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EXPRESSIONS OF INDIA
Eternal India
encyclopedia
Enactments relating to linguistic states and official languages (Chronology)
1950 - Indian Constitution Article 343, adopts Hindi script
(Devanagari) as the official language; allows continu-
ing use of English for 15 years; 8th Schedule under.
Pondicherry (formerly French territory of Pondicherry,
Karaikal, Mahi, Yanam) created as a separate Union
Territory).
1953 -
Articles 344 (1) and 351 grants recognition to 14
major
languages
:
Assamese,
Bengali,
Gujarati,
Hindi,
Kannada,
Kashmiri,
Malayalam,
Marathi,
Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.
Andhra, first state on a linguistic basis, formed on
October 1.
1963
1966
-Languages Act enacts continuance of English for offi-
cial purposes beyond the originally prescribed 15-year
term (beyond 1965).
-Punjab split up; Haryana-State set up under Punjab
Reorganisation Bill on linguistic grounds.
1953
-
1955 -
Government
appoints
SRC
(States
Reorganisation
Commission) to consider creation of linguistic states.
SRC report recommends vital changes.
1967 -Sindhi becomes 15th major official language in 8th
Schedule by virtue of a constitutional amendment;
Language (Amendment Bill) enacts usage of English
for communication between the centre and states,
1956 - Linguistic reorganisation of states; 27 reduced to 14
States and 6 Union Territories.
permits use of both languages for official documenta-
tion; Government accepts in principle usage of regional
1957 - Official Languages Commission advocates greater
languages for education in all stages and subjects.
use of Hindi for official purposes.
1969 - New state of Meghalaya carved out of Assam.
1960 - Bombay State split on linguistic grounds into Gujarat
and Maharashtra.
1972 - Mizoram established as Union Territory.
1961 - Chief Ministers' Conference adapts "3 - Language
Formula" - provides for study of Hindi, another Indian
1975 - Sikkim becomes 22nd State; Union Territory of Arunachal
Pradesh.
Language (regional) and English in secondary schools
1986 - Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh granted Statehood.
- National Integration Conference ratifies the "For-
mula".
-12th Amendment enacted - Goa, Daman and Diu
become a Union Territory in the First Schedule to the
Constitution; Nagaland created as 16th State;
1987 - Goa granted Statehood; Daman and Diu delinked to
1962
1992
form a Union Territory.
-77th Constitution amendment adds Konkani, Manipuri
and Nepali taking the list of official languages to 18.