Inscript vs Remington vs Kruti Dev: Which Hindi Keyboard Should You Learn?
Hindi typing is not one skill: three layouts are in common use in India, and learning the wrong one before an exam wastes weeks. Here is a plain comparison.
Inscript
Inscript (Indian Script) is the standard keyboard layout for Indian languages defined by the Government of India. It is built into Windows, Android, macOS and Linux, produces Unicode text, and uses the same logic for all Indian scripts: vowels on the left hand, consonants on the right hand. Because it is Unicode, text copies cleanly between programs and the web.
- Pros: built into every system, standard, logical, works with modern fonts, future-proof.
- Cons: if your exam or office still uses a typewriter-style layout, your muscle memory will not transfer.
Remington (Gail)
Remington, often called Remington Gail, comes from the Hindi typewriter keyboard. Government typing exams and courts have used it for decades, and many typists learnt on typewriters. In software it is available as a Unicode keyboard layout and in legacy font-based tools.
- Pros: demanded by some older exams and offices, fast for experienced typewriter typists.
- Cons: less logical to learn, different from Inscript on every key.
Kruti Dev
Kruti Dev is a font (for example Kruti Dev 010), not a modern Unicode standard. Text typed in it looks Hindi only with that font installed; with another font it turns into meaningless English letters. Its keyboard arrangement in practice follows the Remington layout, so people say “Kruti Dev typing” to mean Remington-style typing in a legacy font.
- Pros: still common in older offices and printing workflows.
- Cons: not Unicode, so it breaks in emails, websites and many apps.
Which one should you choose?
| Your situation | Learn |
|---|---|
| Exam notification says Inscript or Unicode typing | Inscript |
| Exam names Remington, Kruti Dev or Mangal Remington | That layout; check the notice |
| No fixed exam, you will type Hindi on phone and web | Inscript |
| Joining an office that uses a legacy workflow | Ask what they use |
Can you learn both?
Yes, but not at once. Master one layout to a comfortable speed first; switching mid-way slows both. FastTypingTest currently supports Inscript only. If your exam needs Remington or Kruti Dev, use this site for English practice and general discipline, and a layout-specific tool for Hindi. Start learning Inscript with our Hindi typing guide and Hindi typing test.
Layout rules and exam requirements change. Confirm yours in the official notification.