The Official Languages Act, 1963
Administered Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs / Department of Official Language
Act details
| Short title | The Official Languages Act, 1963 |
|---|---|
| Long title | An Act to provide for the languages which may be used for the official purposes of the Union, for transaction of business in Parliament, for Central and State Acts and for certain purposes in High Courts. |
| Act number | 19 of 1963 |
| Act year | 1963 |
| Enactment date | 10 May 1963 |
| Ministry | Ministry of Home Affairs / Department of Official Language |
| Department | Department of Official Language |
| Jurisdiction | Central (Parliament of India) |
| Sections | 9 |
| Status | Not repealed |
| Last checked on India Code | 4 Nov 2026 |
| Source | India Code, Government of India |
Summary
Summary of The Official Languages Act, 1963
Key Provisions
1. Official Languages: - Hindi (in Devanagari Script)
• English (additional, with conditional use, especially in communications with non-Hindi adopting States)
2. Implementation Timeline: - Effective from January 26, 1965 (pertinent to English's continued use)
• Other Sections: Effectiveness notified by the Central Government
• Notable Dates from Context:
3. Committee on Official Language: - Constitution: 10 years after Section 3's enforcement
• Membership: 30 members (20 from the House of the People, 10 from the Council of States)
• Role: Review progress of Hindi's use and report to the President
4. Authorized Translations: - Central Acts & Orders: Hindi translations in the Official Gazette are authoritative
• State Acts (in specified cases): Optional Hindi translations alongside English
5. High Courts: - Language Use: Optional use of Hindi or the State's official language, with English translations
6. Rule Making: - Central Government's Power: To make rules for the Act's implementation, with parliamentary laying
Legislative history
Legislative History:
The Official Languages Act, 1963
● Act Title - The Official Languages Act, 1963
● Act Number / Year - 19 of 1963
● Act ID (India Code) - 196319
● Presidential Assent Date - May 10, 1963
● Enforcement Date - January 10, 1965
● Nodal Ministry - Ministry of Home Affairs
Precedent & Historical Rationale
● Extension of English for Official Union Purposes - Enacted pursuant to Article 343(3) of the Constitution to allow the continued use of English for official purposes of the Union and parliamentary business beyond the initial 15-year constitutional transition period expiring in 1965.
● Bilingual Framework and Non-Hindi Safeguards - Formulated to mitigate linguistic apprehensions in non-Hindi speaking states, establishing statutory guarantees for bilingual executive communication, authorized translations of Central Acts, and High Court proceedings.
Parliamentary Trajectory & Enactment
● Formulation - Introduced by Home Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri as the Official Languages Bill, 1963, to establish a legal framework governing Union language policy post-January 1965.
● Parliamentary Passage - Debated and passed by the Lok Sabha on April 27, 1963, and by the Rajya Sabha on May 7, 1963.
● Presidential Assent - Received Presidential Assent from Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on May 10, 1963.
● Enforcement - Enforced on January 10, 1965.
Source - Official Record of Parliament, India Code, and Ministry of Home Affairs.