India has two official languages, Hindi and English. English, however, is an associate official language. In India, English serves three purposes. First, it provides a linguistic tool for administrative communication between the Union and the State governments. It contributes to the cohesiveness of the country, where diverse Indians speak different languages.
Second, it serves as a linking language. Hindi is mainly spoken in North India but in southern states where people speak many different languages, English is the lingua franca.
Third, it is a linguistic bridge between India and the world.
English is used in the parliament, judiciary, broadcasting, journalism and in the education system. English has become the de facto standard for education, research, commerce and most recently in Internet Communications. Using English, one becomes a citizen of the world, almost naturally.