English and Its Constitutional Status as an ‘Indian Language’
GS PAPER II — Polity & Constitution
Why in News?
A recent Supreme Court observation questioning whether English can be considered an ‘Indian language’ in a broader sense has renewed interest in its actual constitutional status — a frequently tested distinction in Prelims.
Key Facts for Prelims
- English is not included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, which currently recognises 22 scheduled languages.
- Under Article 343, Hindi in the Devanagari script is the Official Language of the Union.
- The Official Languages Act, 1963 (as amended in 1967) provides for the continued use of English for official Union purposes alongside Hindi.
- Under Article 348, the Supreme Court and High Courts function primarily in English, unless the President permits use of Hindi or another official language in a specific High Court.
- The Supreme Court’s recent observation that English has become integral to India’s linguistic and administrative landscape does not change its constitutional status.
- Including English in the Eighth Schedule would require a constitutional amendment; it is not currently a scheduled language.
UPSC Note — Prelims Angle
A common distractor claims English is in the Eighth Schedule — it is not, despite its wide administrative and judicial use.
Keep Articles 343 and 348 clearly distinguished: one covers the Official Language of the Union, the other covers language use in the higher judiciary.
| Prelims MCQ Practice With reference to the constitutional status of English in India, consider the following statements: 1. English is included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. 2. Article 348 provides for the use of English in the Supreme Court and High Courts. 3. The Official Languages Act, 1963 provides for the continued use of English for the official purposes of the Union. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: (b) Statement 1 is incorrect — English is not part of the Eighth Schedule. Statements 2 and 3 are correct, covering Article 348’s judicial language provision and the Official Languages Act, 1963’s continuation of English for Union purposes. |
