Solved previous year question from the OPSC OAS/OCS 2021 Preliminary Examination (General Studies), with the official answer key and a detailed explanation.
Question
Which of the following language is not included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution ?
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Answer & Explanation
Correct answer: (A) Bhojpuri
The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution currently recognizes 22 official languages.
(A) Bhojpuri – This is not included in the Eighth Schedule, despite being spoken by a significant population in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand.
(B) Maithili – This is included in the Eighth Schedule. It was added in 2003 through the 92nd Constitutional Amendment.
(C) Nepali – This is included in the Eighth Schedule since the Constitution was adopted in 1950.
(D) Sindhi – This is included in the Eighth Schedule. It was added in 1967 through the 21st Constitutional Amendment.
8th Schedule languages of Indian Constitution
- Eighth Schedule to the Indian Constitution lists the languages officially recognised by the Government of India.
- Part XVII of the Indian Constitution (Articles 344(1) & 351) deals with the Eighth Schedule.
- 22 languages have been classified under the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution.
- 14 originally listed: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.
- Sindhi language was added by the 21st Amendment Act of 1967.
- Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali were included by the 71st Amendment Act of 1992.
- Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, and Santhali were added by the 92nd Amendment Act of 2003.
- English, despite its widespread use & role in official spheres, has never been part of the Eighth Schedule.
