Definitions—In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires

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(a) "Appointed Day" means, in relation to Section 3, the 26th day of January, 1965. In relation to any other provision of this Act, it means the day on which that provision comes into force.

(b) "Hindi" means the Hindi language written in the Devanagari script.

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Continuance of the English language for official purposes of the Union and for use in Parliament

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(1) Notwithstanding the expiry of the period of fifteen years from the commencement of the Constitution, the English language shall, in addition to Hindi, continue to be used from the appointed day—

(a) For all the official purposes of the Union for which it was being used immediately before that day; and

(b) For the transaction of business in Parliament.

Provided that for correspondence between the Union and any State which has not adopted Hindi as its official language, the English language shall continue to be used.

Provided further that where correspondence is made in Hindi between a State that has adopted Hindi as its official language and a State that has not adopted Hindi as its official language, an English translation of such correspondence shall also be sent.

Provided also that nothing contained in this sub-section shall prevent a State which has not adopted Hindi as its official language from using Hindi for correspondence with the Union, with a State that has adopted Hindi as its official language, or with any other State, with its consent. In such cases, the use of English shall not be mandatory.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where Hindi or English is used for correspondence—

(i) Between one Ministry, Department, or Office of the Central Government and another Ministry, Department, or Office of the Central Government;

(ii) Between a Ministry, Department, or Office of the Central Government and any corporation or company owned or controlled by the Central Government, or any of its offices;

(iii) Between one corporation or company owned or controlled by the Central Government (or any of its offices) and another such corporation, company, or office;

Until the employees of the concerned Ministry, Department, Office, Corporation, or Company acquire a working knowledge of Hindi, translations of such correspondence shall also be provided, as the case may be, in English or Hindi.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), both Hindi and English shall be used for—

(i) Resolutions, general orders, rules, notifications, administrative or other reports, and press releases issued by the Central Government, its Ministries, Departments, Offices, or corporations and companies owned or controlled by the Central Government.

(ii) Administrative and other reports, and official papers laid before either House or both Houses of Parliament.

(iii) Contracts, agreements, licences, permits, notices, and tender forms executed or issued by or on behalf of the Central Government, its Ministries, Departments, Offices, or corporations and companies owned or controlled by the Central Government.

(4) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-sections (1), (2), and (3), the Central Government may, by rules made under Section 8, prescribe the language or languages to be used for the official purposes of the Union, including the functioning of any Ministry, Department, Section, or Office. While making such rules, due regard shall be given to the efficient and expeditious disposal of official business and to the interests of the general public. Such rules shall specifically ensure that persons serving in connection with the affairs of the Union who are proficient in either Hindi or English can effectively perform their duties, and that no person suffers merely because they are not proficient in both languages.

(5) The provisions of clause (a) of sub-section (1), and of sub-sections (2), (3), and (4), shall continue to remain in force until resolutions for discontinuing the use of English for the purposes specified therein have been passed by the Legislatures of all States which have not adopted Hindi as their official language, and thereafter by each House of Parliament.

4. Committee on Official Language

(1) After the expiry of ten years from the date on which Section 3 comes into force, a Committee on Official Language shall be constituted, provided that a resolution to this effect is moved in either House of Parliament with the prior approval of the President and is passed by both Houses.

(2) The Committee shall consist of thirty members, of whom twenty shall be members of the House of the People (Lok Sabha) and ten shall be members of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha). These members shall be elected by their respective Houses in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.

(3) The duty of the Committee shall be to review the progress made in the use of Hindi for the official purposes of the Union and to submit a report with its recommendations to the President. The President shall cause the report to be laid before each House of Parliament and forward it to all State Governments.

Committee on Official Language

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(1) After the expiry of ten years from the date on which Section 3 comes into force, a Committee on Official Language shall be constituted, provided that a resolution to this effect is proposed in either House of Parliament with the prior approval of the President and is passed by both Houses.

(2) The Committee shall consist of thirty members, of whom twenty shall be Members of the House of the People (Lok Sabha) and ten shall be Members of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha). These members shall be elected by their respective Houses in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.

(3) The duty of the Committee shall be to review the progress made in the use of Hindi for the official purposes of the Union and to submit a report, together with its recommendations, to the President. The President shall cause the report to be laid before each House of Parliament and forward it to all State Governments.

(4) After considering the report referred to in sub-section (3), along with any views expressed by the State Governments, the President may issue directions in accordance with the whole or any part of the report.

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Provided that any directions so issued shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of Section 3.

Authorized Hindi translation of Central Acts etc.

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(1) On and from the appointed day, any Hindi translation published in the Official Gazette under the authority of the President of—

(a) Any Central Act or any Ordinance promulgated by the President; or

(b) Any Order, Rule, Regulation, or Bye-law issued under the Constitution or under any Central Act,

shall be deemed to be the authoritative text of that Act, Ordinance, Order, Rule, Regulation, or Bye-law in the Hindi language.

(2) On and from the appointed day, every Bill introduced in either House of Parliament, and every amendment proposed thereto, shall be accompanied by a Hindi translation in addition to the authoritative English text. Such Hindi translation shall be authenticated in the manner prescribed by the rules made under this Act.

Authoritative Hindi translation of State Acts in certain cases

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Where the Legislature of a State has prescribed a language other than Hindi for use in the Acts passed by that Legislature or in the Ordinances promulgated by the Governor of that State, then, in addition to the English translation required under clause (3) of Article 348 of the Constitution, a Hindi translation of such Act or Ordinance may be published on or after the appointed day in the Official Gazette of the State under the authority of the Governor.

In such a case, the Hindi translation of that Act or Ordinance shall be deemed to be the authoritative text in the Hindi language.

Alternative use of Hindi or other official language in the judgments etc. of High Courts-

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On and from the appointed day, or from any subsequent date, the Governor of a State may, with the previous consent of the President, authorize the use of Hindi or the official language of that State, in addition to the English language, for the purposes of any judgment, decree, or order passed or made by the High Court of that State.

Where any judgment, decree, or order is passed or made in such a language other than English, it shall be accompanied by an English translation issued under the authority of the High Court.

Power to make rules

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(1) The Central Government may, by notification published in the Official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

@#(2) Every rule made under this section shall, as soon as possible after it is made, be laid before each House of Parliament while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days. This period may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions.

If, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions in which the rule has been laid, both Houses agree to make any modification to the rule, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form.

If, before the expiry of the said session, both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter cease to have effect.

However, any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.

Non-applicability of certain provisions to Jammu and Kashmir

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This provision was omitted by the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 2020 [Notification No. S.O. 1123(E), dated 18 March 2020] and the Ladakh Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 2020 [Notification No. S.O. 3774(E), dated 23 October 2020].