Agartala Set to Host Major Tri-Regional Rajbhasha Conference on Feb 20, Amit Shah to Inaugurate
Agartala, Feb 19: Stage is ready as Agartala is all set to host a significant Joint Regional Official Language (Rajbhasha) Conference on February 20.
The conference will bring together representatives from the Eastern, Northeastern, and Northern regions to strengthen the implementation of the Official Language Policy across the country.
The Rajbhasha conference is scheduled to be inaugurated at 2:00 pm by the Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation Amit Shah.
Today, a press meet was held at Sonar Tari State Guest House here to this end.
Addressing the media, Secretary, Department of Official Language under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Anshuli Arya, underlined that the initiative aims to promote coordination, exchange of best practices, and effective implementation of constitutional provisions relating to the official language.
Arya reiterated that as per the Constitution of India, Hindi in Devanagari script is the official language of the Union.
The Department of Official Language, established on June 26, 1975, functions as an independent department under the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure progressive use of Hindi in official work and to monitor compliance with the Official Language Policy.
Platform for Policy Review and Coordination
The Department organizes four regional official language conferences every financial year to review implementation status and encourage improvements.
The first joint regional conference for 2025–26 was held at Devi Ahilya University in Indore.
The upcoming Agartala event on February 20 is the second such joint conference this financial year, reflecting a broader strategy to foster inter-regional collaboration among official language practitioners.
For administrative purposes, the country has been divided into Regions ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’ based on the use of Hindi.
Town Official Language Implementation Committees (TOICs) and eight Regional Implementation Offices under the Ministry of Home Affairs are actively working to ensure compliance and promote the use of Hindi in official communication.
Wide Participation Expected
The conference will witness participation from the Eastern Region—West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, and Jharkhand; the Northeastern Region—Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim; and the Northern Region.
Senior officials from central government offices, banks, and public sector undertakings across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh are also expected to attend.
Awards for Excellence
A major highlight of the inaugural session will be the presentation of awards to central government offices, banks, and undertakings for outstanding performance in implementing the Official Language Policy.
The “Narakas Rajbhasha Samman” will also be conferred upon City Official Language Implementation Committees demonstrating exemplary work.
A total of 80 awards will be distributed, selected on the basis of quarterly progress reports submitted through the Information Management System. Awardees will receive certificates and shields in recognition of their achievements.
Release of Special Publications
The inaugural session will also see the release of a North-East Special Issue of Rajbhasha Bharati, prepared specifically for the occasion.
Two important books—Indian Languages and the Official Language Hindi – Timeless Works and Amritvani – Timeless Inspiring Verses of Sanskrit—will also be unveiled.
Arya emphasized that publishing quality books and research-based compilations has become an important medium for disseminating India’s linguistic heritage, particularly among younger generations.
The aim is not only to provide scholarly material but also to highlight the deep interconnection between Hindi and other Indian languages.
Boost to Multilingual Governance
The Indian Languages Section, established in line with the vision of the Union Home Minister, is working to facilitate direct and effective communication with states in their respective official languages.
This initiative promotes inclusive governance and reduces dependence on foreign languages.
In keeping with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the multilingual translation platform ‘Bharati – Multilingual Translation Charioteer’ has been developed to bridge linguistic gaps between Hindi and 15 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
The platform is expected to strengthen coordination among Indian languages and help preserve the country’s linguistic diversity.
Exhibition and Wellness Initiative
Exhibition stalls by banks, literary institutions, and other organizations will be set up at the venue to showcase innovations and activities related to official language implementation.
Additionally, to promote a healthy and energetic work culture, a yoga session has been scheduled on February 19 from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the International Indoor Exhibition Centre, Hapania.
The session will include simple yoga asanas, pranayama, and stress management exercises under the guidance of experienced instructors.
Concluding the press meet, Arya stressed that Hindi, along with Sanskrit and the rich literary traditions of various Indian languages, represents a vital component of India’s cultural heritage.
She called upon all stakeholders to actively participate in the conference and contribute to fulfilling the constitutional obligations under the Official Language Policy in a coordinated and inclusive manner.