What are the two official languages of India?

While India has a vast linguistic diversity with 22 officially recognized languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of its constitution, the central government primarily operates using two official languages. According to Article 343 of the Indian Constitution, Hindi in the Devanagari script is the official language of the Union. However, the same article also provided for the continued use of English for all official purposes for a period of fifteen years from the commencement of the constitution.

The initial plan to phase out English was met with resistance from non-Hindi-speaking regions of the country. To address these concerns, the Official Languages Act was passed in 1963, which allowed for the indefinite use of English alongside Hindi for official purposes of the Union and for business in Parliament. This created a bilingual approach at the federal level, ensuring that citizens from different linguistic backgrounds could communicate with the central government.

The use of English is a legacy of the British colonial era, during which it was the language of administration, education, and law. After independence, it remained a crucial link language between different states, each with its own regional language. Today, both languages play a significant role in the country's governance, with government documents, parliamentary proceedings, and communications being conducted in both Hindi and English.

It is a common misconception that Hindi is the national language of India. The constitution does not grant any language the status of a national language, reflecting the country's rich multilingual fabric. Instead, it recognizes a number of scheduled languages to ensure the representation of its linguistic diversity, while Hindi and English serve as the official languages for the functioning of the Union government.