About us

In view of the importance and the inevitable need of translation in the progressive use of the Official Language Hindi, it was obligatory to provide a well planned organization for translation work.  With this objective in mind, translation work of non-statutory procedural literature was started by setting up Central Hindi Directorate under the Ministry of Education in the year 1960.  However, the implementation of Official Language was the responsibility of Ministry of Home Affairs, hence the work of translating non-statutory procedural literature was transferred to the Ministry of Home Affairs.  Therefore, on 1^st March, 1971 Central Translation Bureau was set up under the Ministry of Home Affairs and it was entrusted with the responsibilities of translating work of non-statutory procedural literature of the ministries, departments, offices, undertakings, etc. of the Central Government.  Central Translation Bureau is a subordinate office of the Department of Official Language, Ministry of Home Affairs.

To ensure simplicity, lucidity & intelligibility in the translation work and also to ensure uniformity of technical terminology Central Translation Bureau was entrusted with the responsibility of imparting training in translation.  Thus the Bureau is also imparting training in translation.  In fact Central Translation Bureau is the only organization of the Central Government, engaged in the work of translation and imparting training in translation.

  Responsibilities

1.                  Translation of non-statutory procedural literature and training material of the ministries/departments/offices/banks/undertakings etc. of the Government of India.

2.                  Imparting training in translation to officers/employees engaged in translation work.

3.                  Publication of a journal “Anusheelan” and a newsletter “Bureauvarta”.

4.                  Ensuring uniformity in administrative glossary and expressions.

Translation work

Central Translation Bureau translates, free of cost, the non-statutory procedural literature such as codes, manuals, forms, training material etc. of the different ministries/departments/ offices of Central Government and Public Sector Undertakings, Corporations, Autonomous Bodies, Organizations and Banks etc. owned or controlled by the Central Government. From the year 1971  to 30th  June,  2006, Central Translation Bureau has translated around 19,07,964 standard pages.

For early disposal of backlog of translation work, “Scheme for Expansion of Translating Capacity” (Anuvad Kshamta Vistaar Yojana) was started in Bureau in the year 1989. The said material is also being translated by external translators on honorarium basis under this scheme. Rates of the honorarium for translation are (a) For Non-technical translation – Rs.60/- per thousand words, (b) For Technical translation – Rs.65/- per thousand words. Those desirous of doing the translation work can contact the Headquarters, at New Delhi.  For the sake of convenience, this work is so far given only to people residing in Delhi or in the nearby areas.  In order to have a look at the application form one can Click here.

Training in  Translation

1.       Three Months’ Translation Training Course :

Central Translation Bureau has been conducting an in-service Three Months’ Translation Training Course since 1973 for the Officials engaged in translation/Official Language work at its Headquarters in New Delhi.  In order to cater to the increasing needs of the offices of the Central Government spread all over the country, translation training centers were set up at Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata in January, 1985; October, 1985 and October, 1987 respectively.  Under this course, four programmes of three months’ duration each, are organised at all the centres every year from (1) January to March, (2) April to June, (3) July to September and (4) October to December.  Central Translation Bureau has conducted 375 such programmes upto 30th  June,  2006, wherein 9,000 officials have been trained.  Hostel facility is also available for the convenience of the trainees at Delhi and Kolkata centres.

2.       21 days’ Translation Training Course

21 days’ Translation Training Course has been designed for the personnel of Public Sector Undertakings & Banks.  The programmes under this course are conducted in their offices on demand, in which Training Officers are sent by Central Translation Bureau.  Central Translation Bureau has conducted 25 such programmes upto 30th  June,  2006, wherein 551 officials have received training.

  3.       5 days’ Short-Term Translation Training Course

On demand from various offices across the country,  Central Translation Bureau also conducts 5 days’ Short-Term Translation Training course for such offices.  Seeing the usefulness and popularity of these programmes, the demand for these has been continually increasing.  These programmes are conducted in the offices concerned and Training Officers are sent by Bureau to impart training.  9,397 officials have been trained in 353 such programmes conducted upto 30th  June,  2006.

4.       Advanced/Refresher Translation Training Course (Duration : 5 working days)

At present, this course is conducted only at Headquarters at New Delhi.  Offices can send their officers/employees to receive training in these programmes. Hostel facility is also available for the trainees. Under this course, 75 programmes have been conducted   upto 30th  June,  2006, wherein 1,239 officials have been trained.

5.                 Translation Training Course for Scientists (Five days)

  A special translation training course has been introduced from the year 2005-06.   One such programme was conducted in Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh from 29.8.2005 to 2.9.2005 and another such programme was conducted in National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore from 05.06.2006 to 09.06.2006. Upto 30th June, 2006 under these two programmes 54 trainees have been trained.  

To see the sample of the Nomination form,  one can click here.

Publication

A half yearly journal “Anusheelan” is being jointly brought out by Central Translation Bureau and Central Hindi Training Institute.  In the part relating to the Bureau there are articles on theoretical and practical aspects of Translation, Hindi language, Hindi teaching/training and terminology used in official work and other thought provoking articles on the official language policy.

A newsletter “Bureauvarta” is also being published to provide the information on various activities related to translation, translation training, administration, finance etc. of Central Translation Bureau.

  Library

There is a library in Central Translation Bureau in which there are about 15,000 books on Translation, Linguistics and Sanskrit, Hindi and English literature. A copy of the Constitution of India having signatures of the members of the Constituent Assembly is also available in the library of the Bureau.