Question : RECOGNITION OF BODO AS OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

(a) whether the Union Government is aware of the fact that the State Government of Assam has not yet recognised and introduced the Bodo language as one of the State official languages of Assam as per the provisions of Article 347 in spite of the fact that the languages in question had been included in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India;

(b) if so, the reasons therefore; and

(c) the reaction of the Government thereto along with the directives issued to the State Government of Assam in this regard ?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN)

(a) to (c): As per Article 345 of the Constitution of India, the Legislature of a State may by law adopt any one or more of the languages in use in the State as the language or languages to be used for all or any of the official purpose of the State. Inclusion of a Language under 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India does not, ipso-facto, entitle that Language to be declared as an Official Language of a State, under the provisions of Article 347 of the Constitution of India.