Classical Languages Status Criteria:
The government's current criteria for declaring a language as classical include the following:
- The language should have a long history of at least 1,500-2,000 years, documented in early texts.
- It should possess a body of ancient literature that is highly regarded as a cultural heritage by generations of speakers.
- The literary tradition of the language should be original and not borrowed from another speech community.
- The classical language and its literature should be distinct from its modern form, potentially showing a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or offshoots.
Classical Languages Recognised:
- India currently recognizes six classical languages:
- Tamil (2004)
- Sanskrit (2005)
- Telugu (2008)
- Kannada (2008)
- Malayalam (2013)
- Odia (2014)
Benefits of Classical Language Status:
- Once a language is designated as classical, the Ministry of Education provides various benefits to promote it, including:
- Two major international awards annually for scholars of eminence in the language.
- Establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Studies in the Classical Language.
- Requesting the University Grants Commission (UGC) to create Professional Chairs in Central Universities dedicated to the classical language.
