Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government is making the official websites of various departments and related portals trilingual—in Hindi, Urdu, and English—to promote the use of Hindi and ensure greater inclusivity and accessibility, the Assembly was informed on Tuesday.
In a written reply to BJP MLA Ranbir Singh Pathania (Udhampur East) regarding the implementation of The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020, which recognises Hindi among the Union Territory’s official languages, the government said it has taken multiple measures to promote Hindi for official purposes.
“All official correspondence received in Hindi is properly responded to in bilingual form—Hindi and English,” the minister in charge stated.
The minister further informed that a committee formed in 2022 to devise a roadmap for identifying areas where the official languages—Hindi, Kashmiri, Urdu, Dogri, and English—should be used for administrative purposes has submitted its report, which is pending approval due to clarifications sought by the Finance Department.
On steps to promote the use of Hindi in government offices, the government said a comprehensive database of language cells across departments is being prepared to assess their functionality, staffing, and linguistic practices, which will serve as a baseline for strengthening official language use.
The government also noted that the e-office system operational in all departments includes built-in software tools that allow drafting and correspondence in Hindi, enabling a gradual transition toward bilingual and trilingual communication.
Additionally, the J&K Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages, in collaboration with other departments and universities, is working to develop training modules and organise sensitisation workshops to enhance the practical use of Hindi and other official languages in daily official work.
The minister added that the government is also establishing dedicated language sections—including Hindi—in public libraries to encourage wider learning and usage.
On the question of whether proficiency in Hindi is now required for government recruitment, the government clarified that the provisions of the Official Languages Act, 2020 will be incorporated into recruitment rules based on the specific requirements of each service.
Addressing the reasons for delays in implementing Hindi-related provisions, the minister said that introducing a multi-lingual administrative system demands cross-departmental coordination, standardisation of formats, trained manpower, and user-friendly software.
“The government is strengthening administrative, technological, and awareness mechanisms to ensure effective use of all official languages, including Hindi,” the reply stated.
Responding to another query on the establishment of a Sanskrit Board or Academy, the government said the proposal will be considered “in due course of time,” adding that it fully supports initiatives aimed at promoting classical languages such as Sanskrit.
