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Principal Sarathi VP & Principal 2026

Official Languages — Constitution, OL Act 1963 & Rules 1976

Articles 343–351 and the Eighth Schedule, Section 3 of the Official Languages Act, 1963, the 1976 Rules with Regions A, B and C, the 1968 Resolution and the 2026-27 Annual Programme targets, the Delhi and Ladakh language laws, and the traps examiners set.

12 sections · 30 explained questions · 23 ★ volatile facts · English and Hindi

THE POSITION, IN ONE PARAGRAPH

Hindi in the Devanagari script is the official language of the Union (Article 343). English continues alongside it — not under the Constitution's 15-year clause, which ran out on 26 January 1965, but under Section 3 of the Official Languages Act, 1963 — and it can end only when the legislature of every State that has not adopted Hindi, and then each House of Parliament, resolves to end it. The Official Languages Rules, 1976 turn this into office practice: Regions A, B and C, bilingual documents, and a reply in Hindi to every letter received in Hindi. Every year the Department of Official Language sets targets in its Annual Programme.

Trap: the Constitution names no "national language". Hindi is the official language of the Union. An option that calls Hindi the national language is wrong on that word alone.

The 17 July 2022 Principal paper asked one figure from this ground — the share of a library's book grant to be spent on Hindi books (q107; see Part E); the 11 December 2022 Vice Principal paper asked none. For a Delhi school the region matters first: Delhi is in Region A, and that decides the language in which Central Government offices write to it.

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Three questions from this note, solved

Q14

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Article 348(2) permits Hindi in High Court judgments, decrees and orders. Statement-II: Section 7 of the 1963 Act permits Hindi judgments with an English translation. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  2. (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  3. (c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  4. (d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
Answer (d).

Statement-I is incorrect and Statement-II is correct. Article 348(2) lets the Governor, with the President's previous consent, authorise Hindi in the proceedings of the High Court, but not in its judgments, decrees or orders. Section 7 of the Official Languages Act, 1963 is the provision for judgments, decrees and orders: the Governor, with the President's previous consent, may authorise Hindi or the State's official language, accompanied by an English translation. (a) and (b) accept Statement-I, which ignores the exclusion of judgments, decrees and orders from Article 348(2); (c) accepts Statement-I and rejects Statement-II, the reverse of the position.

Q11

Section 3(3) of the Official Languages Act, 1963 requires both Hindi and English for which of the following? 1. General orders, notifications and press communiqués of the Central Government 2. Official papers laid before a House of Parliament 3. Licences, permits and tender forms of the Central Government Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. (a) 1 and 2 only
  2. (b) 2 and 3 only
  3. (c) 1 and 3 only
  4. (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer (d).

All three are correct. Section 3(3) requires both languages for resolutions, general orders, rules, notifications, administrative or other reports and press communiqués; for administrative and other reports and official papers laid before a House of Parliament; and for contracts and agreements, licences, permits, notices and forms of tender. Under Rule 6 the person who signs such a document is responsible for its being in both. (a) leaves out licences, permits and tender forms; (b) leaves out general orders, notifications and press communiqués; (c) leaves out official papers laid before Parliament — all three are in Section 3(3).

Q23

Consider the following statements about the Official Language Resolution, 1968: 1. It calls for an annual assessment report laid before both Houses of Parliament. 2. It calls for full implementation of the three-language formula. 3. It makes English the sole medium of the All-India and higher Central Services examinations. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. (a) 1 and 2 only
  2. (b) 2 and 3 only
  3. (c) 1 and 3 only
  4. (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer (a).

Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The Resolution calls for a more intensive programme for the progressive use of Hindi, with an annual assessment report laid before both Houses of Parliament, and for full implementation of the three-language formula in all States. Statement 3 is wrong: it permits the Eighth Schedule languages and English as alternative media for the All-India and higher Central Services examinations, after ascertaining the views of the UPSC. (b) and (c) accept statement 3, which reverses the Resolution's widening of the examination media; (d) accepts all three, statement 3 included.

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