Mizoram prepares fresh bid for Eighth Schedule status of Mizo language

Efforts are underway to include the Mizo language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, officials said on Thursday. The initiative is being led by the Mizo Language Development Board (MLDB), a government-established body dedicated to promoting and preserving the language. Chief Minister Lalduhoma chaired a meeting with members of the Eighth Schedule Study Group of the MLDB to review the progress of the initiative. The group informed him that its report is nearing completion and will soon be submitted to the government.

The study group has been meeting representatives of various organisations and ethnic communities across the state to gather opinions on the inclusion of Mizo in the Eighth Schedule. Members told the chief minister that there is overwhelming consensus and support for the move. Mizoram had previously submitted a proposal to the Centre for inclusion of Mizo in the Eighth Schedule, but officials said no concrete follow-up action was taken at that time. The study group has now suggested forming a task force to resubmit a more comprehensive proposal and pursue the matter vigorously.

Mizo was declared the official language of Mizoram in 1974 and serves as a common medium of communication among Zo ethnic communities across different parts of the world. The Sahitya Akademi has recognised Mizo as a regional language, with the option to study it up to PhD level . Google Translate included Mizo in May 2022, while the People’s Linguistic Survey of India has classified it as a growing language. However, UNESCO currently categorises it as “vulnerable” among the world’s languages.

The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution lists the official languages recognised by the country. Languages included in this schedule gain constitutional recognition and receive special attention from the government. If Mizo becomes part of the Eighth Schedule, it will gain several benefits, including official recognition at the national level, increased government support for education and literature, more resources for preservation and development, and the possibility of being used in central government exams and official communication.

A language is included in the Eighth Schedule through a constitutional amendment. The process typically begins with a proposal from the state government, followed by assessment by language experts and committees, approval by the Union government, and finally passage of a constitutional amendment in Parliament. Officials noted that Mizo speakers are spread across 26 states and 7 Union Territories , according to the 2011 Census. While the number of speakers in Mizoram was recorded at more than 8.3 lakh , scholars estimate the total global number may now exceed 2.2 million . Chief Minister Lalduhoma praised the MLDB and the study group for their progress and assured that the recommendations would be pursued appropriately.