Six Indian languages have been recognized as Classical Languages. Here are the languages and the years they were conferred this status:
- Tamil: 12.10.2004
- Sanskrit: 25.11.2005
- Kannada: 31.10.2008
- Telugu: 31.10.2008
- Malayalam: 08.08.2013
- Odia: 11.03.2014
Government Policy and Promotion Efforts
The Government of India aims to promote all Indian languages, including classical languages. The National Education Policy, 2020, emphasizes the promotion of all Indian languages. The Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) focuses on promoting Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia. The Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT) is dedicated to the development and promotion of Classical Tamil. Sanskrit is promoted through three Central Universities, which receive funds for teaching and research. However, no separate funds are allocated for the classical aspects of Sanskrit.
Budget Allocation for Classical Languages (Last 10 Years; in Rs. Lakhs)
| Year | Kannada | Telugu | Odia | Malayalam | Tamil |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 8.80 | ||
| 2015-16 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 11.89 | ||
| 2016-17 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 5.02 | ||
| 2017-18 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 10.27 | ||
| 2018-19 | 99.00 | 100.00 | 5.46 | ||
| 2019-20 | 107.00 | 107.00 | 9.83 | ||
| 2020-21 | 108.00 | 147.00 | 8.00 | 8.00 | 1200 |
| 2021-22 | 106.50 | 103.00 | 58.38 | 63.97 | 1200 |
| 2022-23 | 171.75 | 171.75 | 176.75 | 186.75 | 1200 |
| 2023-24 | 154.50 | 154.50 | 138.50 | 112.50 | 1525 |
No proposals have been received for Classical Malayalam language projects.
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