🇮🇳 Article 345 of the Indian Constitution
Title: Official language or languages of a State
🔷 Full Explanation of Article 345:
✅ Main Provision:
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The Legislature of a State may by law adopt any one or more of the languages in use in the State or Hindi as the official language(s) of that State.
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Until such a law is made, English shall continue to be used for official purposes within the State.
🟢 Key Points:
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State Autonomy:
Each State Legislature has the power to decide and adopt its own official language(s). -
Choice of Language:
The State may choose:-
One or more regional/local languages,
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Hindi, or
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A combination of them.
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Use of English:
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English can continue to be used until the State Legislature decides otherwise.
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No compulsion to discontinue English immediately after adopting another language.
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📌 Purpose of Article 345:
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To allow linguistic flexibility and respect India’s language diversity.
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Recognizes that different regions have different dominant languages, and states should decide what suits their people best.
🗂️ Examples:
| State | Official Language(s) |
|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | Tamil |
| Maharashtra | Marathi |
| West Bengal | Bengali |
| Karnataka | Kannada |
| Uttarakhand | Hindi & Sanskrit (official); regional use of Garhwali, Kumaoni, etc. |
Here is a comparison chart between Article 343 and Article 345 of the Indian Constitution:
🗂️ Comparison Chart: Article 343 vs Article 345
| Aspect | Article 343 | Article 345 |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Official language of the Union | Official language(s) of a State |
| Authority | Union Government (Parliament) | State Government (State Legislature) |
| Main Provision | Declares Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of the Union; allows continued use of English for 15 years (extended later). | State Legislature may adopt any language in use in the state or Hindi as official language. Until then, English continues. |
| Language Scope | Applies to Central Government offices, Parliament, Union communication | Applies to State Government offices, State laws, and local administration |
| Use of English | English allowed for initial 15 years (extended by law via the Official Languages Act, 1963) | English may continue until State Legislature provides otherwise |
| Examples of Application | All Union ministries, Supreme Court, communication between Centre and States | Tamil Nadu: Tamil; Maharashtra: Marathi; Uttarakhand: Hindi and Sanskrit |
| Purpose | Promote national linguistic unity through Hindi while respecting multilingualism | Preserve and empower regional linguistic identity |
| Basis in Constitution | Part XVII – Chapter I: Language of the Union | Part XVII – Chapter II: Regional Languages |
📝 Summary:
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🏛 Article 343 = Central Government’s language policy
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🏞 Article 345 = State Government’s language policy
Both ensure a balance between promoting Hindi and preserving India’s linguistic diversity.
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