Languages — Set 1

Correct Answer: B. Article 343

• **Article 343** = Article 343(1) declares Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of the Union. • **fifteen years** — This period was originally allowed for the continued use of English for official purposes. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Article 345]: This article deals with the official language or languages of a state; [Article 348]: This article specifies the language for the Supreme Court and High Courts; [Article 351]: This article provides for the directive for the development of the Hindi language.

Correct Answer: D. 22

• **22** = The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution currently recognizes 22 languages as official languages. • **14 languages** — This was the initial number of languages recognized in the Eighth Schedule in 1950. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [18]: This number is incorrect for the current count; [25]: This number is incorrect for the current count; [14]: This was the original number of languages, not the current count.

Correct Answer: B. Tamil

• **Tamil** = Tamil was the first language in India to be officially declared a Classical Language. • **2004** — This is the year Tamil was granted the status of a Classical Language. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Sanskrit]: Sanskrit was declared a classical language in 2005, after Tamil; [Telugu]: Telugu was declared a classical language in 2008; [Kannada]: Kannada was declared a classical language in 2008.

Correct Answer: D. English

• **English** = English is designated as the official language of Nagaland for administrative purposes. • **administrative purposes** — English serves as the official language to bridge communication gaps among various indigenous tribes in Nagaland. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Naga]: 'Naga' is a term for various tribes and languages, not a single official language; [Ao]: Ao is one of the many indigenous languages spoken in Nagaland, but not the official language of the state; [Assamese]: Assamese is an official language in Assam, not Nagaland.

Correct Answer: B. Gurmukhi

• **Gurmukhi** = Gurmukhi is the standard script used for writing Punjabi in India, developed by the Sikh Gurus. • **'from the mouth of the Guru'** — This is the literal translation of the term 'Gurmukhi', indicating its religious origin. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Shahmukhi]: Shahmukhi is the script used for Punjabi in Pakistan, not India; [Devanagari]: Devanagari is used for Hindi and Marathi, not Punjabi; [Kharosthi]: Kharosthi is an ancient script not in use for modern Punjabi.

Correct Answer: C. Goa

• **Goa** = Konkani is the official language of Goa and is spoken extensively along the Konkan coast. • **71st Amendment Act** — This act led to the inclusion of Konkani into the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Kerala]: Malayalam is the primary language of Kerala; [Maharashtra]: Marathi is the primary language of Maharashtra, although Konkani is spoken in parts; [Karnataka]: Kannada is the primary language of Karnataka, although Konkani is spoken in parts.

Correct Answer: B. Indo-Aryan

• **Indo-Aryan** = The Indo-Aryan language family is a major branch of the Indo-European family, encompassing most North Indian languages like Hindi and Bengali. • **largest percentage** — The Indo-Aryan family covers the largest percentage of the Indian population by speaker count. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Dravidian]: Dravidian languages are primarily spoken in South India; [Austroasiatic]: Austroasiatic languages like Santali are spoken by specific tribal groups, mainly in East and Central India; [Sino-Tibetan]: Sino-Tibetan languages are spoken in Himalayan regions and Northeast India.

Correct Answer: A. Telugu

• **Telugu** = Telugu is often called the 'Italian of the East' because its words typically end in vowels, giving it a melodic quality. • **19th-century** — European travelers and linguists of this century first noted the melodic quality of Telugu. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Bengali]: Bengali does not share this specific characteristic of predominantly vowel-ending words; [Malayalam]: Malayalam does not primarily end in vowels to earn this specific nickname; [Marathi]: Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language and does not have the same vowel-ending characteristic.

Correct Answer: C. Devanagari

• **Devanagari** = Both Hindi and Marathi languages commonly use the Devanagari script for writing. • **Balbodh** — This is a slightly modified version of Devanagari specifically used for Marathi for general purposes. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Brahmi]: Brahmi is an ancient script from which Devanagari evolved, but is not used for modern Hindi/Marathi; [Modi]: Modi is a historical script primarily used for Marathi and some other languages, but Devanagari is now standard; [Sharada]: Sharada is an ancient script used in Kashmir, related to Devanagari, but not for Hindi/Marathi.

Correct Answer: B. English

• **English** = Article 348 specifies that proceedings in the Supreme Court and High Courts shall be in English. • **Article 348** — This article of the Constitution mandates the use of English in the Supreme Court and High Courts. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Regional Language]: Regional languages can be used in High Courts with presidential consent, but not primarily in the Supreme Court; [Hindi]: Hindi can be authorized in High Courts with presidential consent, but English is the primary language for the Supreme Court; [Sanskrit]: Sanskrit is an ancient classical language, not used for court proceedings.