As per Schedule 8 of the Indian Constitution, how many official languages are there in India?
- A.42
- B.12
- C.32
- D.22
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is D, 22. The Eighth Schedule of the Constitution lists 22 languages. It began with 14 languages in 1950. Sindhi was added by the 21st Amendment in 1967; Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali by the 71st Amendment in 1992; and Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhali by the 92nd Amendment in 2003, which took the list to 22. These are the languages the Union must draw upon to enrich Hindi, and candidates may write many central examinations in them. Note that the Schedule does not by itself make all 22 languages official languages of the Union: Article 343 makes Hindi in Devanagari script the official language, with English continuing alongside. Option A is wrong because 42 is the number of the amendment that changed the Preamble, not a language count. Option B is wrong because 12 is fewer even than the 14 the Schedule started with. Option C is wrong because 32 is more than the list holds. Exam tip: remember 14 in 1950 and 22 in 2003, the last four added by the 92nd Amendment.
Practice Questions
View allThe right to form associations and unions is a right
- A.guaranteed to everybody
- B.to freedom guaranteed to citizens only
- C.to equality before law
- D.to life and personal liberty
Show answer
The right to form associations or unions is part of Article 19, and Article 19 rights belong only to citizens of India.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following statements with regard to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes is not correct?
- A.The Union and every State Government shall consult the Commission on all major policy matters affecting Scheduled Tribes.
- B.All the reports of the Commission and its recommendations shall be laid only before Lok Sabha.
- C.The Commission, while investigating any matter, has all the powers of a Civil Court.
- D.The Commission has the power to regulate its own procedures.
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It is not correct, because the President causes the Commission's reports to be laid before each House of Parliament, not only before the Lok Sabha.
Read the full explanation →Which of the following statements with regard to the conduct of elections in India is/are not correct? 1. The responsibility for the preparation of the electoral rolls is vested in the Election Commission of India. 2. The Model Code of Conduct comes into existence as soon as the date of the election is announced. 3. The laws relating to delimitation of constituencies are made by the Election Commission of India. 4. No election shall be called in question except by an election petition. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- A.3 only
- B.1, 2 and 4
- C.1, 2 and 3
- D.4 only
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Statement 3 is the only incorrect one, because laws on the delimitation of constituencies are made by Parliament, not by the Election Commission.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following statements with regard to the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution of India is not correct?
- A.It was inserted by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951.
- B.The Acts and Regulations specified in the Ninth Schedule shall become void on the ground that it violates a fundamental right in Part III of the Constitution.
- C.The Supreme Court has the power of judicial review of an Act included in the Ninth Schedule on the doctrine of basic structure.
- D.The appropriate Legislature can repeal or amend an Act specified in the Ninth Schedule.
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It is not correct, because Article 31B says the opposite: an Act placed in the Ninth Schedule shall not become void merely because it is inconsistent with a fundamental right in Part III.
Read the full explanation →The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India pertains to the administration of tribal areas in which of the following States?
- A.Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram
- B.Meghalaya, Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram
- C.Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura
- D.Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh
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The Sixth Schedule covers the administration of tribal areas in exactly these four north-eastern states.
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