UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Marathi and the long politics behind the language question

Question 1

Following the Union Cabinet's decision of October 2024, how many languages in India hold Classical Language status?

Accepted Answer

11

Answer

6

Answer

9

Answer

22

Question 2

As per the criteria revised in 2024 for according Classical Language status, the required high antiquity of a language's early texts or recorded history must span a period of:

Accepted Answer

1,500–2,000 years

Answer

500–1,000 years

Answer

exactly 1,000 years

Answer

2,500–3,000 years

Question 3

The demand for a unified Marathi-speaking state during 1956–1960 was spearheaded chiefly by which of the following organisations?

Accepted Answer

Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti

Answer

Mahagujarat Janata Parishad

Answer

Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan

Answer

Samyukta Karnataka Samiti

Question 4

The Mumbai landmark renamed 'Hutatma Chowk' ('Martyrs' Square') commemorates:

Accepted Answer

protesters killed in the 21 November 1955 police firing at Flora Fountain during the Samyukta Maharashtra agitation

Answer

soldiers who fell in the 1857 revolt in Bombay Presidency

Answer

the signing of the Bombay Reorganisation Act on 1 May 1960

Answer

labour activists killed in the 1908 Tilak-arrest protests

Question 5

The three-language formula was first formally recommended by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Kothari Commission (1964–66)

Answer

University Education Commission (1948–49)

Answer

Hunter Commission (1882)

Answer

National Education Policy, 2020

Question 6

Under the three-language formula as enunciated in the National Policy on Education, 1968, students in non-Hindi-speaking states were to study:

Accepted Answer

the regional language, Hindi and English

Answer

the regional language, Sanskrit and English

Answer

Hindi, English and a classical language

Answer

the mother tongue, a foreign language and Sanskrit

Question 7

The States Reorganisation Commission (1953) that examined the linguistic reorganisation of states consisted of how many members?

Accepted Answer

Three

Answer

Two

Answer

Five

Answer

Seven

Question 8

The bifurcation of the bilingual Bombay State into Maharashtra and Gujarat in 1960 was legally effected through:

Accepted Answer

an Act of Parliament — the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960

Answer

a Presidential Proclamation under Article 356

Answer

a resolution of the Bombay Legislative Assembly

Answer

a constitutional amendment ratified by the states

Question 9

With reference to languages in the Eighth Schedule, consider the following languages added by the 92nd Constitutional Amendment, 2003:
1. Bodo
2. Konkani
3. Maithili
4. Dogri
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 3 and 4

Answer

2 and 3

Answer

1 and 2

Answer

1, 2 and 4

Question 10

Which Union ministry is the nodal ministry for the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and handles demands for inclusion of additional languages in it?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Home Affairs

Answer

Ministry of Culture

Answer

Ministry of Education

Answer

Ministry of Law and Justice

Question 11

The Rajyavyavaharakosha commissioned by Chhatrapati Shivaji in 1677 was compiled primarily to replace administrative vocabulary derived from which language with Sanskrit equivalents?

Accepted Answer

Persian

Answer

Portuguese

Answer

Kannada

Answer

Dutch

Question 12

In June 2025, the Maharashtra government cancelled how many of its government orders relating to making Hindi a compulsory third language from Class 1?

Accepted Answer

Two

Answer

One

Answer

Three

Answer

Four

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Marathi and the long politics behind the language question

Q1. Following the Union Cabinet's decision of October 2024, how many languages in India hold Classical Language status?

Q2. As per the criteria revised in 2024 for according Classical Language status, the required high antiquity of a language's early texts or recorded history must span a period of:

Q3. The demand for a unified Marathi-speaking state during 1956–1960 was spearheaded chiefly by which of the following organisations?

Q4. The Mumbai landmark renamed 'Hutatma Chowk' ('Martyrs' Square') commemorates:

Q5. The three-language formula was first formally recommended by which of the following?

Q6. Under the three-language formula as enunciated in the National Policy on Education, 1968, students in non-Hindi-speaking states were to study:

Q7. The States Reorganisation Commission (1953) that examined the linguistic reorganisation of states consisted of how many members?

Q8. The bifurcation of the bilingual Bombay State into Maharashtra and Gujarat in 1960 was legally effected through:

Q9. With reference to languages in the Eighth Schedule, consider the following languages added by the 92nd Constitutional Amendment, 2003: 1. Bodo 2. Konkani 3. Maithili 4. Dogri Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

Q10. Which Union ministry is the nodal ministry for the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and handles demands for inclusion of additional languages in it?

Q11. The Rajyavyavaharakosha commissioned by Chhatrapati Shivaji in 1677 was compiled primarily to replace administrative vocabulary derived from which language with Sanskrit equivalents?

Q12. In June 2025, the Maharashtra government cancelled how many of its government orders relating to making Hindi a compulsory third language from Class 1?