Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag Launched to Promote Indian Languages in Governance

Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag Launched to Promote Indian Languages in Governance

Why in the News?

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag (BBA), also known as the Indian Languages Section, to promote governance in Indian languages. This initiative aims to reduce dependence on foreign languages in administration and strengthen linguistic diversity in India through translation infrastructure and policy reforms.

Promoting Indian Languages in Governance:

• The BBA (Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag) is a newly launched initiative to institutionalize the use of Indian languages in governance, reflecting the government’s commitment to language policy in governance.
• Announced by Amit Shah, the initiative aspires to liberate administration from foreign language dominance, emphasizing the importance of multilingual administration in India.
• Shah emphasized the significance of thinking, analyzing, and decision-making in mother tongues to fully realize India’s potential, highlighting the role of linguistic diversity in India.
• Strengthening local languages is seen as key to restoring India’s historic cultural prominence and promoting Indian culture through language.

Policy Backing and Budget Allocation

• The Union Budget 2024-25 has allocated ₹56 crore to set up the BBA platform, demonstrating the government’s commitment to regional language promotion.
• It will facilitate translations between Hindi and other Indian languages, boosting administrative accessibility and supporting the use of official languages of India in governance.
• Anshuli Arya, Secretary, Department of Official Language, noted the importance of translation for effective Centre-State communication in various Indian languages.
• Official Language Rules classify states into Regions A, B, and C with different correspondence languages (e.g., English for Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka), reflecting the diversity of languages spoken in India.

Enhancing Inclusivity through Translation

• The BBA will support translation of state communications into official local languages, including Tamil and others, promoting Indian languages governance.
• This ensures that regional languages find a place in central discourse and replies, enhancing linguistic diversity in India.
• The move aims to bridge linguistic gaps, encouraging a more inclusive and participatory administration that respects the mother tongue of all citizens.