The Dogri language is witnessing a gradual decline in usage and literacy, particularly among younger and urban populations.

• According to UNESCO, India has topped the list of countries with the maximum number of dialects on the verge of extinction. 
• With English as the academic  language used for communication between groups of people who speak different languages, many local languages have been pushed to the margins. 
• India has lost over 220 languages in the last 50 years.

About Dogri Language

• It is an Indo-Aryan language spoken predominantly in the Jammu region, has long served as a marker of Dogra identity and heritage.
• Recognition: It gained constitutional recognition in 2003 (Eighth Schedule) and was declared one of J&K’s five official languages in 2020 through J&K Official Language Bill, 2020.
• Vulnerability: UNESCO categorises several Indian languages as “Vulnerable” or “Endangered,” and Dogri now appears increasingly at risk of slipping toward that list.
• Dogri is spoken by approximately 2.6 million people, primarily across Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, and northern Punjab, with smaller communities in Pakistan and among the Indian diaspora.
• Features
• • It uses 10 vowels and 28 consonants with tonal variations 
  • Displays nasalization, metathesis, and tone-based sound differentiation.
  • It incorporates borrowings from Persian and English and retaining Sanskritic roots.

Reasons for Decline

• Lack of Policy Support: Nearly half the respondents (48%) in a regional survey cited inadequate government intervention as the prime factor in Dogri’s decline.
  • Delayed official recognition and minimal inclusion in school curricula or media programming have eroded institutional presence.
• Limited Economic Relevance: Around 43% of surveyed respondents believe that Dogri offers little career or economic advantage, pushing younger generations toward Hindi and English.
  • In a globalised economy, language choice is often guided by employability, not cultural continuity.

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Efforts for Language Preservation in India

• Constitutional and Legal Framework
  • Eighth Schedule of the Constitution: Recognises 22 languages as scheduled languages; provides for their promotion under Article 351 (Directive to promote Hindi) and Article 29(1) (protection of cultural and linguistic rights).
  • Article 350A & 350B: Mandates instruction in the mother tongue at the primary level and the appointment of a Special Officer for linguistic minorities.
  • Three-Language Formula: Promotes learning of regional, national, and international languages to balance cultural identity and national integration.
• Institutional Initiatives
  • Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru (1969): Nodal body under the Ministry of Education for research, documentation, and training in Indian languages. Runs Language Teaching Centres and projects for linguistic documentation.
  • Bharatavani Project: A Digital India initiative to create a multilingual knowledge portal, hosting dictionaries, glossaries, and learning resources in various Indian languages.
  • Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages (SPPEL): Implemented by CIIL to document and preserve languages with fewer than 10,000 speakers. So far, documentation of over 120 endangered languages is in progress.
  • National Translation Mission (NTM): Aims to make knowledge texts available in Indian languages and to develop a pool of professional translators.
  • Linguistic Data under Census: The Census of India collects detailed data on language usage, bilingualism, and multilingualism to inform policy decisions.
• Educational and Cultural Measures
  • National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Emphasises mother tongue/local language as the medium of instruction at least till Grade 5, and preferably till Grade 8 and beyond. Encourages development of local-language learning material and teacher training.
  • Sahitya Akademi: It is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, working for the promotion of Indian literature in 24 languages
  • Bhasha Sangam Initiative: It is an Indian government program, part of the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB) initiative, that aims to familiarize students with 22 scheduled Indian languages.
    • Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB):  Pairs States and Union Territories to promote linguistic and cultural exchange, encouraging people to learn partner-State languages.
• Digital and Technological Efforts

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