The Union Cabinet has approved the status of Classical Language for five more Indian languages. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement Thursday, and said the decision aimed to preserve India’s ancient linguistic heritage and recognise the historical and cultural importance of these languages.  


The five languages added to the list of Classical Languages are Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali. 


What is a Classical Language?


A Classical Language is a designation given to languages that boast a rich heritage of ancient literature and a long history of written records. These languages reflect the cultural and intellectual achievements of their respective communities and have contributed to the development of the nation’s cultural landscape. 


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The Government of India first created the category of Classical Languages in 2004 when Tamil was declared the first Classical Language. Over the years, languages that meet specific criteria have been conferred this status.


Sahitya Akademi is the nodal agency for the Linguistic Experts Committee (LEC) constituted by the Government of India in 2004 to examine the languages proposed for the status of Classical Language.


Criteria For Classical Language Status


For a language to be recognised as 'classical', it must meet the following criteria:


- The language must have a recorded history of 1500 to 2000 years.


- The language must possess ancient texts considered valuable by generations of speakers.


- Texts of knowledge, particularly prose works along with poetry, as well as evidence from epigraphy and inscriptions.


-The classical language and its literature may differ from their modern forms or may not have a continuous connection with the later versions or derivatives.


Full List of Classical Languages in India



  • Tamil: 2004

  • Sanskrit: 2005

  • Telugu: 2008

  • Kannada: 2008

  • Malayalam: 2013

  • Odia: 2014

  • Marathi: 2024

  • Pali: 2024

  • Prakrit: 2024

  • Assamese: 2024

  • Bengali: 2024