ASMITA Project 2025

ASMITA Project 2025

Why in News? 

The Ministry of Education and UGC have jointly unveiled the ‘ASMITA Project’ to make top-tier academic resources accessible in Indian languages. This initiative will enhance the inclusivity of education.

What is ASMITA Project 2025?

• Introduction:
  • India is a land of linguistic diversity, with more than 22 scheduled languages and hundreds of dialects spoken across the country. 
  • To overcome the challenges students face due to linguistic limitations, the Ministry of Education and UGC have collaboratively initiated the “ASMITA Project”.
  • ASMITA (Augmenting Study Materials in Indian Languages through Translation and Academic Writing) is a transformative initiative that aims to reshape the higher education system by enabling multilingual learning.
  • It is an effort to promote languages and democratize knowledge, so that every student can receive quality education in their mother tongue.
• Implementation:
  • This initiative is being executed under the joint supervision of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti.
  • The Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti, established in 2021 under the Ministry of Education, is dedicated to mainstreaming India’s linguistic diversity in the field of education. Through this committee, the development of study material in native languages is being accelerated.
  • Thirteen lead universities from various zones of India have been selected to anchor the implementation of the ASMITA Project. 
    • Other member universities have been involved to ensure that implementation remains balanced and effective at the regional level.
• Objective:
  • The main objective of the ASMITA Project is to give Indian languages a prominent place in higher education and to integrate them into the global knowledge economy.
  • The goal is to develop 1,000 books in 22 Indian languages over the next five years, resulting in a total of 22,000 books. These books will cover subjects in Arts, Science, Commerce, and Technology.
  • To make education inclusive, so that students who are not proficient in English or other dominant languages also get equal opportunities.
  • To empower local writers, translators, and academicians so they can contribute to knowledge creation in their own languages.
  • To realize the spirit of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes the promotion of Indian languages.
• Features:
  • A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been prepared to implement this project, making it systematic and transparent.
  • Identification of nodal officers: A leading university and its designated officer have been appointed for each language.
  • Allocation of titles: A clear plan has been laid out regarding which book will be written on which subject.
  • Review and evaluation of manuscripts: Each book will undergo a plagiarism check and review by a committee before finalization.
• Significance:
  • The ASMITA Project will have far-reaching implications not just in education but also in society and culture.
  • A rich pool of academic resources will be created that will be available in Indian languages.
  • It will reduce linguistic inequality and strengthen academic democracy.
  • When students from different linguistic backgrounds receive equal quality education, it will promote social harmony and national unity.

What are Scheduled Languages?

• Introduction:
  • India is home to hundreds of languages and dialects, but only some have received constitutional recognition. These recognized languages are given the status of Scheduled Languages.
  • These languages are included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
  • The purpose of recognizing these languages is not only to preserve them, but also to protect the cultural heritage, social representation, and educational rights associated with them.
• Constitutional Provisions:
  • The Indian Constitution considers language a vital element of cultural identity and citizen rights. That is why the Eighth Schedule was created to grant special status to certain languages.
  • Under Articles 344(1) and 351, the Eighth Schedule was formed with the objective of ensuring linguistic unity in the country.
  • Currently, 22 languages have been granted recognition as Scheduled Languages:
    • Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.
  • As per the Constitution, these languages are given space in official functions, educational curricula, competitive examinations, and government communication.
• Reasons for Recognition:
  • Linguistic Equality: By recognizing Scheduled Languages, India has ensured that each language-speaking community receives constitutional rights. This recognition gives linguistic groups a platform to secure their political, educational, and social rights.
  • Inclusivity in Administration: Languages included in the Eighth Schedule are allowed to be used in education systems and administrative functions, helping people access government services in their own language. Use of these languages in secondary and higher education ensures that students receive accessible and convenient education.
  • Cultural Preservation: Language is the cultural soul of any community. Recognition of Scheduled Languages ensures the preservation of their literary, musical, and historical heritage. This recognition also creates opportunities to connect local languages with scientific and technical education.
  • National Unity: When linguistic groups receive recognition of their language rights, it strengthens social harmony and national unity. Scheduled Languages reinforce the federal structure, allowing both Centre and States to work in their respective languages.

New Initiatives to Empower Indian Languages

• Bahubhasha Shabdakosh:
  • The Bahubhasha Shabdakosh is an innovative initiative aimed at providing all Indian language words and their meanings on a single platform.
  • This effort has been launched to promote the use of Indian languages in educational, industrial, and technical sectors.
  • This dictionary is being created by the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) with the support of the Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti.
  • It will simplify translation work and encourage the use of native terms in areas like information technology, research, and education.
• Real-Time Translation Architecture:
  • The Real-Time Translation Architecture is a digital system designed by the National Educational Technology Forum (NETF) in partnership with the Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti to enhance live translation capabilities in Indian languages.
  • This system will help reduce language barriers in digital education, online communication, and government communication.
  • NETF, an autonomous institution, is responsible for implementing and continuously updating this framework.