IGNCA (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Art and Culture)

Context: Recently, the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA)'s 'language atlas' has been unveiled to illuminate India's rich linguistic diversity.

Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts

• IGNCA's Autonomy: The IGNCA operates as an autonomous entity under the Union Culture Ministry, signifying its independence in cultural endeavors.
• Aim: To enumerate how many languages are spoken and in which States and regions, can provide the answer.
• Nodal Ministry: Culture Ministry
• India's Linguistic Diversity: India acknowledges 22 languages officially, listed in Schedule 8 of its Constitution, with 97% of the population conversant in at least one.

oCensus data identifies 99 non-scheduled languages, but excludes those with less than 10,000 speakers, leaving many tribal languages unaccounted for.

• 1961 Census: The 1961 Census of India stands out as the most comprehensive linguistic survey, even cataloging languages with solitary speakers.
• Call for a Comprehensive Survey: Professor advocates for a comprehensive linguistic survey to create a Language Atlas of India, akin to the 1961 Census.
• Survey Collaboration: The IGNCA's proposed survey involves collaboration with multiple ministries and institutions, aiming for inclusive linguistic representation.
• Survey Objectives and Phases: The survey targets understanding India's linguistic landscape, necessitating phased data collection at state and regional levels, alongside digital archiving of spoken languages.
• Historical Perspective - Linguistic Survey of India: The inaugural Linguistic Survey of India conducted by Sir George Abraham Grierson in 1928 provides a foundational understanding of India's linguistic diversity, encompassing historical and contemporary contexts.