Shillong, June 4: The Centre is “very seriously” examining the demand for inclusion of Khasi among many other languages in the Eighth Schedule, Union Home Minister Amit Shah told a delegation of Khasi Authors Society (KAS) on Thursday.
The KAS representatives led by its president Dr DRL Nonglait, who is also the NPP candidate for Shillong Lok Sabha bye-election, met Shah during the latter’s visit to Shillong to attend the NEC Plenary.
The KAS reminded the Home Minister of its sustained push for recognition of Khasi.
“We reminded him that we submitted our first memorandum in January 2021 and met him here in Shillong in July 2021,” Dr Nonglait said.
Speaking about the KAS’s briefing to the Home Minister on recent developments at state level, he said, “We informed him that Khasi has been made one of the official languages of Meghalaya through the Meghalaya Languages Ordinance 2026, and requested him to take up the issue seriously and, if possible, introduce an official bill in Parliament.”
According to Dr Nonglait, Shah acknowledged the broader context of competing demands.
“He told us there are a number of languages demanding inclusion in the Eighth Schedule and said the government is taking up the issue very seriously. The ministry will look into it,” he said.
“He also mentioned that Khasi language is one among many languages in the list,” Dr Nonglait added.
No timeline was given, but Shah assured the delegation the matter is under active review.
“He did not mention any time frame, but he said he will look into it and that Khasi is one among the languages demanding inclusion in the Eighth Schedule,” Dr Nonglait said.
The Eighth Schedule currently recognises 22 languages. Inclusion enables use of a language for official purposes, including Union Public Service Commission examinations, and ensures representation on the Official Languages Commission.
