Overview
- The United Nations marked the day with a Hindi greeting on X, calling Hindi a language that connects communities across borders and highlighting the @UNinHindi channel.
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered his 2026 New Year message in 11 languages that included Hindi and Urdu, with a version carrying Hindi subtitles.
- India and the UN have renewed the Hindi@UN project through 2030, with India committing USD 1.5 million annually on top of USD 6.8 million contributed to date.
- Indian missions and institutions held events ranging from a Ministry of External Affairs ceremony in Delhi to a New York consulate showcase and an embassy-run poetry and essay contest in Belgium with cash prizes, alongside essays, debates, recitals and social media campaigns.
- Background noted in coverage includes Hindi’s official-language status under Article 343 of India’s Constitution and reports attributing the first formal January 10 observance to 2006 under then–Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, as Hindi’s global reach spans countries such as Nepal, Mauritius, Trinidad and Tobago, the UAE and the United States.