White Paper on Status of Classical Languages

There is no apathy from Government towards Pali, Prakrit and Sanskrit.

(i) A scheme for the Award of the Certificates of Honours was introduced in the year 1958 to honour the scholars of Sanskrit, Arabic and Persian Languages. The scheme was extended to cover Pali/Prakrit in year 1996. Certificate of Honour is awarded to Scholars of eminence over 60 years of age with outstanding contribution in the field of Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian or Pali/Prakrit. This scheme envisages a onetime monetary grant of Rs. 5,00,000/- to the Scholars. This Scheme included one award of Certificate of Honour to One Scholar of either of Pali or Prakrit for a year.

In addition to this, the Scheme also provides for Maharshi Badrayan Vyas Samman for young Scholars in the age group of 30 to 45 years in the field of Sanskrit, Pali/ Prakrit, Arabic and Persian. This award carries an amount of Rs. 1.00 lakh as one-time payment to each Awardee along with a Sanad and shawl, which is presented by President of India. However, from the year 2016, separate awards shall be awarded to Scholars, one each from Pali & Prakrit both under Category of Certificate of Honour & Maharshi Badrayan Vyas Samman.

(ii) Further, Pali-Prakrit Development Project was started in the year 2009 on the initiative taken by Ministry of Human Resource Development as regular Scheme of Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan (Deemed University) in the current five year Plan (2012-2017) for Sanskrit, there are several independent departments in colleges, universities, and Sanskrit institutes and universities. It is taught at various levels of education, from schools to universities.

Literature of Pali Language was removed from the scheme of the examination w.e.f. Civil Services Examination, 2013 vide Gazette Notification dated 6th March, 2013 issued by Department of Personnel and Training. Literature of Prakrit Language had never been an optional subject in the scheme of Civil Services Examination.

This information was given by Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Dr. Mahesh Sharma in a written reply in Rajya Sabha .

Catherine