The Ministry of Home Affairs will host Hindi Diwas 2026 and the 6th All India Official Language Conference in Mumbai on 14 September. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah will open the two-day event. The conference brings together officials, scholars, and language experts to discuss the role of Hindi and Indian languages in governance and society.
What the conference will feature
During the opening session, the Home Minister will present the Rajbhasha Gaurav and Rajbhasha Kirti Awards for 2025–26. These honours recognise institutions and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to promoting the official language.
Several books and publications will be launched, including a special edition of the Department of Official Language’s journal Rajbhasha Bharati focused on the national song Vande Mataram. Other publications include works on Indian knowledge systems, literature, and writings from prison inmates.
A dedicated session will examine Vande Mataram’s historical, literary and cultural significance. Participants will include playback singer Hariharan, journalist Nilesh Mishra, and researchers of the national song. A fifth-generation descendant of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who wrote Vande Mataram, will also attend.
The conference will include discussions on Town Official Language Implementation Committees (TOLICs or NARAKAS), which work at grassroots level to promote Hindi. Outstanding NARAKAS units will be recognised.
A special exhibition featuring 32 stalls will showcase the work of various institutions, government departments, and banks related to Hindi and Indian languages. The Government of Maharashtra will organise a cultural programme displaying the state’s artistic traditions.
Topics for deliberation include Hindi’s role as the union’s official language, its relationship with other Indian languages, technology and language, translation, and literature.
What this means for you
If you work in language promotion, official language implementation, or cultural institutions, this conference provides a platform to understand government priorities and network with officials and experts. The awards recognise contribution to language work. For students and researchers, the publications launched and sessions held offer resources on Hindi’s history and contemporary role in Indian governance and society.