Overview
- The Department of Higher Education issued an Office Memorandum on October 1, 2026, assigning Tezpur University, Visva-Bharati, Deccan College Pune, Central University of Odisha and Central University of Gujarat to host Centres of Excellence for Classical Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali and Prakrit respectively.
- The centres are tasked with supporting academic research, documenting and digitising manuscripts, preserving linguistic materials and widening public access to the five languages' textual and cultural heritage.
- The announcement puts into operation the Union Cabinet's October 2024 decision that granted classical status to these five languages and raises India's total number of recognised classical languages to 11.
- State and university leaders have publicly welcomed the move, with Odisha's chief minister describing the Pali centre at the Central University of Odisha as a 'proud moment' for the state.
- Practical questions about budgets, staffing, start dates and performance measures remain unanswered and will determine how quickly the centres can begin work and deliver materials to researchers and communities.