Kashmiri or Koshur is a language from the Dardic subgroup of Indo-Aryan languages and is spoken primarily in the Kashmir Valley and Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmiri first appeared in writing during the 8th century AD in the Sharda alphabet, which is still used in religious ceremonies by Kashmiri Pandits. After the arrival of Islam in Kashmir during the 15th century, the Arabic script was adapted to write Kashmiri. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India, and part of the eighth Schedule in the constitution of the Jammu and Kashmir. There are over 6 million Kashmiri speakers in Jammu and Kashmir and among the Kashmiri diaspora in other states of India, and about 130,000 in the Neelam Valley and Leepa Valley of POK and, Pakistan. Since November 2008, the Kashmiri language has been made a compulsory subject in all government schools in the Valley up to secondary level. The Kashmiri & Dogri are the major subjects in Schools and Colleges of Jammu & Kashmir besides inclusion in Sahitya Academy, 8 th schedule of Indian Constitution and having dedicated Departments in University of Kashmir and University of Jammu with PG and PhD Programmes.