Local languages to be medium of instruction in higher edu: Min
Indore: In the coming years, Indian and local languages will become the primary medium of instruction in higher education, said Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan while chairing the second meeting of the Consultative Committee of Parliament for the Ministry of Education in Indore on Thursday.
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The meeting, focused on "Promotion of Education in Bharatiya Bhasha in Higher Education," resulted in renewed commitment toward multilingual education as a foundation for Viksit Bharat by 2047. Pradhan underscored the govt's comprehensive efforts under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to strengthen mother tongue education. He said that the inclusion of Bharatiya Bhashas in higher education will enhance cognitive development, promote inclusivity, and preserve cultural heritage.
"Technology and AI will play a pivotal role in translating academic content and enabling students from rural or economically disadvantaged backgrounds to learn in their preferred language," he added.
Members of Parliament appreciated initiatives like Bhasha Sangam, which introduces students to 100 basic sentences in 22 Indian languages. They also welcomed the integration of AI tools such as Anuvadini and UDAAN for translation and multilingual content delivery.
Senior officials, including School Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar and Higher Education Secretary Dr Vineet Joshi, briefed the Committee on various initiatives, including the Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Pariyojna, promotion of regional languages in IITs, and events like Matribhasha Diwas and Kashi Tamil Sangamam.
They shared that India identified 1,369 mother tongues grouped into 121 languages, with 22 officially recognised in the Constitution.
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Institutions like the Central Hindi Directorate, Central Institute of Indian Languages, and classical language Centres of Excellence are playing a critical role in realising this vision. The recent recognition of Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali as classical languages was also highlighted as a milestone in India's linguistic journey.
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