The Official & Regional Languages of Indian States and UTs | Complete List

Get a comprehensive list of official & Regional languages for all Indian states and union territories, including second official languages and capital cities.

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India, a land celebrated for its breathtaking diversity, showcases this richness most vividly in its linguistic landscape. Home to hundreds of languages and thousands of dialects, India stands as a testament to the enduring power of human expression. While the nation officially recognizes Hindi and English at the Union level, the states and union territories wield the authority to choose their own official languages, reflecting the unique cultural identities within their borders. This intricate system acknowledges both the need for national cohesion and the importance of regional linguistic heritage.

Constitutional Framework and Official Languages

The Constitution of India plays a crucial role in shaping the country’s linguistic framework. While it does not declare any language as the “national language,” it designates Hindi in the Devanagari script as the official language of the Union, alongside English as an additional official language. This provision, outlined in Article 343, aimed to facilitate communication at the central government level.

Furthermore, the Constitution recognizes 22 Scheduled Languages in its Eighth Schedule. These languages – Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and¹ Urdu – are acknowledged for their significant cultural and historical value and enjoy representation in various national forums.

State and Union Territory Autonomy in Language Choice

Recognizing the linguistic diversity across its vast expanse, the Indian Constitution empowers individual states and union territories to adopt their own official languages through legislation. This allows each administrative unit to conduct its official business and serve its population in languages that resonate with the local culture and demographics.

The choice of official languages at the state and union territory level reflects a variety of factors, including the language spoken by the majority of the population, the historical and cultural significance of particular languages in the region, and the need for administrative efficiency. Many states have adopted one primary official language, while some have opted for two or even more to cater to their diverse linguistic communities. Additionally, some states also recognize “second official languages” to accommodate significant linguistic minority groups within their borders.

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List of Official and Regional Languages by State and Union Territory (as of May 7, 2025)

Sl No	State	Capital	Official Language(s)	Second Official Language(s)
1	Andhra Pradesh	Amaravati	Telugu, English	–
2	Arunachal Pradesh	Itanagar	English	–
3	Assam	Dispur	Assamese	Bengali, Bodo
4	Bihar	Patna	Hindi	Urdu
5	Chhattisgarh	Raipur	Hindi	Chhattisgarhi
6	Goa	Panaji	Konkani, English	Marathi
7	Gujarat	Gandhinagar	Gujarati	Hindi
8	Haryana	Chandigarh	Hindi	English, Punjabi
9	Himachal Pradesh	Shimla	Hindi	Sanskrit
10	Jharkhand	Ranchi	Hindi	Angika, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Ho, Kharia, Khortha, Kurmali, Kurukh, Magahi, Maithili, Mundari, Nagpuri, Odia, Santali, Urdu
11	Karnataka	Bangalore	Kannada	English
12	Kerala	Thiruvananthapuram	Malayalam	English
13	Madhya Pradesh	Bhopal	Hindi	–
14	Maharashtra	Mumbai	Marathi	–
15	Manipur	Imphal	Manipuri	English
16	Meghalaya	Shillong	English	Khasi, Garo
17	Mizoram	Aizawl	Mizo, English	Hindi
18	Nagaland	Kohima	English	–
19	Odisha	Bhubaneswar	Odia	–
20	Punjab	Chandigarh	Punjabi	–
21	Rajasthan	Jaipur	Hindi	–
22	Sikkim	Gangtok	English,2 Nepali, Sikkimese, Lepcha	Gurung, Limbu, Magar, Mukhia, Newari, Rai, Sherpa, Tamang
23	Tamil Nadu	Chennai	Tamil	English
24	Telangana	Hyderabad	Telugu, Urdu	–
25	Tripura	Agartala	Bengali, English, Kokborok	–
26	Uttar Pradesh	Lucknow	Hindi	Urdu
27	Uttarakhand	Dehradun	Hindi	Sanskrit
28	West Bengal	Kolkata	Bengali, English	Nepali, Urdu, Hindi, Odia, Santali, Punjabi, Kamtapuri, Rajbanshi, Kurmali, Kurukh, Telugu

8 Union Territories of India – Major Languages

1	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	Port Blair	Hindi, English	–
2	Chandigarh	Chandigarh	English	–
3	Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu	Daman	Gujarati, Konkani, Marathi, Hindi	–
4	Delhi	New Delhi	Hindi, English	Urdu, Punjabi
5	Jammu and Kashmir	Srinagar (Summer), Jammu (Winter)	Kashmiri, Dogri, Hindi, Urdu, English	–
6	Ladakh	Leh	Hindi, English	–
7	Lakshadweep	Kavaratti	Malayalam, English	–
8	Puducherry	Puducherry	Tamil, French, English	Telugu, Malayalam

It is important to note that while these are the official languages used for governmental and administrative purposes, a multitude of other regional and local languages are spoken across these states and union territories, contributing to India’s rich linguistic mosaic.

The Significance of Regional Languages

Regional languages hold immense significance in India for a multitude of reasons:

1. Cultural Identity: They are deeply intertwined with the cultural heritage, traditions, literature, and art forms of specific communities, serving as a vital link to their past and a cornerstone of their identity.

2. Communication and Accessibility: For a large segment of the population, regional languages are the primary mode of communication. Recognizing them in administration and education ensures greater accessibility and inclusivity.

3. Education: Studies have shown that children learn more effectively when taught in their mother tongue, especially at the primary level. Regional languages play a crucial role in foundational learning and cognitive development.

4. Preservation of Diversity: Supporting and promoting regional languages helps preserve India’s rich linguistic diversity, preventing the assimilation of smaller languages into dominant ones.

5. Social Cohesion: Recognizing and respecting regional languages fosters a sense of belonging and inclusivity among diverse linguistic groups, contributing to social harmony and national unity.

6. Economic Opportunities: Proficiency in local languages can open up employment opportunities within specific regions, particularly in sectors that involve direct interaction with the local population.

Conclusion

The linguistic landscape of India is a complex yet harmonious blend of national and regional identities. The constitutional provisions and the autonomy granted to states and union territories in choosing their official languages reflect a commitment to both national unity and the celebration of India’s diverse cultural tapestry. Regional languages are not merely tools for communication; they are the lifeblood of cultural identity, the key to inclusive governance and education, and an invaluable aspect of India’s rich heritage that deserves continued recognition and support. As India continues to evolve, its linguistic diversity will undoubtedly remain a defining characteristic and a source of immense cultural wealth.