Topic: Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Q3. Evaluate the impact of Centre-State tensions over language policies on national integration. What institutional safeguards exist to resolve such issues? (10 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: IE
Why the question
Recent controversies like NCERT textbook renaming, opposition to the three-language formula under NEP 2020, and increasing debates over Hindi imposition have made language federalism a core governance concern.Key Demand of the question
The question demands a critical evaluation of how language-related disputes between the Centre and states affect India’s unity and an outline of constitutional or institutional mechanisms available to mitigate such conflicts.Structure of the Answer:
Introduction
Introduce with how linguistic diversity is constitutionally embedded but occasionally challenged by top-down language policies.Body
- Impact on national integration: Mention federal disruption, identity politics, exclusion from governance, education-based friction, and symbolic resistance.
- Institutional safeguards: Mention constitutional provisions, Eighth Schedule, Official Languages Act, NEP 2020 flexibility, and judicial pronouncements.
Conclusion
Conclude with a forward-looking statement on upholding linguistic pluralism as the foundation of cooperative federalism.
