Four languages join Marathi as classical.

• The Union Cabinet approved the classical language status for Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Pali, and Prakrit.
• The approval comes ahead of the scheduled Assembly election in Maharashtra.
• The approval comes amid Durga Puja, the biggest festival of West Bengal.
• India currently has six classical languages: Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Sanskrit, and Odia.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the speakers on the new status.