Governance – Amit Shah to Open Regional Language Meet in Agartala
Governance – Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to inaugurate a major regional conference on official language policy in Agartala on Friday, bringing together senior officials and language experts from across northern, eastern and northeastern India.
Large Gathering of Officials in Tripura
The Joint Regional Official Language Conference, being hosted in Tripura for the first time, is expected to draw over 3,000 participants. According to Anshuli Arya, Secretary of the Department of Official Language under the Ministry of Home Affairs, senior officers, representatives of public sector undertakings and banking institutions from nearly 20 states will attend the event.
Delegates will arrive from eastern states such as West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and Jharkhand. The northeastern region will be represented by Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. From the northern belt, officials from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are scheduled to participate.
The conference marks a significant administrative event for Tripura, as it is the first time the state is hosting a joint regional meet of this scale focused on official language implementation.
Focus on Technology and Inclusive Language Use
Speaking ahead of the event, Arya highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence and modern digital tools in addressing language-related challenges in governance. She noted that technology can help streamline translation, documentation and communication across different regions.
She also pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah often communicate in clear and simple Hindi to ensure accessibility. At the same time, Shah is known to correspond in the official language of individual states when writing letters, reflecting what officials describe as a balanced approach to linguistic diversity.
Arya stressed that the Union government’s language policy aims to promote Hindi along with the 22 constitutionally recognised languages and other local languages. “There is no question of imposing any language on others,” she said, reiterating that the emphasis remains on encouragement rather than compulsion.
Awards to Recognise Policy Implementation
A key highlight of the conference will be the presentation of 80 Regional Official Language Awards for the year 2024–25. These awards will honour central government offices, banks and public sector undertakings that have demonstrated strong implementation of the Official Language Policy.
In addition, selected City Official Language Implementation Committees will receive the Nagar Rajbhasha Karyanvayan Samiti Rajbhasha Samman. The selection process is based on quarterly performance reports submitted through an official information management system. Awardees will be given certificates and commemorative shields.
Officials said the recognition aims to encourage systematic use of Hindi and other Indian languages in official correspondence, documentation and administrative processes.
Publications and Exhibition at the Venue
The inaugural session will also feature the release of a special Northeast edition of Rajbhasha Bharati, a publication prepared by the Department of Official Language. Two books — Indian Languages and the Official Language Hindi – Timeless Works, and Timeless Inspiring Verses of Amritvani Sanskrit — are scheduled to be launched during the programme.
An exhibition highlighting innovations, best practices and initiatives related to official language implementation will be organised at the venue. Banks, literary bodies and other institutions are expected to showcase their efforts in promoting multilingual administrative work.
Wellness Session Ahead of Conference
As part of the broader programme, a yoga session is being arranged a day before the formal inauguration. The session will include basic asanas, breathing exercises and stress-management techniques under the guidance of trained instructors. Officials said the initiative is aimed at promoting physical well-being and reducing workplace stress among participants.
Background of the Department
The Department of Official Language was established as an independent department on June 26, 1975. Its mandate is to ensure effective implementation of constitutional provisions concerning Hindi as the official language of the Union, written in the Devanagari script.
Every financial year, the department organises four regional conferences to review progress and strengthen the use of Hindi in official work. The Agartala meet is the second joint regional conference of the 2025–26 financial year. The first was held earlier at Devi Ahilya University in Indore.
With participation from multiple regions and institutions, the Agartala conference is expected to serve as a platform for dialogue, review and renewed focus on multilingual governance across India.