Question : Teaching of Sanskrit in Schools

(a) whether the Government has formulated any scheme to teach Sanskrit at primary and middle school levels in various parts of the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether it is a fact that many national and international organizations have mentioned that Sanskrit language helps mental and cultural development of children;

(d) if so, whether the Government has taken any steps in this regard; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) & (b) As per Three Language Formula, Sanskrit is taught as a third language (Modern Indian Language) across the country from class VI onwards. In some states viz. Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Odisha, Sanskrit is taught in primary stage in classes II/ III/ IV.

(c) to (e) National Policy on Education (NPE) – 1986 (as modified in 1992) states that considering the special importance of Sanskrit to the growth and development of Indian languages and its unique contribution to the cultural unity of the country, facilities for its teaching at the school and university stages should be offered on a more liberal scale. National Curriculum Framework (NCF) – 2005 states that Sanskrit is rich in its inflectional grammatical structure and aesthetic value, and can illuminate our lives as many languages keep borrowing words from it. It further states that Sanskrit may also be studied as a Modern Indian Language (MIL).

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