Skip to main content
Adhikar is an independent citizen-awareness initiative — not a Government of India website.
Art. 344 Part XVII: Official Language

Commission and Committee of Parliament on Official Language

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) The President shall, at the expiration of five years from the commencement of this Constitution and thereafter at the expiration of ten years from such commencement, by order constitute a Commission... to make recommendations to the President as to—(a) the progressive use of the Hindi language for the official purposes of the Union; ... (4) There shall be constituted a Committee consisting of thirty members, of whom twenty shall be members of the House of the People and ten shall be members of the Council of States... to examine the recommendations of the Commission... and to report to the President their opinion thereon.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article builds in a structured, periodic review mechanism for official language policy — a Presidential Commission (first at 5 years, then reviewed further) makes recommendations on progressively expanding Hindi's official use, and a dedicated Parliamentary Committee (30 members, drawn from both Houses) examines those recommendations before they're acted upon.
Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is the constitutional machinery behind India's periodic language-policy debates and adjustments — official language policy isn't meant to be a one-time fixed decision, but subject to ongoing structured review involving both an expert Commission and elected Parliamentary representatives.

Related Articles

Read alongside this one

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 344

Has this Commission and Committee mechanism actually been used?
Yes — Official Language Commissions and the Committee of Parliament on Official Language have been periodically constituted and have issued reports over the decades, shaping India's evolving language policy.

The text above reproduces Article 344 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.