NEW DELHI, Dec 18: Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy emphasized the government’s focus on cultural development, alongside infrastructure, economic, and agricultural growth. Speaking to the media in New Delhi on Wednesday, Reddy highlighted the importance of languages as a foundation for the nation’s unity and cultural history.
India, with 121 prominent languages and nearly 1,600 dialects, has a rich linguistic diversity, according to Reddy. He stressed that languages are not just communication tools but also essential carriers of knowledge, culture, and traditions. The Union Government has taken steps to preserve and protect these languages, recognizing their role in empowerment and personal expression.
Reddy also spoke about the three-language formula in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which he believes will offer students greater flexibility while encouraging the use of regional languages in both education and employment.
In a move to preserve India’s linguistic heritage, Reddy noted that in October, the Union Cabinet granted classical language status to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali. With this, India now has 11 languages recognized as classical languages, making it the only country to do so.
