Bureaucrats told to use Hindi

All top babus of the Centre have been asked by the Modi government to use the Hindi language in their routine file work, file notings and drafts written by them to set an example to all other officers and staff in the Central government ministeries and departments.

Raising concern, the government has noted that despite the issue being flagged several times, the official communications written by the seniormost bureaucrats are still being written in English.

In a letter sent to all secretaries of the Central ministeries and departments, the home ministry has said that the basic tenets of the Constitution, as well as the official language policy of the government, mandates that most official work must be transacted using the Hindi language.

Sources said the attempt by the Centre is to reverse the British-era tradition of using English in all file work to promote the official language.

The MHA rued the fact that the target set by the government has still not been met on this front.

“While some progress has been made, a large portion of government business is still be transacted using the English language,” said the MHA letter.

Sources said the target entails 100 per cent use of Hindi in official communications and drafts written by top bureaucrats, 90 per cent for joint secretaries and 55 per cent for other staff and so on.

Sending a reminder to the top babus on the issue, the MHA explained that the aim is to ensure that all seniormost bureaucrats write their letters in Hindi “to set an example” before their junior staff.