In which year was Odia designated a classical language of India?

Odia (Oriya), the official language of Odisha, was declared a classical language of India by the Government of India in February 2014. It became the sixth Indian language, and the first from the Indo-Aryan family, to receive this status.

The Government of India introduced the category of "classical languages" in 2004. A language is given this status if it meets certain criteria set by the Ministry of Culture, based on the advice of a committee of linguistic experts under the Sahitya Akademi. The criteria include:

High antiquity of its early texts or recorded history, over 1,500-2,000 years.

A body of ancient literature or texts considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers.

Knowledge texts, especially prose texts, in addition to poetry, along with epigraphical and inscriptional evidence.

The classical language and literature may be distinct from its current form, or may be continuous with later forms of the language.

Odia's claim was supported by its long literary history. Early forms of Odia are found in inscriptions dating back to around the 10th century, and some scholars trace its roots to the Hathigumpha inscription of King Kharavela (1st century BCE) and older Prakrit. Great Odia literature includes the works of Sarala Das, who wrote the Odia Mahabharata in the 15th century, and the Panchasakha poets. Utkal Divas (Odisha Day) is celebrated on 1 April, the day Odisha became a separate province in 1936 on the basis of language.

India's classical languages and the years they were declared:

• Tamil (2004), the first.
• Sanskrit (2005).
• Telugu and Kannada (2008).
• Malayalam (2013).
• Odia (2014).
• Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali (October 2024).

There are now 11 classical languages. The benefits include international awards for scholars, centres of excellence for studies, and university chairs.

Why not the other options?

• ✗2004 is the year Tamil became the first classical language.
• ✗2008 is the year Telugu and Kannada were declared classical languages.
• ✗2024 is the year Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali were added.