On 15^th January, 2024, GoI’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar announced, after a meeting with Iranian President – Ebrahim Raisi, in Tehran, that the Indian Government has decided to add Farsi as one of the nine classical languages in National Education Policy. This is viewed as a significant move to deepen cultural ties between India and Iran, highlighting the enduring cultural, literary, and linguistic connections between the two nations.

Jaishankar, who is on a two-day visit to Iran, shared this news during a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart, H Amir-Abdollahian. This recognition reflects a commitment to fostering greater understanding and appreciation of Farsi’s rich heritage within the Indian educational framework.

Other languages that have been declared classical languages in India by the central government include Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Malayalam and Odia. As per India’s National Education Policy-2020, their works of literature too must be preserved for their richness and for the pleasure and enrichment of posterity.

The ministers recognised the strength of people-to-people contacts and the profound cultural, literary, and linguistic ties that unite Iran and India.