English to Hindi Translation

This direction is used when an English document has to be submitted in Hindi in India. The typical applicant is someone presenting a document issued in an English-speaking country to a state or local authority in India that conducts its business in Hindi. Because English is widely accepted in India, this direction is not needed for every application; certain Hindi-operating authorities may, however, ask for a Devanagari translation.

Concrete examples make the direction clearer: using a power of attorney drawn up abroad in a state land registry or court procedure, submitting a diploma obtained abroad to a Hindi-operating local institution, presenting the record of a child born abroad to a district authority. The source carries the Anglo-Saxon order, while the target assesses it according to the regional Indian administrative language.

Which state and which authority the document is required in Hindi for is clarified at the outset; regional preferences in administrative terminology are adapted accordingly. This preliminary step is what allows the translation to be prepared for the right recipient.

Because of India’s multilingual structure, some authorities may wish to see the original English text alongside the Hindi; in that case a bilingual layout is prepared.

In this direction the document is often prepared so that someone abroad can carry out a procedure in India (property, inheritance, power of attorney); which state authority the text is going to therefore has a direct bearing on the choice of terminology and register. Since India’s administrative language carries small differences from region to region, translation is not begun until the target has been clarified.

Many administrative terms borrowed from English have an established Hindi counterpart; while these counterparts are used, the original English term is also given in brackets where needed, so that the authority can trace the source of the document. Word-for-word translation gives an impression of artificiality in an official text.

When names are carried into Devanagari, the spelling in the person’s existing Indian documents is taken as the basis; failing that, a consistent transliteration is chosen and the original Latin spelling is also preserved. This dual presentation secures the matching of identity.

Dates, currency and units of measurement are not converted, only adapted to the target script. In powers of attorney and declarations the scope of the authority is transferred with its limits, exactly as in the source.

Technical matters specific to English into Hindi

The change of alphabet runs the other way in this direction: when Latin-script names are carried into Devanagari, any existing Devanagari spelling in the person’s Indian documents is taken as the basis; an arbitrary transliteration breaks the matching of identity. English names in a Devanagari text are usually supported by the original Latin spelling as well, so that verification remains possible.

English legal concepts are rendered in Hindi according to their function; the established Hindi counterparts of administrative terms borrowed from English are used. Company forms are kept with their original abbreviation and explained.

Dates and currency are not converted, only the target script is used. English abbreviations are unpacked and, where necessary, given in brackets.

In powers of attorney and consent forms the expressions that define the limits of the authority are preserved to the letter; any ambiguity of scope can lead to the procedure being refused by the Indian authority concerned. The signature and date information in the document is preserved in its position.

Which documents call for this direction

• Diplomas, transcripts and professional documents
• Birth, marriage and residence documents
• Powers of attorney and consent documents
• Company and commercial contract documents
• Title deed and property procedure documents

Powers of attorney and property procedure documents are frequent in this direction; the accurate transfer of the names of the parties and of the scope of authority is what allows the transaction to be accepted. In education documents the degree title and course information are transferred accurately. In title deed and inheritance procedures, transferring the parcel, share and party details completely and consistently is of particular importance if the entry is to be processed by the Indian authority without difficulty. Since an error in a measurement or a share in these documents can give rise to a dispute over ownership, numerical information is preserved exactly as it stands in the source and only the script is adapted to the target language.

In family documents the family relationships are given clearly. In commercial documents the company form and registration number are preserved in their original form.

The chain of certification

India does not use a sworn translator system; an agency declaration and, where required, notarisation are the basis, while the apostille process operates at state level. The apostille and certification details for a document coming from the English-speaking source country should be checked in advance.

To see these expectations and India’s certification regime, look at the country page and at the requirements for the document type. Tell us the target state or authority and the document type before you send it.

Upload your document to see the page count and the current fee, and compare unit prices.

The account here summarises the typical case; notarisation and apostille steps are costed as separate items. The safest course is to ask the relevant office for written confirmation before starting the procedure.