts a literary history of over 2000 years. This ancient language has produced notable works such as the <\/span><b>Tirukkural, Tolkappiyam, Silappathikaram, and Manimegalai<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, among others. Tamil has also played a significant role in shaping the development of other languages like Malayalam, Sinhala, and even some Southeast Asian languages, demonstrating its far-reaching influence.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Classical Language Sanskrit<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sanskrit received classical status in 2005. Its history spans more than 3000 years, and it is written in the Devanagari script, which derives from the Brahmi family. This classical language is the foundation of many ancient Indian texts, including the <\/span><b>Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, Mahabharata<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and numerous works on grammar, medicine, astronomy, and more. Sanskrit has profoundly shaped Indian philosophy and religious thought, particularly in <\/span><b>Hinduism, <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/buddhism\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Buddhism<\/b><\/a><b>, and <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/jainism\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Jainism<\/b><\/a><b>.<\/b><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Classical Language Telugu<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Telugu, spoken primarily in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, was recognised as a classical language in 2008. The Telugu language, with a script that evolved from Brahmi, has a literary history spanning more than 1000 years. Some of its famous literary works include the Telugu <\/span><b>Bhagavatam, Ranganatha Ramayana, Vemana Satakam, and Andhra Mahabharatam<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Classical Language Kannada<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kannada, the principal language of Karnataka, also received classical status in 2008. Its literary tradition spans over a millennium, with the earliest known Kannada inscription dating back to the 6th century CE. Kannada, written in a script derived from Brahmi, has a rich literary tradition that extends over 1500 years. Its notable contributions to literature include works like <\/span><b>Vachana Sahitya, Basava Purana, and Surya Siddhanta<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Classical Language Malayalam<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Malayalam, spoken mainly in Kerala and Lakshadweep, was granted classical status in 2013. Its script, shaped by Brahmi and influenced by the Grantha script, has existed for over 1300 years. Significant literary works in Malayalam include the <\/span><b>Vazhappally Copper Plate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, Ramacharitam, and Lilatilakam, among others. The modern Malayalam script evolved from both the <\/span><b>Grantha and Kolezhuttu a<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">lphabets, marking its unique scriptural development in South India.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Classical Language Odia<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Odia, the primary language of Odisha, received classical status in 2014. Derived from the Brahmi script, Odia has a literary history of over 1000 years. Its prominent literary pieces include the <\/span><b>Jajpur copper plates and the Panchasakha writings<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, such as Bhagabata and Rukmini Bibha. The Eastern <\/span><b>Ganga dynasty <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">significantly influenced the language, shaping its evolution and development over the centuries.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Classical Language Marathi<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Marathi, spoken predominantly in Maharashtra, was granted classical status in 2024. Its literary tradition dates back over 1500 years, with a rich body of ancient texts and inscriptions. Marathi's unique linguistic features and its role in preserving Maharashtra's cultural heritage contributed to its recognition. Notable works include the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">abhangas <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">of <\/span><b>Dnyaneshwar <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">and <\/span><b>Tukaram<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Classical Language Bengali<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bengali was recognised as a classical language in 2024. Its literary history dates back to the 10th century CE. Important works include the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Charyapadas<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and the poetry of Rabindranath Tagore.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Classical Language Assamese<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Assamese, primarily spoken in Assam, was designated a classical language in 2024. Literary traditions date back to the 10th century CE. Notable works include the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prahlada Charitra<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Buranjis<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (historical chronicles).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Classical Language Pali<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pali, an ancient Indo-Aryan language, received classical status in 2024. It is recognised for its significance in Buddhist literature, with texts dating back to the 3rd century BCE. Notable works include the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tipitaka<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, the canonical texts of Theravada Buddhism.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Classical Language Prakrit<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prakrit, a group of ancient Indo-Aryan languages, was recognised as a classical language in 2024. Its roots date back to the 3rd century BCE. Prakrit's status is linked to its importance in Jain literature and ancient inscriptions, featuring notable works like the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Gathasaptasati<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and the plays of Kalidasa.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Classical Languages of India Benefits<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Indian government provides several benefits to promote the Classical Languages of India, ensuring their preservation and further study. These include prestigious awards, research centres, and academic support through the establishment of professional chairs in universities.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Two international awards <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">are instituted annually for scholars who have made exemplary research contributions to teach or promote the classical languages of India. These awards honour their service to preserving heritage.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>The Government<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> establishes a Centre of Excellence to stimulate advanced research specifically focused on each of the classical languages declared. This powers further literary and linguistic study.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The<\/span><b> University Grants Commission(UGC)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> sponsors the creation of Professional Chairs related to the classical languages of India in central universities and research institutions. This enables focused teaching and research capacity building.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">New Classical Languages of India Contributions<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Classical languages of India have enriched the country\u2019s literary, philosophical, religious, and cultural heritage. Their ancient texts, poetry, inscriptions, and scholarly works preserve India\u2019s intellectual traditions and historical legacy.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Contribution of Marathi Literature<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Marathi literature has a rich historical heritage spanning over a thousand years. The <\/span><b>Gathasaptasati<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, attributed to Satavahana King Hala and believed to have been compiled in the 1st century CE, is an important early collection of Marathi poetry. Other significant works include <\/span><b>Lilacharitra and Jnaneshwari<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Historical inscriptions, copper plates, manuscripts and religious texts provide evidence of Marathi's literary development. Saints such as Sant Dnyaneshwar, Namdev and Tukaram made lasting contributions to devotional literature and philosophical thought.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Literary Contributions of Pali Language<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pali occupies an important place in India's religious and philosophical heritage, particularly in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/buddhist-literature\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Buddhist literature<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. It is the language of the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tipitaka<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, the principal canonical collection of Theravada Buddhism. The <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vinaya Pitaka<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> discusses monastic discipline, the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sutta Pitaka<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> preserves Buddhist discourses, and the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Abhidhamma Pitaka<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> explores philosophical and psychological concepts. Pali literature also includes the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Jataka Kathas<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, which narrate the Buddha's previous lives. These works preserve ancient Indian ethical teachings, spiritual ideas and historical knowledge and continue to influence Buddhist communities worldwide.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Contribution of Prakrit Literature<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prakrit represents a group of Middle Indo-Aryan languages that played a significant role in India's linguistic and cultural evolution. It was used to communicate religious teachings associated with Buddhism and Jainism and helped make philosophical ideas accessible to wider audiences. Prakrit literature includes poetry, drama and philosophical works, while inscriptions from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/ashoka\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ashoka<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">'s reign provide valuable historical evidence. Scholars such as <\/span><b>Panini, Vararuchi and Samantabhadra<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> contributed to grammatical traditions. Prakrit also influenced the development of modern Indo-Aryan languages, including Hindi, Bengali and Marathi.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Literary Contributions of Assamese Language<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Assamese literature preserves the linguistic and cultural heritage of Northeast India. The <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Charyapadas<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, Buddhist tantric verses composed by Siddhacharyas between approximately the 8th and 12th centuries, contain early linguistic features associated with Assamese and other eastern Indian languages. Their vocabulary, phonetic characteristics and grammatical structures provide valuable evidence for studying the historical development of Assamese. These compositions also illuminate the connections between Buddhist traditions and regional literary cultures, making them significant sources for understanding the evolution of Assamese and related languages.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Literary Contributions of Bengali Language<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bengali literature has played a significant role in shaping India's cultural, intellectual and nationalist traditions. The <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Charyapada<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, a collection of Buddhist mystical verses, represents an important early stage in Bengali literary history. Medieval literature developed through translations of Sanskrit epics and devotional compositions. During the nineteenth century, reformers such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/raja-ram-mohan-roy\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Raja Ram Mohan Roy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/ishwar-chandra-vidyasagar\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> contributed to intellectual awakening. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/rabindranath-tagore\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rabindranath Tagore<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay further enriched Bengali literature. Tagore composed India's national anthem, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Jana Gana Mana<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, while Bankim Chandra wrote <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vande Mataram<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Classical Languages of India Government Initiatives<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Government of India supports classical languages through specialised institutions, universities, research programmes, and publication activities. Major initiatives for the Classical Languages of India include the following:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), Chennai:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It researches ancient Tamil literature, grammar and dialects. It translates classical texts into Indian and foreign languages, publishes Braille editions and develops a classical Tamil thesaurus.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Telugu (CESCT): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Established under CIIL at Venkatachalam, Andhra Pradesh, CESCT has compiled approximately 10,000 classical records. It documents Telugu inscriptions and translates important works, including Andhra Sabda Chintamani, into English.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Kannada (CESCK):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Located at the University of Mysuru, CESCK promotes Kannada through research, teaching, documentation and dissemination. It has published seven books and translated Annamacharya's Sankeerthana Lakshanam into Kannada.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Odia (CESCO):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Located at the Eastern Regional Language Centre, Bhubaneswar, CESCO promotes classical Odia through research and documentation. Its projects examine inscriptions, mural paintings, archaeological remains, palm-leaf manuscripts and ancient literary references.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Malayalam (CESCM):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Established at Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University, Tirur, Kerala, CESCM promotes classical Malayalam studies. The centre supports the preservation, documentation and academic study of Malayalam's historical literary and linguistic heritage.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Classical Languages of India UPSC PYQs<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><b>Q1:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Which one of the following was given classical language status recently? <\/span><b>(UPSC Prelims 2015)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(a) Odia<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(b) Konkani<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(c) Bhojpuri<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(d) Assamese<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><b>Ans: (a)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p><b>Q2: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Consider the following languages: <\/span><b>(UPSC Prelims 2014)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Gujarati<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Kannada<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Telugu<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Which of the above has\/have been declared as \u2018classical language\/languages\u2019 by the Government?<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(a) 1 and 2 only<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(b) 3 only<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(c) 2 and 3 only<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(d) 1, 2 and 3<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><b>Ans: (c)<\/b><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>India recognises 11 languages as Classical Languages of India. Check out the 11 Classical Indian Languages List With Year, Criteria, Benefits, Contributions, etc.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":8291,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,23],"tags":[2168,40,619],"class_list":["post-4111","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-upsc-notes","category-upsc-art-culture-notes","tag-classical-languages-of-india","tag-quest","tag-upsc-art-and-culture-notes"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4111","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4111"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4111\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31466,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4111\/revisions\/31466"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8291"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4111"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4111"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4111"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}