Question

Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

Linguistic diversity of India How many languages do we have in India? The answer depends on how one counts it. The latest information that we have is from the Census of India held in 2011. This census recorded more than 1300 distinct languages which people mentioned as their mother tongues. These languages were grouped together under some major languages. For example, languages like Bhojpuri, Magadhi, Bundelkhandi, Chhattisgarhi, Rajasthani and many others were grouped together under 'Hindi'. Even after this grouping, the Census found 121 major languages. Of these, 22 languages are now included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and are therefore called 'Scheduled Languages'. Others are called 'Non-Scheduled Languages'. In terms of languages, India is perhaps the most diverse country in the world.

1. How many languages were recorded as mother tongues in the 2011 Census of India?     1
2. How were the languages grouped together in the Census report?     1
3. How does the inclusion of languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution contribute to linguistic diversity? Explain.     2

Answer 1

1. The 2011 Census of India recorded more than 1300 distinct languages that people mentioned as their mother tongues.
2. The Census report categorised the languages into several principal groups. For instance, Bhojpuri, Magadhi, Bundelkhandi, Chhattisgarhi, Rajasthani, and numerous others have been classified under the umbrella of Hindi.
3. The Indian Constitution's Eighth Schedule recognises and protects languages, promoting linguistic variety. The Schedule includes 22 languages, sometimes called 'Scheduled Languages'. The government provides special assistance for these languages through education, official use, and cultural development.