The Manipuri language is set to be included in Sansad Bhashini, the AI-powered simultaneous interpretation system used in Indian parliamentary proceedings, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat confirmed on 18 October 2026. The move follows a formal request by Manipur Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and Rajya Sabha member Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi, who had urged Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan to extend the facility to her state's language.

What the Rajya Sabha Secretariat Said

In a formal letter to Sharda Devi, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat said it valued her suggestion and shared the objective of promoting linguistic inclusivity in parliamentary communication. The letter referenced Rajya Sabha Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan's announcement on 20 July 2026 — at the commencement of the Monsoon Session — that live AI-based simultaneous interpretation had already been introduced in nine languages through multimedia devices at members' seats.

The Secretariat confirmed that this facility would be 'expanded gradually to all 22 languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution.'

The 'Vani Setu' Initiative and the Sampurna Digital Sansad Project

The inclusion of Manipuri forms part of the broader 'Vani Setu' initiative, being developed under the Sampurna Digital Sansad (SDS) project. The Secretariat stated that initial trials for the inclusion of additional languages had already been conducted, and that Sharda Devi's request had been 'duly noted for consideration in the ongoing expansion.'

Notably, this is not merely a symbolic gesture — the SDS project represents the Secretariat's most ambitious digital overhaul to date, integrating artificial intelligence into the core workflow of parliamentary interpretation and transcription.

BJP Manipur's Response

The ruling BJP's Manipur unit welcomed the development, calling it a proud moment for the Manipuri language and an important step towards preserving the state's linguistic and cultural heritage. In a post on its official X handle, the party said: 'A Proud Moment for Manipuri Language!' and described the move as 'a meaningful step towards preserving our mother tongue, celebrating our cultural heritage, and giving greater recognition to the Manipuri language. Our Language, Our Identity, Our Pride!'

Broader Impact on Linguistic Inclusivity

The expansion of Sansad Bhashini to cover all 22 Eighth Schedule languages is intended to make parliamentary proceedings accessible to citizens across the country's diverse linguistic landscape. Manipuri, spoken predominantly in Manipur in northeastern India, has long been underrepresented in national institutional settings despite its status as a Scheduled language. This comes amid growing demands from several northeastern states for greater recognition in federal institutions.

The timeline for Manipuri's full integration into the system has not been specified, but the Secretariat's confirmation of completed initial trials suggests the rollout could follow in the near term.