Language - Political Science Coaching Centre

Created by

Dr. S. H. Sarkar

Language

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1. Consider the following statements and choose the correct code: (TELANGANA SET 2022)

1. The official language of the Indian Union shall be Hindi in the Brahmi script.

2. The Constitution recognizes English as the primary language of the Supreme Court and the High Courts.

1. 1 only

2. 2 only

3. 1 & 2 Both

4. Neither 1 nor 2

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2. The following formula in the constitution discusses language issues: (MAHARASHTRA SET 2020 PAPER II)

(A) Nehru – Patel formula

(B) Munshi – Iyengar formula

(C) Gandhi – Irwin formula

(D) Ambedkar – Gandhi formula

The Munshi-Iyengar formula was a significant compromise proposed during the discussions in India's Constituent Assembly in 1949 on the issue of language. The formula was named after K. M. Munshi and N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar, two prominent members of the Constituent Assembly.

Context:

The Constituent Assembly was tasked with creating a national language policy for India, which became a contentious issue due to India's linguistic diversity. The primary debate centered around whether Hindi should be declared the sole national language or if English and other regional languages should also have a role.

Pro-Hindi Group: Argued that Hindi, as a widely spoken language, should be the sole national and official language of India.
Opposition Group: Comprising representatives from non-Hindi speaking regions, especially from South India, argued for the continued use of English as the link language and the recognition of other regional languages.

The Munshi-Iyengar Formula:

The Munshi-Iyengar formula was a compromise solution between the two opposing views. The key features of the formula were:

Hindi as the Official Language: Hindi would become the official language of the Union of India.
Continued Use of English: English would continue to be used for all official purposes, initially for a period of 15 years from the adoption of the Constitution (i.e., until 1965). After this, Parliament could decide whether to continue the use of English alongside Hindi.
Protections for Regional Languages: The formula also ensured that regional languages would be protected and promoted. States could use their own languages for administrative purposes, in addition to Hindi and English.
Promoting Hindi Gradually: Hindi would be promoted gradually to ensure that it could take over from English as the official language. This gradual process was meant to give non-Hindi speaking states enough time to adjust.

Outcome:

The Munshi-Iyengar formula formed the basis of Article 343 of the Indian Constitution, which laid down the provisions regarding the official language of the Union. It established Hindi in the Devanagari script as the official language, but also allowed for the use of English for official purposes for a transitional period.

The formula, while not completely resolving the language issue, provided a pragmatic solution that avoided an immediate imposition of Hindi on non-Hindi speaking regions, thus preventing further division during the early years of Indian independence.

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3. Article 348 (2) of the Constitution deals with: (MAHARASHTRA SET 2023)

(A) Authorised language of the High Court

(B) Language of the Parliament

(C) Medium of Instruction

(D) Language of the Supreme Court

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4. Which of the following would be the most appropriate title of this passage? (University of Hyderabad MA 2020)

A. Nehru and the language issue

B. Hindi, Hindustani and Citizenship

C. Citizenship and the national language question in India

D. Citizenship and national identity in India

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5. Which of the following departments is under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India? (University of Hyderabad MA 2018)

A. Department of Official Language

B. Department of Housing

C. Department Atomic Energy

D. Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare

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6. When did the official language commission establish? (BSTET 2024)

1. 1950

2. 1955

3. 1956

4. 1957

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7. To address the politics of language, which commission agreed to take effective steps to implement the 'Three Language Formula'? (Madhya Pradesh SET 2022)

(A) Mandal Cormnission

(B) Kothari Commission

(C) Thakkar Commission

(D) Malimath Commission

The commission that agreed to implement the "Three Language Formula" to address language politics is the Kothari Commission.

Explanation: The Kothari Education Commission, which was set up in 1964-66, recommended the adoption of the Three Language Formula, which proposes the study of a student's mother tongue/regional language, Hindi, and English.

Key points about the Three Language Formula:

Aim:

To promote national unity by encouraging the learning of multiple languages across different regions of India.
Implementation:

The formula is designed differently in Hindi-speaking states and non-Hindi speaking states.
Criticisms:

Some argue that the formula can sometimes prioritize Hindi over regional languages, leading to concerns about linguistic diversity.

Constitutional provision

Article 29 of the Constitution of India protects the interests of minorities. The Article states that any section of the citizens who have a “…distinct language, script or culture of its own shall have the right to conserve the same.”
Article 343 is about the official language of the Union of India. According to this Article, it is to be Hindi in Devnagri script, and numerals should follow the international form of Indian numerals. This Article also states that English will continue to be used as an official language for 15 years from the commencement of the Constitution.
Article 346 is about the official language for communication between the states and between a state and the Union. The Article states that the “authorised” language will be used. However, if two or more states agree that their communications shall be in Hindi, then Hindi may be used.
Article 347 gives the President the power to recognise a language as an official language of a given state, provided that the President is satisfied that a substantial proportion of that state desires that the language be recognised. Such recognition can be for a part of the state or the whole state.
Article 350A facilities for instruction in mother-tongue at the primary stage.
Article 350B provides for the establishment of a Special Officer for linguistic minorities. The Officer shall be appointed by the President and shall investigate all matters relating to the safeguards for linguistic minorities, reporting directly to the President. The President may then place the reports before each house of the Parliament or send them to the governments of the states concerned.
Article 351 gives power to the union government to issue a directive for development of the Hindi language.
Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India contains a list of 22 languages recognised schedule languages.

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8. Assertion (A): All minorities whether based on religion or language shall have the right to establish and administer the educational institution of their choice

Reason (R): Institutions established by minorities are entitled to governmental aid and the government is not under an obligation to give aid

(Kerala SET January 2024)

A) Both A & R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

B) Both A & R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A

C) A is true but R is false

D) A is false but R is true

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9. "Since Indians wish to unite and develop a common culture, it is the bounden duty of all Indians to own up Hindi as their language... Any Indian who does not accept this proposal..., has no right to be Indian." Who among the following said this? (NET December 2014 Paper III)

(a) B.R. Ambedkar

(b) Bala Saheb Deoras

(c) Dr. K.M. Munshi

(d) Seth Govind Das

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10. Which of the following are statutory bodies? (NET January 2017 Paper II)

A. University Grants Commission

B. Official Language Commission

C. Railway Board

D. Atomic Energy Commission

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

(a) A and B

(b) A, B and C

(c) A, B and D

(d) B and D

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11. Which of the following is NOT the language enshrined in the eighth schedule of the Indian Constitution as the language of the state? (JMI M.A. 2022)

A) Nepali

B) Kashmiri

C) English

D) Konkani

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12. Which schedule of the Indian Constitution deals with the official languages? (PUMDET 2024)

(A) Third

(B) Seventh

(C) Eighth

(D) Ninth

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13. Which of the following state/ states are formed on the basis of language? (NET March 2023 Shift II)

A. Haryana

B. Andhra Pradesh

C. Maharashtra

D. Madhya Pradesh

E. Nagaland

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

1. A, B and C only.

2. B, C and D only.

3. D, E and A only.

4. A, C and D only.

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14. Which of the following concepts J.F. Lytoard is associated with (NET March 2023 Shift II)

A. Language Game

B. A Report on Knowledge

C. Communicative Rationality

D. Communicational Transparency

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

1. A and C only.

2. A, B and D only.

3. C and D only.

4. B and C only.

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15. _________ Committee was appointed for advising the Government about Non-Scheduled Languages. (MAHARASHTRA SET 2019 PAPER II)

(A) Chandrashekhar Kambar

(B) Bhalachandra Nemade

(C) Sitakant Mahapatra

(D) Ashok Vajpayee

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16. Under which Ministry of Government of India, the Department of Official Language functions? (KERALA SET 2017 FEBRUARY)

A) Ministry of Home

B) Ministry of Culture

C) Ministry of Human Resources Development

D) Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

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17. Which was the first state in India to be formed on the basis of language? (JNU MA 2020)

(A) Gujarat

(B) Maharashtra

(C) Andhra Pradesh

(D) Tamilnadu

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18. Which was the last state which was reorganised on the basis of language? (JNU MA 2020)

(A) Punjab

(B) Andhra Pradesh

(C) Maharashtra

(D) Gujarat

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19. Arrange the following languages conferred with classical language status by Govenment of India in the chronological order: (NET August 2024 Shift II)

A. Kannada

B. Odia

C. Tamil

D. Sanskrit

E. Malayalam

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

1. E, D, C, B, A

2. D, C, A, E, B

3. C, D, A, E, B

4. B. A, D, E, C

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20. How many new languages were added by the 92nd Constitutional Amendment, 2003? (NET December 2021 and June 2022 Shift II)

A. 3

B. 4

C. 2

D. 5

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21. Which among the following languages are conferred with classical language status? (NET December 2021 and June 2022 Shift II)

A. Sanskrit

B. Tamil

C. Kannada

D. Hindi

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

1. A, B, C and D

2. A, B and C only

3. B, C and D only

4. A and B only

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22. Arrange the following Indian Constitutional Amendments in the chronological order: (NET August 2024 Shift II)

A. Amendment in the Preamble and addition of unity and integrity of the nation'.

B. Maithili added as a language in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

C. Konkani added as a language in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

D. The Co-operative Societies inserted as Art.243 ZH

E. Women Reservation Act.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

1. A, B, C, D, E

2. B, C, A, E, D

3. C, D, E, B, A

4. A, C, B, D, E

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23. According to the Supreme Court of India, the foundation of 'composite culture', as mentioned in clause (f) of Article 51A, is: (NET July 2016 Paper III)

(a) the diverse culture of India

(b) the Sanskrit language and literature

(c) the secular fabric of India

(d) the values evolved during the freedom movement

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24. Who among the following led the Anti Brahmin movement, worked for the Justice Party and also founder Dravidar Kazhagam? (CUET UG 2024)

(1) A.K. Gopalan

(2) E.V. Ramasami Naicker

(3) K. Kamaraj

(4) Potti Sriramulu

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25. Which of the following political party led the movement for the formation of Punjabi Suba? (CUET UG 2024)

(1) Congress

(2) Lok Dal

(3) Akali Dal

(4) CPI

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26. Match List-I with List-II and choose the correct answer from the codes given below: (NET December 2012 Paper III)

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

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27. Under the provisions of the Indian Constitution, a community can be declared a minority community on the basis of (WEST BENGAL SET 2022)

(A) religion only.

(B) either religion or language.

(C) either language or caste.

(D) either religion or race.

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Context:

The Munshi-Iyengar Formula:

Outcome:

Final Order: