Government Exams You Can Write in Your Regional Language

For years, a student in Madurai, Guwahati or Cuttack who had studied in their mother tongue had two choices for central government exams: English or Hindi. Neither was the language they thought in. That has changed a good deal in the last few years. Several major central exams now offer question papers in 13 languages besides English and Hindi.

But the change is uneven. Some exams have it, some do not. Some offer it for every section except English. Some tie your language to the state you apply for. This post lists what is available, as stated in recent notifications and official announcements, and what to think about before choosing a language other than English or Hindi.

The language provisions are restated in each notification, and they can change. Check the "scheme of examination" section of the notification for your exam before you fill the form.

The 13 languages

When central recruiters talk about "13 regional languages", they usually mean the same list:

Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.

These are offered in addition to English and Hindi. Languages not on this list are generally not available in central exams, though they may be in state exams.

Exam by exam

Exam	Languages (as per recent notifications/announcements)	Notes
SSC MTS and Havaldar	English, Hindi + 13 languages	English Language section is in English
SSC CHSL (Tier 1)	English, Hindi + 13 languages (as opted in the form)	English section in English; check Tier 2 rules separately
SSC Constable (GD)	English, Hindi + 13 languages	Regional languages offered since the 2024 cycle
SSC CGL	English and Hindi	Not offered in regional languages in recent cycles
RRB (NTPC, Group D, ALP and others)	15 languages: English, Hindi + the 13	Chosen in the application
IBPS Clerk	English, Hindi + 13 languages, Prelims and Mains	English section in English; language linked to the state you apply for
IBPS RRB Office Assistant	English, Hindi + 13 languages	Regional language linked to the state you apply for
State PSCs and boards	Usually English + the state's official language	Varies by state and exam

Now the details that the table cannot show.

SSC: MTS, CHSL and GD, but not CGL

The government approved conducting SSC MTS and CHSL in the 13 languages in 2023, and the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that Constable (GD) for the CAPFs would be held in them from 2024.

In MTS, as described in recent notifications, the questions in the reasoning, numerical ability and general awareness parts are available in the 13 languages along with English and Hindi. The English Language and Comprehension section is, naturally, in English.

CHSL Tier 1 follows the same idea: papers are set in English, Hindi and the language the candidate opted for in the application form.

SSC CGL has remained English and Hindi in recent cycles. If you are a Tamil- or Bengali-medium student targeting CGL, plan to prepare in English or Hindi.

Railways: 15 languages

RRB exams have offered a wide language choice for several cycles. Recent notifications, such as the NTPC 2025 cycle, list 15 languages: English, Hindi and the 13 above. You choose your language in the application.

Two practical points:

• Note what you chose. Your exam is set in the language you selected in the application. RRB notifications describe whether and when this can be changed (usually only in the modification window, if at all).
• Translations are produced from a master version. In case of a dispute over wording, notifications usually say which version prevails. Read that clause, because it matters if you raise an objection to the answer key.

Banking: IBPS Clerk and IBPS RRB

After a debate in 2021 over the language of clerical exams, the Finance Ministry directed that IBPS clerical exams be offered in regional languages. IBPS Clerk notifications since then have provided the Prelims and Mains in the 13 languages besides English and Hindi. IBPS RRB Office Assistant exams have offered regional languages since the 2019 cycle.

The important difference from SSC and RRB: in IBPS, your regional language option is tied to the state or union territory you apply for. If you apply for vacancies in Tamil Nadu, the paper is offered in Tamil as well as English (and Hindi where applicable). You cannot apply for Maharashtra vacancies and write in Tamil.

This links to another requirement: the Language Proficiency Test (LPT). Clerical and office assistant posts in banks require proficiency in the official language of the state you apply for. Candidates who studied that language at Class 10 or above are usually exempt; others take the test. Our IBPS Clerk guide and IBPS RRB Office Assistant guide cover this.

IBPS PO and SBI exams have their own language rules. Check each notification.

State exams

State public service commissions and subordinate boards usually set papers in English and the state's official language: Tamil for TNPSC, Telugu for APPSC and TSPSC, Marathi for MPSC, Kannada for KPSC, and so on. Some states also make a paper in the state language compulsory, sometimes as a qualifying paper.

The arrangements differ a lot between states and between exams in the same state, so I will not try to list them all. Read the scheme of examination in the notification, and check whether the state language paper is qualifying or counted for merit.

Our posts on finding state-wise exam notifications and top state government exams to watch in 2026 are a good starting point.

Should you write in your regional language?

Having the option does not mean it is always the right choice. A few honest considerations:

Arguments for

• Reading speed and comprehension. In a timed exam, reading a reasoning puzzle or a general awareness question in the language you think in can save real seconds per question and reduce misreading.
• Confidence. Candidates who studied in their mother tongue often perform more steadily in it.

Arguments against, or at least for caution

• Study material. For central exams, far more practice material, previous papers and mock tests exist in English and Hindi than in the 13 languages. If you choose Tamil for RRB, you may end up practising in English and writing in Tamil, which is its own adjustment.
• Translation quality. Translated papers can occasionally contain awkward or ambiguous wording. Most notifications say which language version is final in case of dispute. Candidates who know English reasonably well sometimes read both versions where the exam interface allows switching. Check whether your exam allows that.
• Technical terms. In maths and science, terms like "compound interest" or "refraction" are often more familiar in English, even to regional-medium students. A paper in your language may use formal terms you have not seen before.
• The English section stays English. In SSC and IBPS, the English section is in English whatever language you choose. A regional language option does not remove the need to prepare English.

A practical test

Before you fill the form, take two practice papers: one in English or Hindi, one in your regional language if you can find one. Compare not just the score but how tired you felt and how many questions you misread. That is better evidence than anyone's opinion.

Preparing when material is thin

If you choose your regional language for an exam where practice material is limited:

• Learn key terms in both languages. Keep a two-column glossary for maths, reasoning and science terms.
• Use English or Hindi mocks for speed and pattern practice, and regional-language material for reading comfort.
• Read the official previous papers in your language where the recruiter publishes them, to get used to the translation style.

Pareeksha's papers are bilingual in Hindi and English, so they suit candidates preparing in either of those languages, and they are useful for pattern and speed practice whatever language you finally write in. On our full mock tests, everyone in a cohort sits the same paper, so your percentile is a real comparison: rank 500 among 5,000 on that exact paper is the 90th percentile. Full mocks and PYQs are part of Pareeksha Pro; see pricing. The Daily Dangal and mini-mocks are free. If you are preparing in Hindi specifically, our post on Hindi-medium preparation covers what changes and what does not.

FAQ

Can I write SSC CGL in Tamil, Telugu or Bengali? Not in recent cycles. SSC CGL has been offered in English and Hindi only. SSC MTS, CHSL and Constable (GD) offer the 13 regional languages.

How many languages is the RRB exam conducted in? Recent RRB notifications list 15: English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.

Can I choose any regional language for IBPS Clerk? No. The regional language offered is linked to the state or UT you apply for.

Is the English section also translated? No. In SSC and IBPS exams that have an English section, it is in English regardless of the language you choose.

Is the regional language version or the English version final if there is a dispute? Each notification states which version prevails. Read that clause before you raise an answer-key objection based on the translation.