Classical Languages of India: List of 11, Criteria and Year
The classical languages of India are the languages that the Government of India has formally recognised for their great age, ancient literature and lasting influence on Indian thought. As of November 2026 there are 11 of them: Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali. This guide lists all 11 with the year each one was recognised, explains the criteria, and clears up common exam and quiz confusions.
Table of Contents
What are the classical languages of India?
They are 11 languages that the Union Government has declared “Classical Languages” because their recorded history and literature go back 1,500 to 2,000 years or more. The category was created on 12 October 2004, when Tamil became the first language to receive the status.
Six languages were recognised between 2004 and 2014, and five more were added together in October 2024 after the criteria were revised. Classical status is a cultural and academic recognition, separate from official or constitutional status.
What is the full list of classical languages with year?
The list below uses the dates of recognition given by the Ministry of Culture in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on 2 February 2026, published by the Press Information Bureau. The speaker figures are the approximate Census 2011 numbers quoted in the same reply.
| Classical language | Date of recognition | Language family | Approx. speakers in India (Census 2011) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tamil | 12 October 2004 | Dravidian | 690 lakh |
| Sanskrit | 25 November 2005 | Indo Aryan (Old) | 0.24 lakh |
| Telugu | 31 October 2008 | Dravidian | 811 lakh |
| Kannada | 31 October 2008 | Dravidian | 437 lakh |
| Malayalam | 8 August 2013 | Dravidian | 348 lakh |
| Odia | 1 March 2014 | Indo Aryan | 375 lakh |
| Marathi | 4 October 2024 | Indo Aryan | 830 lakh |
| Assamese | 4 October 2024 | Indo Aryan | 153 lakh |
| Bengali (Bangla) | 4 October 2024 | Indo Aryan | 972 lakh |
| Pali | 4 October 2024 | Middle Indo Aryan | Not counted separately |
| Prakrit | 4 October 2024 | Middle Indo Aryan | Not counted separately |
The Union Cabinet approved the five new names on 3 October 2024, and the recognition date in official records is 4 October 2024. Either way, “October 2024” is the right answer for quizzes.
How many classical languages are there in India in 2026?
There are 11 classical languages of India in 2026. No language has been added since October 2024, and the February 2026 government reply to Parliament still lists the same eleven.
Older textbooks and websites often say six, because that was the correct number from 2014 until 2024. If you are preparing for UPSC, state PSC or school exams, use 11 and remember the five 2024 additions: Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali.
Which was the first classical language of India?
Tamil was the first classical language of India, declared on 12 October 2004. Sanskrit followed on 25 November 2005, after the criteria were tightened.
The Central Institute of Classical Tamil in Chennai studies texts from the early period up to 600 AD, including the Tolkappiyam, the oldest surviving Tamil grammar. You can read more about the language itself in our guide about the Tamil language.
What criteria must a language meet to become classical?
Under the criteria revised on 25 July 2024, a language needs very old texts or recorded history, an ancient body of literature valued by its speakers, knowledge texts and inscriptional evidence. The Cabinet press release of 3 October 2024 lists the four current conditions:
- High antiquity of its early texts or recorded history over a period of 1,500 to 2,000 years.
- A body of ancient literature or texts that generations of speakers consider a heritage.
- Knowledge texts, especially prose texts in addition to poetry, along with epigraphical and inscriptional evidence.
- The classical language and literature may be distinct from the current form, or discontinuous with its later offshoots.
How have the criteria changed since 2004?
The age requirement rose from 1,000 years to 1,500 to 2,000 years in 2005, and the “original literary tradition” condition was dropped in 2024. In 2004 a language needed early texts over a thousand years old and a literary tradition “not borrowed from another speech community”.
When Sanskrit was recognised in November 2005, the antiquity bar went up and a clause allowing a break between the classical and modern forms was added. In 2024 the expert committee replaced the originality test with the knowledge text and inscription test. A committee member told The Hindu that originality was “very difficult to prove or disprove as all ancient languages borrowed from each other”, while archaeological, historical and numismatic evidence is tangible.
Who grants classical language status in India?
The Union Government grants it, on the recommendation of the Linguistic Experts Committee set up by the Ministry of Culture. The committee was formed in November 2004 under the Sahitya Akademi, which acts as its nodal agency.
A state usually sends the proposal. The committee examines the evidence, and the final decision comes from the Union Cabinet. The Ministry of Education then runs most of the promotion work through the Central Institute of Indian Languages in Mysuru and dedicated centres.
Why were five languages added in 2024?
Proposals for Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali had been pending for years, and the revised 2024 criteria allowed the committee to recommend all five together. Maharashtra had asked for Marathi in 2013, and the committee recommended it.
During consultations in 2017, the Ministry of Home Affairs advised making the criteria stricter, and the Prime Minister’s Office asked how many other languages might qualify. Meanwhile Bihar, Assam and West Bengal sent proposals for Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali. The committee met on 25 July 2024, unanimously revised the criteria, and found all five eligible. The government named Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam as the main states involved.
What makes each classical language historically important?
Each one has very old texts or inscriptions that shaped literature, religion or administration in India. The highlights below come mainly from the government’s October 2025 explainer on Classical Languages of India.
Which Dravidian languages are classical?
Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, the four major Dravidian languages, all hold the status. The Tirukkural has been translated into 28 Indian and over 30 world languages under a classical Tamil project. Telugu has a centre at Venkatachalam in Nellore district that has compiled inscriptions into a book called Telugu Sasanaalu. Kannada’s centre works from the University of Mysore campus, and Malayalam’s centre is at Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University in Tirur.
Why are Sanskrit, Pali and Prakrit on the list?
They are historic languages of scripture, philosophy and early inscriptions rather than everyday mother tongues today. Sanskrit is promoted through three central universities created by an Act of Parliament in 2020. Pali is the language of the Buddhist Tipitaka, with its Vinaya, Sutta and Abhidhamma collections.
Prakrit covers a group of Middle Indo Aryan languages spoken roughly between 500 BC and 500 AD, according to the University of Oxford’s Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. Its oldest stage appears in the inscriptions of Ashoka, around 260 BC, and the earliest Jain texts were composed in Ardhamagadhi Prakrit.
What did Marathi, Odia, Assamese and Bengali contribute?
These eastern and western Indo Aryan languages have early literary works and inscriptions that are over a thousand years old. The government cites the Gathasaptasati, a poetry collection linked to the Satavahana king Hala, and the Naneghat inscription for Marathi. Assamese and Bengali both trace early forms to the Charyapada hymns composed by Buddhist monks between the 8th and 12th centuries. Odia, recognised in 2014, became the first Indo Aryan language after Sanskrit to get the status. See our pages on the Marathi language and the Odia language for more on their history and scripts.
What benefits does a classical language get?
Recognition as one of the classical languages of India brings national and international awards for scholars, a centre of excellence, university chairs and dedicated funding for research and translation. A 2013 government statement in the Rajya Sabha lists the original benefits under the 1 November 2004 resolution: two major international awards each year, a Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Languages, and requests to the UGC to create professional chairs.
In 2025 to 26 the government sanctioned Rs 106.50 lakh each for Kannada, Telugu, Odia and Malayalam, and Rs 1,697 lakh for Tamil. The Central Institute of Indian Languages runs the Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Odia centres, which digitise manuscripts, publish books and translate classical texts. The government also expects jobs in archiving, translation, publishing and digital media.
Is Hindi a classical language?
No, Hindi is not a classical language of India. It is the official language of the Union and the most widely spoken language in the country, but it is not among the 11 recognised languages.
The government’s explainer traces the Hindi tradition back to Prakrit and Apabhramsa, so it is Prakrit, an ancestor of Hindi, that holds the status. Gujarati, Punjabi, Urdu and Maithili are also not on the list as of 2026.
How is classical status different from the Eighth Schedule?
The Eighth Schedule of the Constitution lists 22 scheduled languages, while classical status is a separate recognition given by the executive. A language can be in one list and not the other.
Nine of the classical languages of India are also scheduled languages. Pali and Prakrit are classical but are not in the Eighth Schedule, while languages such as Hindi, Urdu and Konkani are scheduled but not classical. Our complete list of languages of India covers all 22 scheduled languages and the major regional tongues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the oldest classical language of India?
The government does not rank the classical languages of India by age. Tamil was recognised first and Sanskrit’s Vedic texts are among the oldest compositions in India, so both are often cited as the oldest.
Which ministry decides classical language status?
The Ministry of Culture handles recognition through the Linguistic Experts Committee, and the Union Cabinet gives final approval. The Ministry of Education funds most of the promotion work afterwards.
What are the 11 classical languages in order of recognition?
Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Telugu and Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013), Odia (2014), then Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali (2024).
Can more languages get classical status in future?
Yes, any language that meets the 2024 criteria can be proposed, usually by a state government. The Linguistic Experts Committee would examine the evidence before the Cabinet decides.