India is home to a rich tapestry of languages, with over 1,600 distinct languages spoken across the country. The Indian Constitution recognizes 22 languages in the Eighth Schedule, including major languages like Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, and Marathi. Each language reflects the diverse cultures and traditions of the various regions in India.
Many Indian languages belong to two main language families: Indo-Aryan and Dravidian. Indo-Aryan languages, such as Punjabi and Gujarati, are primarily spoken in northern and central India, while Dravidian languages, including Tamil and Kannada, are mainly found in the southern part of the country. This linguistic diversity contributes to India's unique identity.