Question : INCLUSION OF LANGUAGE IN EIGHTH SCHEDULE

(a) whether the Government has any proposal to include more languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India;

(b) if so, the details thereof, languagewise and State-wise;

(c) the time by which such languages are likely to be included in the Eighth Schedule;

(d) whether the Union Government has taken any assistance from various State Governments in this regard;

(e) if so, the details thereof;

(f) whether the Sitakant Mohapatra Committee looking into the matter of inclusion of more languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution has submitted its report;

(g) if so, the details thereof; and

(h) if not, the time by which the Committee is likely to submit its report alongwith the directives issued in this regard?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI AJAY MAKEN)

(a) to (h): A Committee was set up in September, 2003 under the Chairmanship of Shri Sitakant Mohapatra to evolve a set of objective Criteria for inclusion of more languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India. The Committee submitted its report in 2004. The report of the Committee is under consideration in consultation with the concerned departments of the Central Government. No time frame can be fixed for consideration of the demands for inclusion of more languages in the Eighth Schedule.