Languages with official status in Nepal explained

The Constitution of Nepal recognizes all mother tongues as national languages of Nepal.[1]

History

The first legislation of Nepal Muluki Ain of 1854 (1910 B.S.) recognized Gorkha Bhasa, now known as Nepali language, as the only official working language of Nepal.[2] The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal of 1959 (2015 B.S.) recognized Nepali language as the sole official and national language.[3] The Interim Constitution of Nepal of 2007 (2063 B.S.) recognized Nepal as a multi-lingual country, providing the status of national languages to all mother tongues in Nepal. However, it also continued Nepali language as the sole official language.[4]

Constitution

The 2015 Constitution of Nepal (2072 B.S.) provisions as follows in the official language.

Federal level

According to the constitutional provision, Nepali written in the Devanagari script is the official working language at the federal level. Within the Federal Parliament of Nepal use of mother tongue is practiced. The House of Representatives Regulations, 2018 and National Assembly Regulations, 2018 provisions that members can speak in their mother tongue and it can be documented.[5] [6] In 2018, parliamentarians took oath in their mother language, however they had to apply three days before the first meeting of the House of Representatives.[7] Similarly, the Ordinance Regarding Oath Taking, 2020 provisions that anyone who holds a public post can take oath in a mother tongue spoken in Nepal, however for anyone to take oath in any language apart from Nepali - they have to translate the oath format themselves and pre-inform to oath officer.[8]

Province level

Fourteen languages are recommended to have official status in provincial level.[9]

List of official languages in provinces of Nepal
State Official Languages
Koshi ProvinceMaithili, Limbu
Madhesh ProvinceMaithili, Bhojpuri, Bajjika
Tamang, Nepal Bhasa
Magar, Gurung
Tharu, Awadhi
Tharu, Dotyali
Nepali language (Karnali dialect), Magar

Local level

There is no constitutional provision about official languages in local level. However, local levels have taken their own initiatives to determine their official languages. The Language Commission has mentioned in its report that the constitution has given it right to determine linguistic provisions in the country and therefore recommended official languages at local levels.

Province no.1

Official language in local levels in Koshi Province
No. Local level Official language(s)
1Limbu[10]
2Chamling, Wambule, Tilung[11] [12]
3 Limbu[13]
4 Limbu[14]

Bagmati Province

Official language in local levels in Bagmati Province
No. Local level Official language(s)
1Kathmandu Metropolitan CityNepal Bhasa[15]
2Kirtipur MunicipalityNepal Bhasa[16] [17]
3Lalitpur Metropolitan CityNepal Bhasa[18]

Lumbini Province

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Constitution of Nepal . Nepal Law Commission . 28 October 2021.
  2. Web site: मुलुकी ऐन १९१० . Nepal Law Commission . Nepal Law Commission . 29 October 2021.
  3. Web site: नेपाल अधिराज्यको संविधान २०१५ . Nepal Law Commission . Nepal Law Commission . 29 October 2021.
  4. Web site: नेपालको अन्तरिम संविधान २०६३ . Nepal Law Commission . Nepal Law Commission . 29 October 2021.
  5. Web site: प्रतिनिधि सभा नियमावली, २०७५ . Nepal Law Commission . 7 November 2021. २३८. भाषा :- (१) प्रतिनिधि सभा वा यसका समितिको काम कारबाही नेपाली भाषामा हुनेछ । कुनै सदस्यले आफ्नो मातृभाषामा बोलेको अवस्थामा त्यसलाई अभिलेख राख्ने व्यवस्था मिलाउन सकिनेछ ।
  6. Web site: राष्ट्रिय सभा नियमावली, २०७५ . Nepal Law Commission . 7 November 2021. २२०. भाषा :- (१) राष्ट्रिय सभा वा यसका समितिको काम कारबाही नेपाली भाषामा हुनेछ । कुनै सदस्यले आफ्नो मातृभाषामा बोलेको अवस्थामा त्यसलाई अभिलेख राख्ने व्यवस्था मिलाउन सकिनेछ ।
  7. News: Oath in mother tongue . The Himalayan Times . Himalayan News Service . 28 Feb 2018.
  8. Web site: शपथ सम्बन्धी अध्यादेश, २०७८ . Nepal Law Commission . 7 November 2021. ५. (२)
  9. Web site: सरकारी कामकाजको भाषाका आधारहरूको निर्धारण तथा भाषासम्बन्धी सिफारिसहरू (पञ्चवर्षीय प्रतिवेदन- साराांश) २०७८ . Language Commission . Language Commission . 28 October 2021.
  10. News: Limbu official language in Chulachuli rural municipality . 29 October 2021 . Khabarhub . 28 Sep 2018.
  11. News: Khotang's Halesi Tuwachung Municipality recognizes three more languages as official ones . 30 October 2021 . My Republica . My Republica . 29 June 2020.
  12. News: Recognition of Chamling, Wambule and Tillung Rai languages in municipal authorities features . 30 October 2021 . Himal Sansar . Himal Sansar . 15 June 2020.
  13. News: Chapagain . Bhim . Limbu language declared official language . 29 October 2021 . My Republica . My Republica . 1 Dec 2018.
  14. News: फाल्गुनन्द गाउँपालिकाको सरकारी कामकाजको भाषा याक्थुङ लिम्बु हुने . 30 October 2021 . Silauti Times . Silauti Times . 25 June 2021.
  15. News: Ojha . Anup . Nepal Bhasa as official language in metropolis. 29 October 2021 . The Kathmandu Post . The Kathmandu Post . 22 June 2017.
  16. Web site: कीर्तिपुर नगर साँस्कृतिक संरक्षित क्षेत्र सम्बन्धमा व्यवस्था गर्न बनेको ऐन, २०७८ . Kirtipur Municipality . Kirtipur Municipality . 30 October 2021.
  17. Book: Kapali . Rukshana . स्थानीय तहमा नेपालभाषा सम्बन्धी सूचनाको हकद्वारा प्राप्त सूचनाको संगालो (व्यक्तिगत अभिलेखको उतार) . 978-9937-0-9816-8 . 1 November 2021. 93, 94.
  18. Book: Kapali . Rukshana . स्थानीय तहमा नेपालभाषा सम्बन्धी सूचनाको हकद्वारा प्राप्त सूचनाको संगालो (व्यक्तिगत अभिलेखको उतार) . 978-9937-0-9816-8 . 1 November 2021. 104, 105.
  19. News: Tharu to become official language in Ghorahi . 30 October 2021 . My Republica . My Republica . 7 Jan 2018.
  20. News: Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City recognises Tharu as official language . 30 October 2021 . Online Khabar . Online Khabar . 7 Jan 2018.

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