Languages — Set 1
Arts & Culture · भाषाएं · Questions 1–10 of 50
Which article of the Indian Constitution specifies Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of the Union?
Correct Answer: B. Article 343
Article 343(1) declares Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of the Union. This constitutional provision ensures a uniform medium for official communication at the central level. It also originally allowed for the continued use of English for fifteen years.
How many languages are currently listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution?
Correct Answer: D. 22
The Eighth Schedule currently recognizes 22 languages as official languages. This list was expanded through various amendments, starting with 14 languages in 1950. Languages like Dogri, Maithili, and Santhali were added in the most recent major update.
Which of the following was the first language to be granted the status of a 'Classical Language' in India?
Correct Answer: B. Tamil
Tamil was the first language in India to be officially declared a Classical Language in 2004. To achieve this status, a language must have a recorded history of over 1,500 years. This recognition highlights the unique antiquity and independent literary tradition of Tamil.
The official language of the state of Nagaland is?
Correct Answer: D. English
English is designated as the official language of Nagaland for administrative purposes. This choice helps bridge the communication gap between the various indigenous tribes of the state. Most educational institutions in the state also use English as the medium of instruction.
Which script is used for writing the Punjabi language in India?
Correct Answer: B. Gurmukhi
Gurmukhi is the standard script used for writing Punjabi in India, developed by the Sikh Gurus. In Pakistan, the Punjabi language is primarily written using the Shahmukhi script. Gurmukhi literally translates to 'from the mouth of the Guru'.
The language 'Konkani' is primarily spoken in which Indian state?
Correct Answer: C. Goa
Konkani is the official language of Goa and is spoken extensively along the Konkan coast. It is written in several scripts, including Devanagari, Roman, and Kannada. It was included in the Eighth Schedule through the 71st Amendment Act.
To which language family does the majority of North Indian languages, like Hindi and Bengali, belong?
Correct Answer: B. Indo-Aryan
The Indo-Aryan language family is a major branch of the Indo-European family. Most languages spoken in North India are descendants of Sanskrit through this lineage. It covers the largest percentage of the Indian population by speaker count.
Which Indian language is known as the 'Italian of the East' due to its vowel-ending words?
Correct Answer: A. Telugu
Telugu is often called the Italian of the East because its words typically end in vowels. This melodic quality was first noted by 19th-century European travelers and linguists. It is a major Dravidian language spoken primarily in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
What is the common script used for both Hindi and Marathi languages?
Correct Answer: C. Devanagari
Both Hindi and Marathi use the Devanagari script for writing. Marathi specifically uses a slightly modified version called Balbodh for general purposes. Devanagari is an abugida script that evolved from the ancient Brahmi script.
Which language is used by the courts of law in India at the Supreme Court level according to the Constitution?
Correct Answer: B. English
Article 348 specifies that proceedings in the Supreme Court and High Courts shall be in English. This ensures consistency and precision in legal interpretations across the country. However, state governments can authorize the use of Hindi or other languages in High Courts with presidential consent.