The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) is, for the first time, adding Indian language and literature components to its current curriculum, beginning with Kannada and Hindi.
This series of offline courses will not be offered as a separate course, but will be part of the current courses. The course is mandatory for BA (Hons) programme and optional for other courses.
“From 2026, the university will offer Kannada and Hindi at beginner and intermediate levels, with an advanced elective planned later. More languages are expected to be added. Across all offerings, the focus is on four core abilities: attentive listening, fluent speaking, critical reading, and persuasive writing,” Atreyee Majumder, associate professor, Social Science and BA (Hons) co-chair, said.
Assessment and structure
Students with no prior exposure will attend preparatory classes before entering Level 1. A passing level is required for progression to Level 2. The top 25% of each batch will receive an Honours (H) grade.
The move, the institution said, reflects a growing need as graduates entering courts, government administration, policy, and community-facing roles are expected to understand formal language, hold sustained conversations, and think critically in Indian languages.
The new Programme in Indian Languages and Literatures is built around this goal. It aims to develop a multilingual imagination in students, encouraging them to think, speak and write across languages, and to engage with the cultural contexts that shape them. The programme will be especially valuable for students preparing for legal practice, competitive exams, community-based work, regional journalism, or those simply keen to explore India’s rich literary and cultural heritage.
What each level covers
In Language and Literature, Level 1, the proficiency of students will be assessed at the outset so they can be placed in peer-learning groups. The 50-hour course introduces students to a new script, basic conversations, simple translation, and interpretation of documents such as government circulars. Students will also undertake multimedia projects.
At Level 2, students go deeper into both language and culture. They will read popular periodicals, summarise arguments, and develop formal writing skills. The course builds cultural sensibility and awareness of developments shaping regional languages today. It also prepares students for public-facing roles, including civil-service examinations.
Language courses for public
The NLSIU will also launch language certificate courses for the general public, combining communication skills with cultural appreciation.
Published – December 08, 2025 10:57 pm IST
