The Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya Act, 1996
Administered Ministry: Ministry of Education / Department of Higher Education
Act details
| Short title | The Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya Act, 1996 |
|---|---|
| Long title | An Act to establish and incorporate a teaching University for the promotion and development of Hindi language and literature, through teaching and research, with a view to enabling Hindi to achieve greater functional efficiency and recognition as a major international language and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. |
| Act number | 3 of 1997 |
| Act year | 1997 |
| Enactment date | 8 Jan 1997 |
| Ministry | Ministry of Education / Department of Higher Education |
| Department | Department of Higher Education |
| Jurisdiction | Central (Parliament of India) |
| Sections | 44 |
| Schedules | 1 |
| Status | Not repealed |
| Last checked on India Code | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Source | India Code, Government of India |
Legislative history
Legislative History:
The Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya Act, 1996
Short Title The Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya Act, 1996
Act Number / Year 3 of 1997
Act ID (India Code) 199703
Presidential Assent / Enactment Date January 8, 1997
Enforcement Date December 29, 1997
Nodal Ministry Ministry of Education
Precedent & Statutory Rationale
• Absence of Dedicated Global Infrastructure for Hindi:
o Prior to 1996, while numerous conventional state and central universities offered general programs in Indian languages, there was a glaring lack of a specialized central institution focused entirely on elevating Hindi to a major international language, fostering comparative studies with other foreign and Indian languages, and boosting its functional efficiency in technology and global discourse.
• Legislative Intervention and Regularization:
o Enacted by Parliament in the 47th Year of the Republic of India, the Act established a premier teaching university headquartered at Wardha, Maharashtra—a historic location deeply associated with Mahatma Gandhi's vision for national language and education.
o The core objectives include providing instructional and research facilities, establishing specialized campuses and centers both within and outside India, facilitating distance education, and serving as a global academic hub for the propagation of Hindi literature and linguistics.
Parliamentary Trajectory & Enactment
• Formulation: Developed under the aegis of the Central Government to fulfill a long-standing cultural and academic commitment to Mahatma Gandhi's ideals regarding the propagation and development of the national language.
• Parliamentary Passage: Introduced in Parliament during the winter session of 1996, successfully passed by both houses, and received formal presidential assent on January 8, 1997.
• Enforcement: Enforced on December 29, 1997.
• Source: India Code, Ministry of Education Official Records, and Parliament of India Records.