Prime Minister Modi has congratulated the newly-designated classical languages, including Marathi, on social media platform X. The recent approval for classical status to Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Pali, and Prakrit comes just ahead of the scheduled Assembly elections in Maharashtra, making it a significant political move. While the recognition honors the timeless influence of these languages on India's culture and history, PM Modi hopes that it will inspire more people to learn and preserve them.
Union Cabinet Approves Classical Language Status for Five Languages
On December 1, 2022, the Union Cabinet approved the proposal to grant classical language status to five Indian languages: Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Pali, and Prakrit. This decision is significant as it recognizes the rich cultural and historical significance of these languages, and is expected to encourage their preservation and promotion.
Background:
The classical language status is granted to languages that have a long literary tradition and a significant body of work that predates the 14th century CE. The criteria also include grammatical sophistication, a substantial corpus of ancient texts, and a long tradition of scholarly research.
Prior to this decision, only Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia had been granted classical language status in India.
Political Significance:
The approval of classical language status for Marathi comes just ahead of the scheduled Assembly elections in the state of Maharashtra, where Marathi is the official language. This move has been seen as a significant political decision, with many analysts speculating that it could sway votes in favor of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Cultural Significance:
Beyond the political implications, the classical language status is a recognition of the immense cultural and historical value of these languages. Marathi, for example, is a rich language with a rich literary tradition dating back centuries, and has produced notable literary figures such as Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram.
Prime Minister's Reaction:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media to congratulate the newly-designated classical languages, stating that this decision would inspire more people to learn and preserve these rich languages.
Top 5 FAQs Related to Classical Language Status:
1. What are the criteria for classical language status?
2. Which languages have been granted classical language status in India?
3. What are the benefits of classical language status?
4. How does the political climate influence the granting of classical language status?
5. What is the significance of Marathi receiving classical language status?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Manipur, his first since the outbreak of violence in 2023, aims to bring peace and progress to the state. He inaugurated various developmental projects and assured support from the government for ensuring peace and stability in the state. However, the Congress has criticized the visit, calling it "shockingly insensitive." PM Modi also emphasized the strong bond between India and Nepal.
Sanjay Raut, a leader of the Shiv Sena party, has called for a boycott of the upcoming India-Pakistan cricket match in Dubai, citing it as an insult to the victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. He also accused Indian cricket board chief Jay Shah, son of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, of forcing the Indian team to play in the match despite their reluctance. Meanwhile, Sena workers have staged protests and even broken a TV set to show their disapproval of the match.
Veteran ABC journalist Barrie Cassidy falls for fake news about Charlie Kirk's alleged killer, falsely accusing the suspect as a right-wing extremist. However, it was later revealed that the killer was actually influenced by left-wing ideology, causing Cassidy to issue a public apology for his mistake.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized the importance of Hindi as a "friend" rather than a competitor to other regional languages during his keynote address at the Hindi Diwas 2025 and Rajbhasha Conference. Shah traced the roots of Hindi's acceptance in Gujarat and highlighted how it has coexisted with Gujarati, providing children with a wider reach at the national level. This fifth edition of the conference held outside Delhi showcases the government's efforts to strengthen communication between Hindi and regional languages.
After the outbreak of ethnic conflict in Manipur in May 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first visit to the state and addressed separate gatherings in Churachandpur and Imphal. In his speeches, he emphasized peace as a precondition for progress, reconciliation between the hills and valley, infrastructure, and welfare. He also announced a special package and funds for rehabilitation of over 60,000 people displaced by the conflict, showcasing the central government's commitment towards rebuilding lives in Manipur. With this visit, Modi aimed to ease tensions and promote unity in the polarized state, urging for collective will in bringing back normalcy and fostering development.
On the occasion of Hindi Diwas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah shared greetings and urged the people of the country to take a pledge to preserve and enrich all Indian languages, including Hindi. They emphasized that language is a living heritage of identity and culture, and the growing respect of Hindi on the world stage is a matter of pride. They also highlighted the role of Indian languages in carrying forward India's culture, knowledge, and traditions through generations.
CM Yogi of Uttar Pradesh has been actively engaging with the public through the 'Samarth Uttar Pradesh - Viksit Uttar Pradesh @2047' campaign, with visits to all 75 districts and the gathering of over 1.5 lakh feedback entries so far. The top feedback entries have highlighted education as the biggest issue among the public, with over 50,000 suggestions related to education. Other areas of concern include urban and rural development, health, social welfare, and agriculture.
Amid massive anti-government protests and a constitutional crisis in Nepal, top sources reveal that former chief justice Sushila Karki is likely to be announced as the interim Prime Minister. This decision comes after days of political turmoil and unrest, with President Ramchandra Paudel pushing for a solution within the constitutional framework. Army troops continue to patrol sensitive areas while representatives of the youth-led 'Gen Z' hold talks with military officials to finalize the transitional government.
The political world was rocked by tragedy as Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot while speaking at a Utah college. President Trump expressed his shock and sadness over the loss of his close ally, and offered his condolences to Kirk's wife Erika, who is said to be devastated by the news. While the investigation into the shooting is ongoing and the killer is still at large, the President has announced plans to award Kirk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously.
In recent years, three Asian countries – Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal – have experienced widespread protests that have resulted in the ousting of a president in Sri Lanka and the resignation of a prime minister in Nepal. The common theme among these movements is public frustration with corruption, inequality, and economic disparities, as well as a growing resentment towards the ruling elite. These protests serve as a reflection of the people's dissatisfaction with the entrenched political systems in these countries.