OPSC OAS 2023 PrelimsHistory, Art & CultureQuestion 3
Solved previous year question from the OPSC OAS/OCS 2023 Preliminary Examination (General Studies), with the official answer key and a detailed explanation.
Question
The demand for linguistic provinces was first floated to ensure that
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Answer & Explanation
Correct answer: (A) People speaking a particular language got recognition. or (B) For bringing the administration closer to the people. (OPSC accepted more than one option)
The demand for linguistic provinces was first floated historically in the context of giving recognition and identity to people speaking a particular language.
Historical Origin of the Demand
- The demand originated during the late 19th and early 20th century when linguistic communities like Telugu, Kannada, Marathi speakers felt their cultural and linguistic identity was being suppressed under artificially drawn British provinces.
- Congress under Bal Gangadhar Tilak and later reorganized its provincial committees along linguistic lines (Nagpur 1920) precisely to give recognition to linguistic groups
- The first demand was about identity and recognition — people wanted their language acknowledged
- Administrative convenience came as a supporting argument later
Why C and D are wrong
- (C) Promotion of division was never the intent
- (D) Linguistic provinces actually created new conflicts (e.g., Belgaum, Chandigarh disputes)
