22 National Language in India
India is a linguistically diverse country with hundreds of languages spoken across its vast regions.
According to the Census of India, there are 121 languages spoken by 10,000 or more people.
Here is an overview of the linguistic landscape of India, including the major languages and the 22 officially recognized languages.
Major Languages Spoken in India
Hindi
Spoken by Majority: Yes
Number of Speakers: Over 528 million (41% of the population)
Bengali
2nd Most Spoken Language
Number of Speakers: Over 97 million (8.11% of the population)
Marathi
3rd Most Spoken Language
Number of Speakers: Over 83 million (6.86% of the population)
22 Officially Recognized Languages of India
India's Constitution recognizes 22 languages under the Eighth Schedule, often referred to as the national languages.
These languages are:
| Language | Region(s) Spoken | Approximate Number of Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| Assamese | Assam | 15 million |
| Bengali | West Bengal, Tripura, Assam | 97 million |
| Bodo | Assam | 1.4 million |
| Dogri | Jammu and Kashmir | 2.6 million |
| Gujarati | Gujarat | 55 million |
| Hindi | Northern and Central India | 528 million |
| Kannada | Karnataka | 43 million |
| Kashmiri | Jammu and Kashmir | 7 million |
| Konkani | Goa, coastal Maharashtra, Karnataka | 2.3 million |
| Maithili | Bihar, Jharkhand | 13 million |
| Malayalam | Kerala | 34 million |
| Manipuri | Manipur | 1.7 million |
| Marathi | Maharashtra | 83 million |
| Nepali | Sikkim, West Bengal | 2.9 million |
| Odia | Odisha | 37 million |
| Punjabi | Punjab | 33 million |
| Sanskrit | Various regions | 24,000 |
| Santali | Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Assam | 7.6 million |
| Sindhi | Sindhi communities across India | 2.5 million |
| Tamil | Tamil Nadu | 69 million |
| Telugu | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana | 81 million |
| Urdu | Jammu and Kashmir, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar | 50 million |
Other Widely Spoken Languages
Apart from the officially recognized languages, several other languages have a significant number of speakers, including:
Telugu: Over 81 million speakers
Tamil: Over 69 million speakers
Gujarati: Over 55 million speakers
Urdu: Over 50 million speakers
Kannada: Over 43 million speakers
Odia: Over 37 million speakers
Malayalam: Over 34 million speakers
Punjabi: Over 33 million speakers
Assamese: Over 15 million speakers
Maithili: Over 13 million speakers
Languages with Significant Regional Influence
Konkani (spoken in Goa and coastal Maharashtra)
Kashmiri (spoken in Jammu and Kashmir)
Sindhi (spoken by Sindhi communities across India)
Dogri (spoken in Jammu region)
Manipuri (spoken in Manipur)
Bodo (spoken in Assam)
People’s Interests and Searches
Learning Hindi: Many people search for resources to learn Hindi due to its status as the most widely spoken language.
Translation Services: High demand for translation between regional languages and English or other global languages.
Language Demographics: Interest in knowing the number of speakers of various languages for research and cultural studies.
Language Policies: Searches regarding India's language policies, official languages, and the promotion of regional languages.
Cultural Significance: People search for the cultural impact and heritage associated with different languages.
Language Preservation: Interest in efforts to preserve lesser-known languages and dialects facing extinction.
India's linguistic diversity is not only a testament to its rich cultural heritage but also a complex aspect of its national identity, influencing social, educational, and political spheres.
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