Question 56 from UPSC CSE 2021 - Art & Culture

Question

With reference to India, the terms 'Halbi, Ho, and Kui' pertain to

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. tribal languages

Strategy: Identify the terms Halbi, Ho, and Kui as ethnolinguistic names rather than artistic categories to directly select the correct option.

Key Info: **Halbi**
- An Indo-Aryan tribal language.
- Spoken in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, and parts of Odisha, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh.
- Has over half a million speakers, primarily among the Halba community.

**Ho**
- An Austroasiatic language spoken by the Ho people.
- Centered in Jharkhand, with presence in Odisha, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh.
- Uses the distinctive Warang Citi script.
- One of the most populous tribal languages in eastern India.

**Kui**
- A Dravidian language spoken by the Kandha (Khond) tribal community.
- Mainly in Odisha, with a presence in Andhra Pradesh.
- Shares features with Gondi and other South-Central Dravidian languages.

**Summary**
- All three are scheduled tribal languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
- They are significant for local education, media, and cultural practices.
- These terms are linguistic examples, not related to dances, instruments, or art.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: dance forms of Northwest India

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: musical instruments

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: pre-historic cave paintings