Government Clarifies: No Mandate for Hindi in Official Communications

Quick Summary:

• Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, clarified in Lok Sabha that the government has not issued any directives to make Hindi mandatory in official communications, central services, or educational institutions.
• This was stated in response to a written question from DMK MP Kalanidhi Veeraswamy on August 5, 2025.
• In another query raised by DMK MP Matheswaran VS, the Minister shared that the government has spent ₹736.11 crore on promoting Hindi as 2014 through budgets allocated to the Department of Official Language.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The clarification provided by Nityanand Rai is significant as it addresses ongoing questions surrounding language policy in India. India’s linguistic diversity often leads to debates about promoting specific languages over others in official or institutional domains. The ₹736.11 crore expenditure reflects sustained efforts toward promoting Hindi but leaves room for discussions on balancing such initiatives with respect for regional languages and ensuring inclusivity. While no mandate exists for making hindi compulsory, it is critical that India’s governance framework continues fostering equitable treatment across all linguistic groups to preserve unity amid diversity.

Read more: The hindu