Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Hindi Retains Non-Official Status at UN With India's Support
Hindi is used by the United Nations to share news and information with Hindi speakers.
India voluntarily supports this work.
A recent UN resolution recognized the importance of languages that are not official UN languages.
That resolution also says representatives may speak in non-official languages.
India and the UN first made an agreement about Hindi news in 2018.
The agreement was renewed last year for five more years.
Speakers at a Hindi Divas event said languages can help people connect and take part in diplomacy.
India's Permanent Representative P Harish said Hindi remains a non-official language at the United Nations.
India voluntarily funds the UN Department of Global Communications' Hindi news and information project.
A General Assembly multilingualism resolution adopted last month recognizes the role of non-official languages.
India and the UN renewed their Hindi-language news memorandum of understanding last year for five years.
Speakers at a Hindi Divas event described language as a tool for cultural connection and diplomacy.
- Who
- India, the UN Department of Global Communications, and speakers including P Harish and Andorra's permanent representative Joan Forner Rovira.
- What
- Hindi continues to be used for UN news and social media while retaining non-official language status.
- When
- The remarks were made on Thursday at a Hindi Divas event; the multilingualism resolution was adopted last month.
- Where
- At the United Nations.
- Why
- India voluntarily supports Hindi-language UN communications, and the resolution recognizes the importance of non-official languages for representation and participation.
Support for multilingualism
Status and limits
Use of Hindi at the UN
Support for multilingualism
India and event speakers support Hindi-language UN communications as a way to reach Hindi-speaking audiences and promote participation.
Status and limits
The article clarifies that Hindi remains a non-official language; the resolution recognizes non-official languages but does not make Hindi an official UN language.
- Hindi's UN status
- Non-official language
- Supporting country
- India voluntarily supports the Hindi at UN project.
- UN department
- Department of Global Communications
- Agreement began
- 2018, according to BJP MP C P Joshi.
- Agreement renewal
- Renewed last year for five more years, according to Joshi.
- Resolution
- A multilingualism resolution co-sponsored by Andorra was adopted by the General Assembly last month.