Thematic Session- Joint Session 1: Use of Bharatiya Bhasha in Teaching-Learning
Background
India’s rich linguistic heritage is central to its cultural identity and social cohesion. Language shapes thought, fosters familiarity, and carries the essence of tradition and knowledge. However, many Indian languages face stagnation or risk extinction due to limited public engagement and inadequate educational resources. This decline not only threatens the survival of diverse linguistic traditions but also undermines the cultural and intellectual wealth embedded in them. Revitalizing these languages is essential to preserving India’s pluralistic ethos and ensuring inclusive access to knowledge and expression.
What does NEP Say?
In alignment with NEP 2020’s objectives, a renewed national effort is underway to revitalize Bharatiya Bhasha through the development of high-quality educational materials, literature, and arts, alongside updated dictionaries that foster meaningful discourse in native languages. To build institutional capacity, higher education institutions will launch new academic programmes in Indian languages, literature, arts, music, and philosophy, including integrated four-year B.Ed. dual degrees aimed at cultivating a robust cadre of skilled educators. Supporting this initiative, the Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation (IITI) will be established to promote multilingual translation and interpretation, leveraging technology to enhance linguistic inclusivity. Additionally, Sanskrit will be mainstreamed through innovative pedagogies and integrated with contemporary disciplines to ensure its relevance and accessibility in modern education.
A national digital platform will be developed to document and preserve India’s linguistic and cultural diversity. This portal will host multimedia content—stories, poetry, performances, and dictionaries—contributed by communities and curated by academic institutions. Language academies for each Eighth Schedule language will be constituted to standardize vocabulary and publish updated dictionaries, in consultation with scholars and native speakers.
To further incentivize learning, scholarships will be introduced for individuals of all ages to study Indian languages and arts. Proficiency in Indian languages will also be recognized as a qualification criterion in employment, reinforcing the role of language in education, culture, and national development.
What has been done until now?
Significant strides have been made to achieve the ambitious vision set forth in the NEP and promote Bharatiya Bhasha across all levels of education. Students are now permitted to write examinations in local languages, even for English-medium programs, ensuring inclusivity and linguistic empowerment. Universities are actively integrating regional languages into the teaching-learning process, supported by translation of original works. The National Instructional Media Institute has published over 525 skill education textbooks in 22 Indian languages, while AICTE continues to translate engineering textbooks into 12 languages. Institutions offering Indian language courses have nearly doubled since 2014–15, with student enrolment rising to over 8.4 lakh in 2022–23. Further, 117 Primers in Regional Indian languages have been developed, out of which 22 are in scheduled languages and 99 non-scheduled languages. These Primers are bridges/links for both students and teachers in learning. Additionally, Primers in 26 languages were released during the ULLAS Mela.
The introduction of professional programs in Indian languages has been facilitated. Engineering courses are now offered in Marathi at Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering, and MBBS programs are being taught in Hindi across six states. IGNOU has launched MBA programs in Hindi and Odia, and IIT Jodhpur offers B.Tech with a Hindi medium option. Competitive examinations such as NET, CTET, NEET, JEE, CUET, and SSC are now conducted in 12 Indian languages. The Bar Council of India has adopted bilingual instruction, furthering accessibility in legal education.
Cultural initiatives such as Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav (celebrated annually on 11th December) and Matribhasha Diwas (21st February) promote multilingualism and the use of mother tongues in schools and higher education institutions. Flagship programs like Kashi-Tamil Sangamam, now in its third edition, celebrate civilizational ties between Tamil Nadu and Kashi, fostering cultural exchange and linguistic pride. The Ministry of Education has also established Centres of Excellence for classical languages including Tamil, Telugu, Odia, Malayalam, Sanskrit, and Kannada, with new CoEs approved for Pali, Prakrit, Bengali, Marathi, and Assamese.
To support digital and academic infrastructure, initiatives such as the Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Pariyojana, National Translation Mission, and Language Data Consortium for Indian Languages (LDC-IL) are being implemented. Projects like Bharatavani, SPPEL, and National Testing Service aim to preserve endangered languages, deliver multilingual content, and standardize language assessment. CIIL and NCERT have jointly published primers in 121 languages and launched platforms like Bhasha Sangam and PM E-Vidya Tamil, enabling students to engage with diverse linguistic traditions through digital media.
Recent Announcements
The Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Pariyojana (BBPP), announced in the Union Budget 2025–26, is a landmark initiative aimed at providing digital textbooks in 22 Indian languages for school and higher education. Over a three-year period (2025–2028), 2.43 Lakh textbooks will be developed through original writing and translation, supporting the NEP 2020’s vision of inclusive and equitable education. Coordinated by the Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti and implemented by institutions such as UGC, AICTE, INIs, and NIMI/NSDC, the scheme empowers universities and autonomous institutions to produce subject-specific textbooks in Indian languages, leveraging faculty expertise and AI translation tools like Anuvadini, Udaan, and Bhashini.
With an estimated budget of Rs.5,100 crore, BBPP is designed to transform India’s education ecosystem by fostering knowledge creation in Indian languages, engaging thousands of educators, translators, and experts, and promoting convergence between Bharatiya Bhasha, technology, and research. The scheme will be supported by platforms like INFLIBNET and AICTE’s e-KUMBH, with NETF providing technical guidance. Long-term outcomes include systemic transformation, decolonization of education, increased Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER), and the establishment of a robust Bharatiya Bhasha ecosystem across education and employment sectors.
Topics for Discussion
- How can the Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Pariyojana transform the learning experience for students in rural and semi-urban India?
- In what ways can technology—especially AI translation tools—support or hinder the goals of the BBPS and NEP 2020?
- How can the integration of Indian languages in professional education (engineering, medicine, law, etc.) impact employability and industry readiness?
- How can universities ensure quality and consistency in the creation of textbooks across 22 languages under the BBPS?
- What measures can be taken to overcome the limitations of learning in one's own language, particularly in specialized fields such as medicine, science, and technology, where access to advanced terminology and resources is often restricted?
Name of Panelist
| Use of Bharatiya Bhasha in Teaching-Learning (Joint Session DoHE & DoSEL) 29.07.2025, 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM |
Moderator | Prof. Anil D. Sahasrabudhe, Chairman NETF | |
| Panellist (Audi 1 – L2) |
Shri Chamu K. Shastry, Chairman, Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti | ||
| Panellist | Prof. Shailendra Mohan, Director, CIIL Mysore | ||
| Panellist | Dr. Anuradha Joshi, Principal, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya | ||
| Panellist | Dr. Mahendra Mishra, Linguist Expert, Chhattisgarh | ||
| Assigned Officers from Ministry |
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| Details of Rapporteurs |
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