How Many Languages Spoken In India?

[Samiksha]

Another general knowledge question to which I am finding different answers. After the number of countries in the world, I wanted to know how many languages are spoken in India. I know India has a vast number of cultures, religions, states and with that comes the different languages, so how many languages are spoken in India?

 

[Prits]

India is indeed a linguistically diverse country with a vast number of languages spoken across its various regions. According to the 2001 Census of India, there are 1,635 languages spoken in the country. However, it's important to note that this includes both scheduled languages (languages recognized by the Indian constitution) and non-scheduled languages (languages spoken by smaller communities). Here's a breakdown of the languages in India:

1. Scheduled Languages: These are languages recognized in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and are used for official and administrative purposes. There are 22 scheduled languages in India, including Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Maithili, Santali, Kashmiri, Nepali, Konkani, Sindhi, Dogri, Manipuri, Bodo, and Sanskrit.
   
   
2. Non-Scheduled Languages: India is home to numerous non-scheduled languages spoken by smaller communities, tribes, and regions. Many of these languages have their own unique scripts and are specific to certain areas.
   
   
3. English: While not an official language, English is often used for official and administrative purposes and is widely spoken and understood, particularly in urban areas.
   
   
4. Other Regional Languages: In addition to the scheduled languages, there are several regional languages and dialects spoken across different states and union territories of India. For example, in states like Karnataka, there are languages like Tulu and Konkani, alongside Kannada.
   
   
5. Sign Languages: India also has various sign languages used by the hearing-impaired community. Indian Sign Language (ISL) is one of the recognized sign languages.
   

It's important to understand that while there are many languages spoken in India, the linguistic landscape varies significantly from one region to another. Hindi and English often serve as lingua franca in many parts of the country, facilitating communication between people who speak different regional languages.

The linguistic diversity of India is a reflection of its rich cultural heritage and history. Efforts are made to preserve and promote the various languages and dialects, and the government of India recognizes the importance of linguistic diversity in the country.