List of Indian States and Their Languages: Know Official and Regional Languages Diversity

India is a land of immense cultural and linguistic variety. The Indian states and their languages represent a complex tapestry of history, where the linguistic reorganisation of states in 1956 played a crucial role in shaping current administrative boundaries. Understanding the list of Indian states and languages is essential for students and aspirants preparing for competitive exams, as it highlights the language diversity in India and the role of scheduled languages of India state wise.

List of Indian States and their Languages

The following table provides a comprehensive state wise official language in India, including regional languages of Indian states and their respective capitals.

Role of the Eighth Schedule in India’s Linguistic Framework

The Constitution of India, under the Eighth Schedule, provides a formal framework for the country’s linguistic diversity. Initially containing 14 languages, it has now expanded to 22 scheduled languages of India state wise. These languages are given official encouragement, and candidates appearing for major national-level exams (like UPSC or SSC) have the option to use any of these 22 languages. Understanding this schedule is important for grasping how language based states in India maintain their cultural identity while staying integrated with the Union’s administrative requirements.

Languages in Union Territories of India

The languages in union territories of India often reflect a blend of administrative necessity and local heritage.

• Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Hindi, English.

• Chandigarh: English, Hindi, Punjabi.

• Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu: Gujarati, Hindi, Konkani, Marathi.

• Delhi (NCT): Hindi, English, Punjabi, Urdu.

• Jammu and Kashmir: Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu, Hindi, English.

• Ladakh: Ladakhi, Purgi, Tibetan, Hindi, English.

• Lakshadweep: Malayalam, English.

• Puducherry: Tamil, French, English.

Linguistic Diversity and Classification

The language based states in India are primarily categorized into two major language families, which define the linguistic states of India:

1. Indo Aryan Languages States in India: Dominant in Northern, Western, and Eastern India, including Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, and Gujarati.

2. Dravidian Languages States in India: Primarily spoken in Southern India, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.

Scheduled and Classical Languages

The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution recognizes 22 scheduled languages of India state wise. Furthermore, certain languages with ancient heritage are designated as classical languages in Indian states, such as Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia.

Evolution of Linguistic States: The 1956 Reorganisation Act

The map of indian states and their languages we see today is largely a result of the States Reorganisation Act of 1956. This landmark legislation moved India away from colonial-era boundaries toward a system of linguistic reorganisation of states. By aligning state borders with the mother tongue by Indian states, the government aimed to make administration more accessible to the common man. This historical shift explains why regions with shared Indo Aryan languages states in India or Dravidian languages states in India were grouped together to form cohesive political units.

Key Insights on Indian States and their Languages Diversity

• Bilingual States in India Official Languages: Many states, such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, recognize Urdu as an additional official language.

• Hindi Speaking States in India: Hindi is the primary official language in states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh.

• Mother Tongue by Indian States: While official languages are used for administration, the mother tongue by Indian states often includes diverse dialects and tribal languages not listed in the Eighth Schedule.