The Mizoram Legislative Assembly is set to deliberate on a resolution seeking the inclusion of the Mizo language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, a move aimed at securing constitutional recognition for the state’s principal language.
Officials of the Assembly Secretariat said School Education Minister Vanlalthlana will move the resolution on Monday shortly after the Question Hour during the ongoing session.
The proposal seeks to strengthen efforts to include Mizo in the Eighth Schedule, which lists the languages officially recognised by the Constitution. Supporters of the move argue that such recognition would promote the development and preservation of the language while enhancing its national standing.
Mizo serves as the lingua franca among various Mizo tribes and communities and functions as a unifying language across the state. It is widely used in administration, education, and everyday communication, playing a central role in the cultural identity of the people of Mizoram.
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The initiative follows consultations between Chief Minister Lalduhoma and members of the Eighth Schedule Study Group under the Mizo Language Development Board (MLDB). During discussions earlier this year, members of the group informed the Chief Minister that there was strong support among civil society organisations and ethnic Mizo communities for the inclusion of the language in the constitutional schedule.
According to the study group, a proposal seeking constitutional recognition for Mizo had previously been submitted to the Centre. However, the matter did not gain sufficient traction at the national level.
To revive the process, the group recommended forming a dedicated task force to re-submit the proposal with updated documentation and broader institutional backing.
Historically, Mizo was declared the official language of Mizoram in 1974 and has since remained the principal medium of communication across the state.
Beyond India, the language also holds cultural significance among Zo ethnic communities living in neighbouring countries and other parts of the world, serving as a linguistic link among people who share common ethnic and cultural roots.
With the Assembly now set to deliberate on the resolution, the state government hopes to renew momentum for the long-pending demand for Mizo’s inclusion in the Eighth Schedule.
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