Context

• The Union Cabinet approved granting 'classical language' status to five more languages ​​- Marathi, Bengali, Pali, Prakrit and Assamese.

Key Highlights:

• With this cabinet decision, the number of languages ​​with this status will increase from 6 to 11.
• Earlier, Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Odia had this status.
• Tamil was given this status in 2004 and Odia got this status in 2014.

Classical Languages

• Classical languages ​​are languages ​​that have a long and rich history, and are known for their literary, cultural and historical heritage.
• These languages ​​usually have complex grammar and have been used in a variety of fields such as religion, philosophy, science and the arts.

Why classical language status?

• In 2004, the Government of India decided to create a new category of classical languages, recognising that certain languages ​​deserved special status because of their unique and rich heritage.
• In 2006, the government laid down certain specific criteria for granting classical language status to a language. 

Criteria:

• The earliest writings and historical accounts date back to 1,500 to 2,000 BC.
• A collection of ancient literature/texts that are held in high esteem by generations.
• The presence of an original literary tradition not borrowed from another language community.
• Classical language and literature, as distinct from modern language, may also arise from a discrepancy between a classical language and its later forms or branches.

Constitutional provisions relating to language:

• 8th Schedule: The Eighth Schedule of the Constitution includes the following 22 languages- Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili and Dogri.
• Article 344(1): Provides for the appointment of a Commission by the President at the expiration of five years from the commencement of the Constitution for the progressive use of Hindi for the official purposes of the Union.
• Article 351: Its objective is to promote and develop the Hindi language so that it can become the medium of expression of all the elements of the composite culture of India. It is the duty of the Union.