Dharmendra Pradhan says language fund allocation based on ‘requirements’ amid Sanskrit-Tamil row

The Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan clarified in Lok Sabha today that the budget allocation under the Grants for Promotion of Indian Languages (GPIL) is done based on requirements and utilisation. The Centre had allocated Rs 308.44 crore in 2024-25 - an increase of Rs 7.74 crore - for the promotion of various Indian languages

The highest budget allocation for the promotion of Indian languages over the last ten years was in the financial year (FY) 2019-20 with an allocation of Rs 459.70 crore. While the lowest allocation under the GPIL scheme was recorded at Rs 197.50 crore in 2021-22, according to the data shared by the ministry of education.

The clarification comes amid Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin’s accusation that the Centre has disproportionately allocated funds for Sanskrit over other Indian languages. The Centre had spent Rs 2,532.59 crore on the promotion of Sanskrit language between 2014-15 and 2024-25 – which is 17 times the combined spending for other Indian languages - Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia, as per the Hindustan Times report.

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Promotion of Sanskrit through 3 central universities

The government allocates funds under the GPIL to Kendriya Hindi Sansthan (KHS), Maharishi Sandipani Rashtriya Ved Vidya Pratishthan (MSRVVP), Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), National Council for Promotion of Sindhi Language (NCPSL), and National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) for the promotion of Hindi, Veda, Classical Tamil, Sindhi and Urdu respectively.

The medium of instruction from primary to Class 5 and preferably up to Class 8 will be in mother tongue, local or regional languages, according to the National Education Policy (NEP 2020).

In an effort to ‘keep Indian languages vibrant’, the government is promoting Sanskrit Language through three central universities — Central Sanskrit University, New Delhi; Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University, New Delhi; and National Sanskrit University, Tirupati.

“Funds are provided to these universities for teaching and research in Sanskrit Language leading to award of degree, diploma or certificate to the students,” the minister said.

He also stated that the Bharitiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme, announced during Union Budget 2025-26, aims to provide books in Indian languages for school and higher education in digital format.