10 Interesting Facts about the Hindi language - UPSC Prelims Facts

Hindi is one of the most extensively spoken languages in the world. It belongs to the Indo-Aryan division of the Indo-European family of languages. Many aspirants decide to give the IAS Exam in the Hindi language.   

Hindi language has been strongly influenced by Sanskrit and has been written in the Devanagari script. It consists of 11 vowels and 33 consonants and is written from left to right. UPSC Aspirants are expected to have some knowledge of the National Language that may be beneficial for UPSC Prelims.

UPSC has asked several questions from this portion in previous years. This topic is essential in the Polity and History sections of the UPSC Syllabus. 

Facts about the Hindi Language

Here we are giving some facts about Hindi, an official language in India. This will help you to know about the Hindi language.

Hindi got its name from the Persian word Hind, which means “Land of Indus River”.

On 14th September 1949, the Government of India accepted the Hindi language as the official language. To commemorate this, we celebrate “Hindi Day” on 14th September.

Part XVII of the Indian Constitution talks about the Official Language. Under Article 343, the official language of the Union has been approved, which comprises Hindi in Devanagari script and English.

Hindi became the only working language of the Union Government in 1965.

It is an official language in Fiji and Hindi is acknowledged as a regional language in Suriname, Guyana, Mauritius, and Trinidad & Tobago.

The provisions related to the Hindi language are regulated by the Central Hindi Directorate, Government of India.

Hindi is considered the fourth most-spoken first language in the world, after Mandarin Chinese, Spanish and English.

Hindi is widely used in other countries like Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, and the United States of America.

Bihar was the first state to adopt Hindi as its official language, replacing Urdu.

Prem Sagar by Lallu Lal published in 1805 is the first published book in Hindi.

Hindi Divas

Hindi was adopted as the official language of the Union of India on the 14th of September 1949.

• Subsequently, in 1950, Hindi in the Devanagari script was declared as the official language of India.
• The states of India identify their own official languages through the process of legislation. However, English is also considered an official language of India.
• About 45% of the Indian population speak Hindi. In 1950, it was decided that the use of English was to be ended by 26th January 1965, 15 years from the date of adoption of the Constitution of India.

To read more about other official languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, check the linked article.

Click on the link to know more about the Hindi Divas- September 14th.