Parliament can make changes in the provisions regarding the use of the official language by:

Matters relating to the use of the official language can be changed by Parliament by a simple majority, through ordinary laws, outside the procedure of Article 368.

Meaning of simple majority:

• A simple majority means a majority of the members present and voting in each House.
• This is the majority required for passing ordinary bills.

Constitutional provisions on official language:

• Part XVII (Articles 343 to 351) deals with the official language.
• Article 343 says that Hindi in Devanagari script shall be the official language of the Union, and that English would continue for 15 years from 1950.
• Article 343(3) allows Parliament to provide by law for the continued use of English after that period.
• Parliament passed the Official Languages Act to provide for the continued use of English along with Hindi.

Matters that can be changed by a simple majority (outside Article 368):

• Admission or establishment of new states.
• Formation of new states and alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing states.
• Abolition or creation of Legislative Councils in states.
• Quorum in Parliament.
• Salaries and allowances of members of Parliament.
• Rules of procedure in Parliament.
• Use of English in Parliament.
• Use of the official language.
• Citizenship.
• Elections to Parliament and state legislatures.
• Delimitation of constituencies.
• Number of puisne judges in the Supreme Court.
• Fifth and Sixth Schedules.
• Such laws are not treated as amendments under Article 368, even though they change the effect of the Constitution.

Special majority amendments:

Most other provisions, such as Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles, are amended by a special majority under Article 368.

Special majority with ratification:

Provisions relating to federal structure, such as the election of the President, the Supreme Court and High Courts, the distribution of legislative powers, and representation of states in Parliament, need ratification by half of the state legislatures.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Special majority and ratification by states are needed for other provisions.
• ✗A unanimous vote is never required.