With the motto of "Aham Rashtri Sangmani Vasunam'', the Central Hindi Directorate was established on 1st March, 1960 as a subordinate office of the then Ministry of Education(At present Department of Higher Education, Ministry Of Education). This is the apex body of Central Government which is persistently engaged in the execution of a multiplicity of important schemes for imparting an all-India character to Hindi, connecting divergent people through this language and striving consistently to get a place of prestige for Hindi at the global level.

Article 351 of Part 17 of the Constitution of India gives clear instructions for the development of Hindi language:

"It shall be the duty of the Union to promote the spread of the Hindi language, to develop it so that it may serve as a medium of expression for all the elements of the composite culture of India and to secure its enrichment by assimilating without interfering with its genius, the forms, style and expressions used in Hindustani and in the other languages of India specified in the Eighth Schedule, and by drawing, wherever necessary or desirable, for its vocabulary, primarily on Sanskrit and secondarily on other languages." The Central Hindi Directorate was born to follow the same sentiments and instructions of the Constitution.

Functions & Duties

A-Development of Hindi

• Preparation of dictionaries and Encyclopedias.
• Preparation of comparative grammar of Hindi and other Indian Languages.
• Publication of popular books in collaboration with publishers.
• Coordination of work in the field of development of Hindi language and Literature being undertaken by Universities and Institutions of higher learning.

B-Devnagari Script

• Standardization of Devnagari Script.
• Parivardhit Devnagari-Development and propagation.
• Preparation of select writings in Indian languages in diglot form.

C-Promotion of Hindi

• Preparation of bilingual primers.
• Preparation of Hindi Primers for foreigners.
• Preparation of CDs/DVDs of various lessons.
• Free distribution of Hindi books to non-Hindi Speaking areas.
• Hindi information center.

D-Journals

• Bhasha (Bi-monthly)
• Varshiki
• Sahityamala

E- Extension programmes

• Lecture tours of Hindi scholars.
• Study tours of Hindi students of non-Hindi Speaking areas.
• Workshop for new writers (Shivir)
• Organizing National Seminars
• Research Scholars Tour Grants

F- Puraskar

• Hinditarbhashi Hindi Lekhak Puraskar
• Shiksha Puraskar

G-work connected with recognition of Hindi Examinations.

H-Correspondence courses in Hindi.

• Prabodh,Praveen, Pragya
• Hindi Certificate
• Hindi Diploma
• Advance Hindi Diploma
• Civil Services Hindi Course

I- Finacial Assistance To Voluntary Hindi Organisations for the promotion of Hindi

• Financial Assistance for the promotion and propagation of Hindi
• Financial Assistance for publication in Hindi

J- Free distribution of Hindi books

K- Book Exhibition and Sale

Headquarters of the Directorate is situated at New Delhi. It has four Regional Offices located in Kolkata, Guwahati, Hyderabad and Chennai.