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How Many Languages Does India Have? State-Wise Classification and FAQs

How Many Languages Does India Have? State-Wise Classification and FAQs

India is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world. While the Constitution of India recognizes 22 official languages, the country has over 1,600 spoken languages and dialects.

Total Number of Languages in India

  • 22 Scheduled Languages (Recognized by the Indian Constitution under the Eighth Schedule).
  • 100+ Major Languages (Spoken by large populations in different states).
  • 1,600+ Dialects (Regional and tribal languages spoken across the country).

State-Wise Classification of Languages in India

1. Northern India

State/UTOfficial Language(s)Other Major Languages
    Uttar Pradesh    Hindi        Urdu, Bhojpuri, Awadhi, Braj
    Uttarakhand    Hindi, Sanskrit    Garhwali, Kumaoni
    Punjab    Punjabi    Hindi, English
    Haryana    Hindi    Haryanvi, Punjabi
    Himachal Pradesh    Hindi    Pahari, Kangri
    Jammu & Kashmir    Urdu, Kashmiri, Dogri    Hindi, English
    Ladakh    Ladakhi, Urdu    Balti, Shina


2. Western India

State/UTOfficial Language(s)Other Major Languages
    Rajasthan    Hindi    Rajasthani, Marwari, Mewari
    Gujarat    Gujarati    Hindi, English
    Maharashtra    Marathi    Hindi, Konkani
    Goa    Konkani    Marathi, English


3. Eastern India

State/UTOfficial Language(s)Other Major Languages
    Bihar    Hindi, Urdu    Maithili, Bhojpuri, Magahi
    Jharkhand    Hindi    Santhali, Mundari, Ho
    West Bengal    Bengali    Hindi, Nepali
    Odisha    Odia    Hindi, Santali


4. Southern India

State/UTOfficial Language(s)Other Major Languages
    Tamil Nadu    Tamil    Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam
    Karnataka    Kannada    Tulu, Konkani, Kodava
    Kerala    Malayalam    Tamil, English
    Andhra Pradesh    Telugu    Urdu, Kannada
    Telangana    Telugu, Urdu    Hindi


5. North-eastern India

State/UTOfficial Language(s)Other Major Languages
    Assam    Assamese        Bengali, Bodo
    Arunachal Pradesh    English    Nyishi, Monpa, Apatani
    Manipur        Meitei (Manipuri)    Tangkhul, Thadou
    Meghalaya    English    Khasi, Garo
    Mizoram    Mizo (Lushai)    English, Hindi
    Nagaland    English    Ao, Angami, Lotha
    Tripura    Bengali, Kokborok    Hindi, Chakma
    Sikkim    English, Nepali    Lepcha, Bhutia


6. Union Territories

Union TerritoryOfficial Language(s)     Other Major Languages
DelhiHindi, English  Punjabi, Urdu
ChandigarhEnglish  Punjabi, Hindi
Andaman & Nicobar IslandsHindi, English  Tamil, Telugu
LakshadweepMalayalam  Jeseri, Mahl
PuducherryTamil, Telugu, Malayalam  English, French
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and
Daman & Diu		Gujarati, Hindi   Marathi


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How many official languages does India have?

India has 22 official languages recognized under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

2. What is the most spoken language in India?

Hindi is the most spoken language, with over 40% of India's population using it as their primary language.

3. Is English an official language in India?

English is not a scheduled language, but it is used for official and administrative purposes along with Hindi.

4. Which Indian state has the most languages?

Arunachal Pradesh has the highest linguistic diversity, with over 90 languages spoken.

5. Which is the least spoken language in India?

Many tribal languages, such as Great Andamanese and Aka-Bo, have very few speakers left.

6. What is the status of Sanskrit in India?

Sanskrit is an official language in Uttarakhand and is promoted as a classical language, but it is spoken by a small population.

7. Can I choose a regional language in board exams?

Yes, students can choose from multiple languages, including regional languages, depending on the education board (CBSE, ICSE, State Boards).

8. Are dialects different from languages?

Yes, dialects are variations of a language with distinct vocabulary and pronunciation, but they are not classified as separate languages.

9. What is the rarest Indian language?

Languages like Sidi, Nihali, and Toto are spoken by very few people and are considered endangered.

10. What are classical languages of India?

India has six classical languages:

  1. Sanskrit
  2. Tamil
  3. Telugu
  4. Kannada
  5. Malayalam
  6. Odia
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