69% spike over three years in candidates giving competitive tests in Hindi

In 2017, since govt allowed NEET for medical in regional languages, number of students choosing Hindi has grown faster than those opting for English; only Marathi and Odiya posted faster growth

The number of candidates opting for Hindi as the language for the NEET examination increased by 69 per cent between 2017 and 2020

Earlier this week, home minister Amit Shah addressing the 37th meeting of the Parliamentary Official Language Committee, said that “Now the time has come to make the Official Language an important part of the unity of the country. When citizens of States who speak other languages communicate with each other, it should be in the language of India.”

Later, as the opposition started targeting the government over the remark, the home minister clarified that Hindi should be accepted as an alternative to English.

A Business Standard analysis found that the minister did not need to wade into the controversy, as Hindi has gained currency over time.

In 2017, since the government allowed the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for medical admissions across the country to be conducted in regional languages, the number of students opting for Hindi medium has grown faster than those opting for English.

Analysis of NEET data between 2017 and 2020 shows that the number of candidates opting for English as a medium of examination increased by only 38.4 per cent. In contrast, the total number of candidates appearing for examination increased by 40.3 per cent. Meanwhile, candidates appearing with Hindi as a medium of examination jumped 69.4 per cent during this period.

Marathi and Odiya were the only other languages to register a faster growth with a 539.9 and 81.9 per cent increase in candidates.

Marathi speakers went up from 978 in 2017 to 6,258 in 2020.

Another reference is the candidates appearing for the civil service main examination. Data from Union Public Service Commission annual reports shows that the number of civil service aspirants appearing for the mains examination using Hindi as their general language increased between 2017 and 2020. In 2017, 64.7 per cent of those writing an exam in the local language chose Hindi as a preferred medium; the ratio increased to 65.9 per cent. In 2019, 65.2 per cent of those opting for Indian languages chose Hindi as a medium.

Even the 2011 census shows the growing influence of Hindi. The number of speakers with Hindi as their primary language increased by 25 per cent between 2001 and 2011. The percentage of the population with Hindi as their primary language increased from 41.03 per cent to 43.63 per cent.

Moreover, if one considers the population with Hindi as a second and third language, India had 691.2 million Hindi speakers in 2011.