Article 343

Article 343 of the Constitution of India lays down the foundation for the official language policy of the Union Government. It specifies Hindi in the Devanagari script as the official language of the Union while also allowing for the continued use of English for official purposes. This dual-language arrangement reflects India’s multilingual character and the political compromise reached during the framing of the Constitution to ensure national unity and administrative efficiency.

Constitutional Framework and Objective

The framers of the Constitution faced a major challenge in choosing an official language for independent India, a country marked by vast linguistic diversity. While there was a strong sentiment for adopting Hindi as the official language, equally strong opposition arose from non-Hindi speaking regions, particularly from South India.
Article 343 was thus designed as a balancing provision — recognising Hindi as the official language while ensuring that English would continue to be used alongside it to maintain administrative continuity and national integration.

Clause (1): Hindi as the Official Language

Under Article 343(1):

• The official language of the Union is Hindi, written in the Devanagari script.
• The form of numerals to be used for official purposes of the Union is the international form of Indian numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.).

This clause symbolised the intent of the Constituent Assembly to promote Hindi as a unifying medium for official communication, while also maintaining the practicality of the international numeral system.

Clause (2): Use of English for Official Purposes

Article 343(2) provides a transitional arrangement for the use of English.It states that:

• For the first fifteen years after the commencement of the Constitution (i.e., from 26 January 1950 to 25 January 1965), English would continue to be used for all official purposes of the Union for which it was being used before the Constitution came into effect.
• During this period, the President could authorise the use of Hindi in addition to English, and of Devanagari numerals in addition to international numerals, for specified official purposes.

The intent behind this provision was to enable a gradual transition from English to Hindi, allowing time for administrative adaptation and for non-Hindi speaking regions to prepare for the change.

Clause (3): Parliamentary Power to Continue the Use of English

Under Article 343(3), Parliament has the power to:

• Provide by law for the continued use of English or Devanagari numerals for official purposes even after the expiry of the initial 15-year period.

This clause effectively empowered Parliament to extend the use of English indefinitely if circumstances required. In exercise of this power, Parliament enacted the Official Languages Act, 1963, later amended by the Official Languages (Amendment) Act, 1967, ensuring the continued use of English alongside Hindi for all official purposes of the Union.

Legislative Measures: The Official Languages Acts

1. Official Languages Act, 1963:
   • Enacted under Article 343(3), it provided for the continued use of English for official purposes of the Union and for communication between the Union and the States.
   • It clarified that both Hindi and English would be used for Union-level communication.
2. Official Languages (Amendment) Act, 1967:
   • This amendment ensured the indefinite continuation of English as an associate official language.
   • It also made it mandatory that communications between the Union and non-Hindi speaking States be in English.

These laws form the legal backbone of India’s bilingual administrative system at the central level.

Distinction Between Official and National Language

A common misconception is that Hindi is India’s national language. In reality, India has no national language.

• Hindi is the official language of the Union, used for administrative purposes.
• The Eighth Schedule of the Constitution lists 22 recognised languages, reflecting linguistic equality and diversity.

This distinction underscores India’s federal and pluralistic language policy, where all languages enjoy equal constitutional respect, even though Hindi and English are used for central administration.

The Munshi–Ayyangar Formula and the Compromise in the Constituent Assembly

The compromise that shaped Article 343 is known as the Munshi–Ayyangar Formula, proposed by K. M. Munshi and N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar during the Constituent Assembly debates.This formula provided that:

• Hindi would be the official language of the Union.
• English would continue for a transitional period of 15 years.
• The shift from English to Hindi would be gradual and cooperative, not imposed abruptly.

The compromise was essential to preserve national unity and to avoid alienating non-Hindi speaking regions.

Presidential Powers and Implementation Rules

The President of India exercises certain powers under Article 343(2) through executive orders and rules.The key instrument in this regard is the Official Languages (Use for Official Purposes of the Union) Rules, 1976, which regulate:

• The use of Hindi and English in official documents, correspondence, and communication;
• The proportion of Hindi and English to be used in government offices; and
• The progressive increase in the use of Hindi in official work, while maintaining accessibility through English.

These rules operationalise the constitutional directive for the gradual promotion of Hindi without infringing on linguistic freedom.

Judicial Interpretation

The judiciary has consistently upheld the constitutional validity of the bilingual policy under Article 343 and the related legislation.

• Union of India v. C. Krishna Reddy (1993): The Supreme Court upheld the continued use of English for official purposes as constitutionally valid under the Official Languages Act.
• State of Uttar Pradesh v. Raj Narain (1975): The Court observed that Hindi is the official language of the Union but recognised that English continues to be used as per law.

Through such interpretations, the judiciary affirmed the principle of linguistic accommodation as central to India’s federal structure.

Historical Context and Anti-Hindi Agitations

The anti-Hindi agitations of 1965, particularly in Tamil Nadu, were a turning point in India’s language policy. As the 15-year transitional period neared its end, fears arose in non-Hindi speaking States that Hindi would be imposed as the sole official language.
The protests led the Central Government to assure that English would continue to be used indefinitely alongside Hindi. This assurance was later formalised through the Official Languages (Amendment) Act, 1967, establishing permanent bilingualism at the Union level.

Use of Language in Government Functions

Under the current framework:

• Both Hindi and English are used for official purposes of the Union.
• Communications between Hindi-speaking States are conducted in Hindi, while those between the Union and non-Hindi-speaking States are conducted in English.
• In Parliament, members may address the House in any of the 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule.
• All central government notifications, orders, and laws are published in both Hindi and English.

This bilingual approach ensures inclusivity and accessibility in the functioning of the Union Government.

Related Constitutional Provisions

Article 343 is part of Part XVII (Articles 343–351) of the Constitution, dealing with the official language. Related provisions include:

• Article 344: Establishment of a Commission and Committee on Official Language to review and recommend the progress of Hindi.
• Article 345–347: Deal with the use of languages in State legislatures and regional administration.
• Article 350A and 350B: Ensure facilities for instruction in mother tongues and protect linguistic minorities.
• Article 351: Directs the Union to promote the spread of Hindi while ensuring its enrichment through other Indian languages.

Together, these provisions create a comprehensive constitutional framework for linguistic governance in India.

Significance of Article 343

Article 343 symbolises the linguistic compromise that underpins India’s unity in diversity. It balances the aspiration to promote Hindi as a link language with the practical necessity of retaining English for national and international communication.
Key points of significance:

• It provides legal continuity from colonial administration to the present.
• It safeguards the interests of non-Hindi-speaking States.
• It promotes bilingualism and linguistic harmony at the Union level.
• It reflects the federal principle of cooperation among diverse linguistic regions.