Official Languages Act, 1963

The Official Languages Act, 1963 provides the legal basis for continuing English alongside Hindi in the Union's official work after the constitutional transition period ended. It establishes bilingual functioning in Parliament, Union administration, intergovernmental communication and specified official documents, subject to statutory safeguards.

Continuation beyond the constitutional transition

Under Section 3, English may continue from 26 January 1965, in addition to Hindi, for Union purposes for which it was used immediately before that date and for transacting business in Parliament. Thus, the Act prevented the automatic end of English after the Constitution's initial 15-year transitional period.

Use in official communication and documents

• English must be used for communication between the Union and a state that has not adopted Hindi as its official language.
• When a Hindi-using state communicates in Hindi with a state that has not adopted Hindi, an English translation must accompany the communication.
• Under Section 3(3), both Hindi and English must be used for specified Union documents, including resolutions, general orders, rules, notifications, contracts, agreements, licences, notices and tender forms.

Safeguard against discontinuance

The 1967 amendment gave continued English use a strong statutory safeguard. Its use for Union official purposes, along with the bilingual arrangements under Section 3, can be discontinued only after every state that has not adopted Hindi passes a resolution to that effect and both Houses of Parliament subsequently approve discontinuance.

• The Union may frame rules regulating the use of Hindi and English while considering administrative efficiency and the interests of persons proficient in either language.