Languages — Set 2

Correct Answer: B. Jammu and Kashmir

• **Jammu and Kashmir** = Dogri is a major language primarily spoken in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir. • **2003** — This is the year Dogri was included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Uttarakhand]: Kumaoni and Garhwali are prominent languages in Uttarakhand; [Sikkim]: Nepali, Bhutia, and Lepcha are official languages in Sikkim; [Ladakh]: Ladakhi is the predominant language in Ladakh.

Correct Answer: B. Odia

• **Odia** = Odia belongs to the Indo-Aryan language family, making it distinct from the Dravidian languages. • **first Indo-Aryan language** — Odia holds the distinction of being the first Indo-Aryan language to be designated as a Classical Language. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Malayalam]: Malayalam is a major Dravidian language spoken in Kerala; [Kannada]: Kannada is a major Dravidian language spoken in Karnataka; [Tamil]: Tamil is a major Dravidian language spoken in Tamil Nadu.

Correct Answer: A. Ol Chiki

• **Ol Chiki** = The Santhali language uses the unique Ol Chiki script, which was developed by Pandit Raghunath Murmu. • **1925** — This is the year the Ol Chiki script was invented for writing the Santhali language. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Tirhuta]: Tirhuta is a script used for the Maithili language; [Warang Citi]: Warang Citi is the script for the Ho language; [Kaithi]: Kaithi is a historical script used in parts of North India for various languages.

Correct Answer: B. Sanskrit

• **Sanskrit** = Sanskrit is often called the 'Mother of all Indo-Aryan languages' as it is the root for many modern North Indian languages. • **oldest recorded members** — Sanskrit is one of the oldest recorded members of the Indo-European family. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Pali]: Pali is an ancient Middle Indo-Aryan language, primarily associated with Buddhism; [Apabhramsa]: Apabhramsa refers to a group of Middle Indo-Aryan dialects that preceded modern Indo-Aryan languages; [Prakrit]: Prakrit is a general term for Middle Indo-Aryan languages, which evolved from Sanskrit but are not its 'mother'.

Correct Answer: D. Lakshadweep

• **Lakshadweep** = Malayalam is the principal language of Lakshadweep due to its historical and cultural ties with Kerala. • **youngest** — Malayalam is considered the youngest of the major Dravidian literary languages. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Ladakh]: Ladakhi is the main language of Ladakh; [Chandigarh]: Punjabi and Hindi are commonly spoken in Chandigarh; [Puducherry]: Tamil is the official language of Puducherry, along with French and English.

Correct Answer: A. Eighth Schedule

• **Eighth Schedule** = This schedule lists the officially recognized languages of India. • **22 languages** — This is the total number of languages currently recognized under the Eighth Schedule. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Seventh Schedule: deals with the distribution of powers between the Union and States; Ninth Schedule: deals with acts and regulations that cannot be challenged in court; Tenth Schedule: deals with anti-defection law.

Correct Answer: C. Assam

• **Bodo** = This language is primarily spoken by the Bodo people in the Bodoland region of Northeast India. • **Eighth Schedule** — Bodo is one of the 22 languages recognized in the Indian Constitution's Eighth Schedule. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Nagaland: main languages include English and various Naga languages; Manipur: official language is Manipuri (Meiteilon); Meghalaya: official languages include English, Khasi, and Garo.

Correct Answer: C. Uttarakhand

• **Uttarakhand** = This state was the first in India to declare Sanskrit as its second official language. • **2010** — Uttarakhand declared Sanskrit as its second official language in this year. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Rajasthan: Hindi is the official language; Madhya Pradesh: Hindi is the official language; Uttar Pradesh: Hindi and Urdu are the official languages.

Correct Answer: C. Urdu

• **Urdu** = This language is distinctively written from right to left, using a modified Persian alphabet. • **Nastaliq style** — The script used for writing Urdu is known for this specific calligraphic style. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Tamil: written left to right using the Tamil script; Bengali: written left to right using the Bengali script; Marathi: written left to right using the Devanagari script.

Correct Answer: D. Mithila

• **Mithila** = Maithili language is predominantly spoken in this cultural and geographical region, spanning parts of Bihar and Nepal. • **2003** — Maithili was granted constitutional status and added to the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution in this year. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Malwa: associated with parts of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, where Malvi is spoken; Magadh: an ancient region in Bihar, where Magahi language is spoken; Kalinga: an ancient region corresponding to modern-day Odisha, where Odia is spoken.