The Official Languages Act, 1963
An Act to provide for the languages which may be used for the official purposes of the Union, for transaction of business in Parliament, for Central and State Acts and for certain purposes in High Courts.
Administered by. Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Official Language · Other Acts of 1963
Preamble
THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ACT, 1963
ACT NO. 19 OF 1963
[10th May, 1963.] An Act to provide for the languages which may be used for the official purposes of the Union, for transaction of business in Parliament, for Central and State Acts and for certain purposes in High Courts.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Fourteenth Year of the Republic of India as follows:--
What this Act covers
Summary of The Official Languages Act, 1963
Key Provisions
1. Official Languages: - Hindi (in Devanagari Script)
• English (additional, with conditional use, especially in communications with non-Hindi adopting States)
2. Implementation Timeline: - Effective from January 26, 1965 (pertinent to English's continued use)
• Other Sections: Effectiveness notified by the Central Government
• Notable Dates from Context:
3. Committee on Official Language: - Constitution: 10 years after Section 3's enforcement
• Membership: 30 members (20 from the House of the People, 10 from the Council of States)
• Role: Review progress of Hindi's use and report to the President
4. Authorized Translations: - Central Acts & Orders: Hindi translations in the Official Gazette are authoritative
• State Acts (in specified cases): Optional Hindi translations alongside English
5. High Courts: - Language Use: Optional use of Hindi or the State's official language, with English translations
6. Rule Making: - Central Government's Power: To make rules for the Act's implementation, with parliamentary laying
Sections
Type to filter. 9 sections.
- 1Short title and commencement
- 2Definitions
- 3Continuance of English language for official purposes of the Union and for use in Parliament
- 4Committee on Official Language
- 5Authorised Hindi translations of Central Acts, etc
- 6Authorised Hindi translation of State Acts in certain cases
- 7Optional use of Hindi or other official language in judgments, etc., of High Courts
- 8Power to make rules
- 9Certain provisions not to apply to Jammu and Kashmir
Amending Acts
2 Acts amending this enactment, passed by Parliament of India. The text above is the consolidated text as published.
- The Appropriation Act, 196819 of 1986
- The Official Languages (Amendments) Act, 196719 of 1968
Rules made under this Act
1 set of Rules. India Code publishes Rules as a record and a document rather than as text, so these are indexed here and not reproduced. All Rules.
- Official Language Rules 19761976
Related Acts
- The Government of Union Territories Act, 196372 sections
- The State of Nagaland Act, 196234 sections
- The Pondicherry (Administration) Act, 196220 sections
- The Goa, Daman and Diu (Administration) Act, 196211 sections
- The Foreigners Law (Application and Amendment) Act, 19624 sections
- The Dadra and Nagar Haveli Act, 196114 sections
- The Delhi (Urban Areas) Tenant's Relief Act, 19619 sections
- The Tripura Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960199 sections
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Every one of the 9 sections of this Act has its own page. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.