Archive · 4 Oct 2026
Five Universities Chosen for Classical Language Centres
The education ministry plans to create five centres to study classical languages.
They will focus on Pali, Prakrit, Bengali, Assamese and Marathi.
Each centre will be based at a different university.
The universities chosen for Pali and Prakrit do not have departments or courses in those subjects, according to the report.
A former UGC secretary said this could make it harder to find experts to run the centres.
A linguist also said other universities with Pali and Prakrit departments might have been better choices.
The report does not say whether the centres have opened yet.
The education ministry plans five Centres of Excellence for classical languages.
Central University of Odisha in Koraput will host the Classical Pali centre.
Central University of Gujarat will host the Classical Prakrit centre.
Classical Bengali, Assamese and Marathi centres are planned at Visva-Bharati, Tezpur University and Deccan College, respectively.
A former UGC secretary and a linguist questioned the choices, noting some selected universities lack relevant departments and other universities have Pali and Prakrit departments.
- Who
- The Ministry of Education and five selected universities; critics include former UGC secretary R.K. Chauhan and an unnamed linguist.
- What
- The government has decided to establish five Centres of Excellence for classical languages.
- When
- The articles do not specify a date.
- Where
- At Central University of Odisha in Koraput, Central University of Gujarat, Visva-Bharati, Tezpur University and Deccan College for Postgraduate and Research Institute in Pune.
- Why
- The stated purpose is to establish Centres of Excellence for classical languages; the articles give no further explanation for the university selections.
Government’s selection
Critics’ concerns
Suitability of the selected universities
Government’s selection
The government has decided to establish the centres at the five named universities.
Critics’ concerns
R.K. Chauhan said centres are generally set up at universities with relevant departments, and universities without them may lack experts. A linguist said universities with Pali and Prakrit departments could have done a better job.
- Number of centres
- Five
- Classical Pali
- Central University of Odisha, Koraput
- Classical Prakrit
- Central University of Gujarat
- Classical Bengali
- Visva-Bharati
- Classical Assamese
- Tezpur University
- Classical Marathi
- Deccan College for Postgraduate and Research Institute, Pune
- Reported concern
- The selected universities for Pali and Prakrit do not have departments or courses in those subjects.