HM’s Statement on Inclusion of Bhojpuri & Rajasthani Languages in the Eighth Schedule

HM’s Statement on Inclusion of Bhojpuri & Rajasthani Languages in the Eighth Schedule


The Union Home Minister, Shri P. Chidambaram made a statement in the Parliament on the need to include Bhojpuri and Rajasthani languages in the Eighth schedule to the Constitution. Following is the text of the Minister’s statement:

“No criteria has been laid down in the Constitution for inclusion of languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India. At present, 22 languages have been included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India. Of these, 14 languages were initially included in the Constitution. Sindhi language was included in 1967. Thereafter, three more languages viz., Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were included in the year 1992.

Subsequently, Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhali languages were added in the year 2004. The basis for inclusion of these languages in the Eighth Schedule were the circumstances and demands of the people, existing at that point of time.

At present, demands for inclusion of 38 more languages including Bhojpuri and Rajasthani in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution are pending.

A Committee was set up in September, 2003 under the Chairmanship of Shri Sitakant Mohapatra to evolve a set of objective criteria for inclusion of more languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India. The Committee submitted its report in 2004. The report of the Committee is under consideration in consultation with the concerned departments of the Central Government. A decision on the pending demands for inclusion of languages in the Eighth Schedule including Bhojpuri and Rajasthani will be taken, inter-alia, in the light of the recommendations of the Committee and Government’s decision thereon. No time frame can be fixed for consideration of the demands for inclusion of more languages in Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India”.