40 Indian Languages and Dialects On The Verge of Extinction

Published on February 20, 2018
It is saddening that, in India, which is considered to have an enriched variety of language, there are over 40 languages groaning under the fear of extinction.

According to a report released by Census Directorate, More than 40 languages or dialects in India are considered to be endangered and are believed to be heading towards extinction as only a few thousand people speak them
The report says that in India around 22 scheduled and 100 non-scheduled languages are spoken by majority of people and on the darker side 40+ languages are spoken by less than 10,000 people

UNESCO's List

 A list prepared by UNESCO of 42 languages or dialects in India that are endangered and they may be heading towards extinction

11 from Andaman and Nicobar Islands 


  1. Great Andamanese
  2. Jarawa, 
  3. Lamongse
  4. Luro
  5. Muot 
  6. Onge
  7. Pu
  8. Sanenyo
  9. Sentilese
  10. Shompen 
  11. Takahanyilang

7 from Manipur 

  1. Aimol
  2. Aka
  3. Koiren
  4. Lamgang
  5. Langrong
  6. Purum 
  7. Tarao

4 Himachal Pradesh 

  1. Baghati
  2. Handuri
  3. Pangvali
  4. Sirmaudi

Other Languages in Endangered Category

  • Manda, Parji and Pengo (Odisha), 
  • Koraga and Kuruba (Karnataka)
  • Gadaba and Naiki (AP)
  • Kota and Toda (Tamil Nadu)
  • Mra and Na (Arunachal Pradesh)
  • Tai Nora and Tai Rong (Assam)
  • Bangani (Uttarakhand)
  • Birhor (Jharkhand)
  • Nihali (Maharashtra)
  • Ruga (Meghalaya) 
  • Toto (West Bengal)

According to a report released by UNESCO, how many Indian lanagues are on the verge of extinction?
a. More than 40
b. More than 50
c. More than 60
d. More than 70
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