President Droupadi Murmu releasing the Constitution in Santhali (Ol Chiki) is highly relevant for Polity, Tribal issues, Languages, and Vulnerable Sections for both UPSC and OPSC aspirants.This can be used in GS answers, essays, ethics, and interview as a fresh contemporary example.
Core facts to remember
- Constitution of India released in Santhali language at Rashtrapati Bhavan, written in Ol Chiki script.
- Occasion: Also marks the centenary year of the Ol Chiki script (invented around 1925 by Pandit Raghunath Murmu).
- Santhali is in the Eighth Schedule via the 92nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003, along with Bodo, Dogri and Maithili.
- Santhali speakers are concentrated in Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar, i.e., major tribal belts.
Why this matters for UPSC / OPSC
1. Polity & Constitution (GS-II / Prelims)
- Links to:
- Eighth Schedule (languages), provisions for linguistic diversity, and constitutional protection of regional/tribal languages.
- Idea of inclusive constitutionalism: enabling citizens to understand the Constitution in their mother tongue strengthens constitutional culture and trust in institutions.
How to use in answers:
- As a value-add example while writing on:
- “Role of language in deepening democracy”
- “Constitution as a living document”
- “Accessibility of law and justice for marginalized communities”
2. Tribal empowerment & Inclusive governance (GS-I / GS-II)
- Santhals are a major Scheduled Tribe community; making the Constitution available in their language is a step in tribal empowerment and cultural dignity.
- Connect to syllabus themes:
- Salient features of Indian society; diversity of India; role of language in identity.
- Welfare of STs, issues of integration vs assimilation, and recognition of tribal knowledge systems.
How to phrase in exam:
- “Recent initiative: Constitution translated into Santhali (Ol Chiki) in 2025, enhancing legal literacy among tribal communities and symbolically recognizing their linguistic identity.”
3. Language policy & Eighth Schedule debates
- Eighth Schedule expansion is a classic UPSC theme (demands from many other language groups).
- This event shows practical benefits of inclusion: once in the Eighth Schedule, languages get State support for development, education and official use.
Use this as:
- A case-study example to show that adding a language is not just symbolic but can lead to creation of textbooks, competitive-exam options, translations of central laws etc.
4. Art & Culture: Ol Chiki script
- Ol Chiki is a relatively modern script (c. 1925) created specifically for Santali by Pandit Raghunath Murmu; written left to right with 30 letters.
- Shows how scripts can be designed to preserve phonetic nuances of a tribal language, unlike using borrowed scripts (Devanagari/Bengali/Odia etc.).
You can connect this in:
- GS-I answers on “endangered languages”, “cultural diversity”, “tribal heritage”.
- Essay themes on “Language and identity”, “Diversity as India’s strength”.
Simple Ol Chiki script illustration (for students)
You can show students a very basic feel of the script like this (Unicode Ol Chiki):
- Word for “Ol Chiki” itself: ᱚᱞ ᱪᱤᱠᱤ
- Word for “Santali”: ᱥᱟᱱᱛᱟᱲᱤ (commonly used for the language)
How to use this in answers
You can plug this example in multiple contexts:
- “Recent initiative” to show deepening of constitutional awareness at the grassroots.
- “Best practice” for making laws available in vernacular and tribal languages to improve access to justice.
- “Symbolic + substantive” step in tribal inclusion and language rights.
Model line:
- “The 2025 release of the Constitution in Santhali (Ol Chiki) by the President symbolises India’s commitment to linguistic plurality and empowers tribal citizens to engage with the supreme law in their own tongue.”
Potential Prelims questions
1. Prelims MCQ 1
With reference to the Santhali language, consider the following statements:
1. It was included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution through the 92nd Constitutional Amendment Act.
2. It is primarily written in the Ol Chiki script, which was devised specifically for Santhali.
3. Santhali is spoken only in Jharkhand and Odisha.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a)
(Statement 3 is wrong: it is also spoken in West Bengal and Bihar.)
2. Prelims MCQ 2
The Ol Chiki script, sometimes seen in news, is:
- (a) A Brahmi-derived script used for multiple Indo-Aryan languages
- (b) A modern script created in the 20th century specifically for the Santali language
- (c) An abugida script used historically in Southeast Asia
- (d) A Perso-Arabic script variant used in the Deccan
Answer: (b)
Potential Mains questions
1. GS-II / GS-I (10/15 marks)
“Language is not merely a medium of communication but a vehicle of constitutional consciousness.” In this context, discuss the significance of publishing the Constitution of India in tribal and regional languages, with special reference to the release of the Santhali (Ol Chiki) version in 2025.
2. GS-I / Essay / OPSC GS (15 marks)
The inclusion of Santhali in the Eighth Schedule and the subsequent release of the Constitution in the Ol Chiki script reflect India’s approach to managing linguistic diversity. Examine how such measures contribute to tribal empowerment, cultural preservation and deepening democracy at the grassroots level.