SSC to Conduct Exams in 22 Indian Languages: A Step Towards Language Inclusivity

The Staff Selection Commission aims to conduct competitive examinations in 22 Indian languages in the future. This initiative is aimed at providing a language-neutral level playing field to all aspiring candidates. The announcement was made during the valedictory session of the ‘Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav: Technology and Bharatiya Bhasha Summit’.

Minister of State for Personnel, Singh, highlighted that this decision was in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s directive. Starting from this year, SSC examinations are being conducted in 13 languages, which include 11 regional languages in addition to Hindi and English. This marks a significant departure from the previous scenario where candidates were limited to choosing between Hindi and English as the medium of examination.

Singh pointed out that before 2014, the translation of English to Hindi was often of poor quality, putting many students at a disadvantage. However, with this new initiative, the SSC aims to conduct competitive examinations in all the 22 Indian languages mentioned in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

Furthermore, Singh noted that other prominent exams like JEE, NEET, and UGC are also being conducted in 12 Indian languages. This decision is expected to boost the participation of local youth, enhance their chances of selection, and promote the use of regional languages.

He commended the progress made in promoting Indian regional languages under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership. PM Modi has advocated for providing medical and engineering education in regional languages such as Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Gujarati, and Bengali.

Singh also highlighted the significance of the National Education Policy (NEP) in revolutionizing the country’s education system. The NEP places a strong emphasis on mother tongue education and aims to bring India’s education system on par with global standards. As part of this initiative, 29 institutes across 10 states have been identified for imparting engineering education in one or more regional languages.

Today, India boasts around 40 million students in higher education, surpassing the numbers in the United States and the European Union combined. The ambitious NEP-2020 aims to double this figure, creating new career and entrepreneurship opportunities for Indian students and youth.

In conclusion, the decision by the Staff Selection Commission to expand the range of languages for competitive examinations is a significant step towards inclusivity and equal opportunities for all candidates. It aligns with the broader efforts to promote regional languages and the objectives of the National Education Policy.

(This story has not been edited by EducationCenter staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)