Question 71 from UPSC CSE 2015 - Current Affairs

Question

Which one of the following was given classical language status recently?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. Odia

Strategy: Identify the language from the list that has been granted classical language status.

Key Info: The Government of India, under the Ministry of Culture, grants Classical Language status to languages meeting specific criteria, such as historical antiquity and a rich literary tradition. Odia was declared a classical language in 2014, making it the sixth language to be recognized after Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam. Odia is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by over 35 million people, primarily in Odisha. Its literary tradition is noted for ancient inscriptions and texts dating back over a thousand years.

**Other Languages Status**
- Konkani: Primarily spoken in Goa and along the western coast, it is an officially recognized language under the Eighth Schedule but does not have classical status.
- Bhojpuri: Widely spoken in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and neighboring countries, it has not been accorded either Eighth Schedule or classical recognition.
- Assamese: Spoken in Assam and listed in the Eighth Schedule, it also lacks classical status.

**Benefits of Classical Status**
Classical language status is prestigious, entitling a language to financial support for research, scholarship, and the promotion of its literature.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: Konkani

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: Bhojpuri

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: Assamese