Functions of the Department of Official Language, Government of India
The Department of Official Language was established in June, 1975 as an independent department of the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure compliance of the constitutional and legal provisions relating to official language and to promote the use of Hindi in the official work of the Union. Since that time, this department has been trying to increase the progressive use of Hindi in the official work of the Union. As per the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, the following functions have been assigned to the Department of Official Language –
Implementation of the provisions relating to the Official Language in the Constitution and the provisions of the Official Languages Act, 1963 (19 of 1963), except those provisions the implementation of which has been entrusted to any other department.
- Prior approval of the President for authorizing the limited use of any language other than the English language in the proceedings of the High Court of a State.
- Central responsibility for all matters relating to the progressive use of Hindi as the official language of the Union including the Hindi teaching scheme for Central Government employees and the publication of periodicals and other literature relating thereto.
- Co-ordination in all matters relating to the progressive use of Hindi as the official language of the Union, including administrative terminology, syllabi, text books, training courses and equipment (including standardized script) required therefor.
- Constitution and cadre management of the Central Secretariat Official Language Service.
- Matters relating to Central Hindi Committee.
- Coordination of work related to Hindi Salahkar Samitis established by various Ministries/Departments.
- Matters relating to Central Translation Bureau.
- Matters relating to Central Hindi Training Institute including Hindi Teaching Scheme.
- Matters relating to Regional Implementation Offices.
- Matters relating to the Committee of Parliament on Official Language