The Union Cabinet of India has approved the conferring of classical language status to five languages: Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali. This decision, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reflects the government's commitment to preserving India's linguistic heritage. Previously, Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia were recognized as classical languages. The move comes ahead of the Assembly elections in Maharashtra, where Marathi language status was a significant issue. The criteria for a language to be classified as classical include an ancient history and a significant body of valued literature. This development marks an increase in the number of Indian classical languages from six to eleven.