The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee today conferred awards to various Ministries/Departments/PSUs/Nationalised Banks etc. for outstanding achievements in the use of Hindi, our official language. Prizes for original book writing in Hindi were also awarded at a function organized by the Department of Official Languages at Vigyan Bhavan today.

Speaking on the occasion, the President congratulated the awardees and said that our country is characterized by unity in diversity and Hindi language symbolizes the country's social and cultural unity. He further said that Hindi today has emerged as an international language.

Union Minister of Home Affairs, Shri Sushilkumar Shinde also congratulated the award winners and said that Hindi is a simple language which is popular both in India and outside. Also present on the occasion were Shri Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Home Affairs and Shri Sharad Gupta, Secretary, Department of Official Languages.