<P> In a 2006 press release, Minister of Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni told the Rajya Sabha the following criteria were laid down to determine the eligibility of languages to be considered for classification as a "Classical Language", </P> <P> High antiquity of its early texts / recorded history over a period of 1500--2000 years; a body of ancient literature / texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers; the literary tradition be original and not borrowed from another speech community; the classical language and literature being distinct from modern, there may also be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or its offshoots . </P> <P> The Government has been criticized for not including Pali as a classical language, as experts have argued that it fits all the above criteria . </P> <P> As per Government of India's Resolution No. 2 - 16 / 2004 - US (Akademies) dated 1 November 2004, the benefits that will accrue to a language declared as a "Classical Language" are: </P>

List out the different national language of india