UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC grants time to Centre over third language for Class 6

Q1. With reference to the three-language formula as set out in the National Education Policy, 2020, consider the following statements: 1. At least two of the three languages studied by a child must be native to India. 2. A student may change one or more of the three languages being studied in Grade 6 or Grade 7. 3. Sanskrit is to be offered as a compulsory language at the secondary stage within the formula. 4. The Union Government prescribes the particular three languages that each State shall teach. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. At least two of the three languages studied by a child must be native to India.
  2. A student may change one or more of the three languages being studied in Grade 6 or Grade 7.
  3. Sanskrit is to be offered as a compulsory language at the secondary stage within the formula.
  4. The Union Government prescribes the particular three languages that each State shall teach.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4

Q2. The statement that the National Education Policy, 2020 continues the three-language formula 'with greater flexibility' means precisely which one of the following?

  • A. Students in Hindi-speaking States must study one modern Indian language, preferably from the South, in place of the regional language
  • B. A school may reduce the requirement to two languages wherever a qualified teacher for the third language is not available
  • C. The three languages are the choice of States, regions and students, provided at least two are native to India
  • D. Any two of the three languages may be foreign languages so long as the third is an Indian language

Q3. The committee that drafted the National Education Policy, 2020 was chaired by which one of the following?

  • A. Shri T.S.R. Subramanian, former Cabinet Secretary of the Government of India
  • B. Dr. K. Kasturirangan, former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation
  • C. Dr. D.S. Kothari, former Chairman of the University Grants Commission
  • D. Prof. Yash Pal, former Chairman of the University Grants Commission

Q4. In the curricular and pedagogical structure adopted by the National Education Policy, 2020, which one of the following correctly describes the first stage of schooling?

  • A. Five years covering ages 6 to 11, comprising Classes 1 to 5 of the primary school
  • B. Three years covering ages 3 to 6, comprising the pre-school or Anganwadi years alone
  • C. Eight years covering ages 3 to 11, comprising pre-school and Classes 1 to 5
  • D. Five years covering ages 3 to 8, comprising three years of pre-school and Classes 1 and 2

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the inclusion of languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India: 1. Maithili was included in the Eighth Schedule in 2004. 2. Konkani was included in the Eighth Schedule in 1967. 3. Santhali was included in the Eighth Schedule in 2004. 4. Nepali was among the languages listed in the Eighth Schedule at the commencement of the Constitution. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Maithili was included in the Eighth Schedule in 2004.
  2. Konkani was included in the Eighth Schedule in 1967.
  3. Santhali was included in the Eighth Schedule in 2004.
  4. Nepali was among the languages listed in the Eighth Schedule at the commencement of the Constitution.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 3 and 4

Q6. Consider the following pairs of constitutional provisions and their subject matter: 1. Article 29(1) — right of any section of citizens having a distinct language, script or culture of its own to conserve the same 2. Article 30(1) — right of all minorities, whether based on religion or language, to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice 3. Article 350A — power of Parliament to include additional languages in the Eighth Schedule 4. Article 351 — directive for the development of the Hindi language as a medium of expression for the composite culture of India Which of the pairs given above is/are NOT correctly matched?

  1. Article 29(1) — right of any section of citizens having a distinct language, script or culture of its own to conserve the same
  2. Article 30(1) — right of all minorities, whether based on religion or language, to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice
  3. Article 350A — power of Parliament to include additional languages in the Eighth Schedule
  4. Article 351 — directive for the development of the Hindi language as a medium of expression for the composite culture of India
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3
  • D. 3 and 4

Q7. Consider the following statements about the three-language scheme introduced by the Central Board of Secondary Education that is under challenge before the Supreme Court: 1. For Class IX, the study of three languages designated R1, R2 and R3 is compulsory, with at least two of them being native Indian languages. 2. No Board examination is to be conducted for the third language (R3) at the Class X level. 3. The current batch of Class 10 students has been exempted from the requirement of studying three languages. 4. The three-language requirement for Class 6 takes effect from the 2025-26 academic session. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. For Class IX, the study of three languages designated R1, R2 and R3 is compulsory, with at least two of them being native Indian languages.
  2. No Board examination is to be conducted for the third language (R3) at the Class X level.
  3. The current batch of Class 10 students has been exempted from the requirement of studying three languages.
  4. The three-language requirement for Class 6 takes effect from the 2025-26 academic session.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4

Q8. The R3 Language Assessment Framework, under which the third language is assessed internally by schools instead of through a Board examination at the Class X stage, has been prescribed by which one of the following?

  • A. PARAKH, the National Assessment Centre
  • B. National Council of Educational Research and Training
  • C. Central Board of Secondary Education
  • D. Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education

Q9. In the recent Centre-State dispute over school education funds arising out of the language policy, the grievance pressed by Tamil Nadu was precisely which one of the following?

  • A. Samagra Shiksha was permanently discontinued for every State that had not adopted the three-language formula
  • B. The Centre had made Hindi a compulsory subject in all schools receiving any central assistance
  • C. The entire central share of Samagra Shiksha was diverted to PM SHRI schools across all States
  • D. Release of its Samagra Shiksha funds was linked to signing the PM SHRI Schools MoU and implementing NEP 2020

Q10. Consider the following statements comparing the National Education Policy, 2020 with the policy framework it succeeded and with the Centre-State practice that has followed it: 1. NEP 2020, which replaced the National Policy on Education, 1986, retains the three-language formula but leaves the choice of the languages to States, regions and students. 2. Under NEP 2020, every State is required to include Hindi among the three languages taught in its schools. 3. A Parliamentary Standing Committee has held that withholding Samagra Shiksha funds from States for not signing an MoU for a separate scheme such as PM SHRI is not justifiable. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. NEP 2020, which replaced the National Policy on Education, 1986, retains the three-language formula but leaves the choice of the languages to States, regions and students.
  2. Under NEP 2020, every State is required to include Hindi among the three languages taught in its schools.
  3. A Parliamentary Standing Committee has held that withholding Samagra Shiksha funds from States for not signing an MoU for a separate scheme such as PM SHRI is not justifiable.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. PARAKH, notified in February 2023, is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A national regulator that grants affiliation to secondary schools and conducts the Class X and Class XII examinations
  • B. An autonomous council under the Ministry of Education for accrediting and rating institutions of higher education
  • C. A national mission for foundational literacy and numeracy in Classes 1 to 3 implemented through Samagra Shiksha
  • D. A standard-setting body for student assessment and equivalence across recognised school boards, set up within NCERT

Q12. Under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, unaided private schools must admit children belonging to weaker sections and disadvantaged groups to the extent of how much of the strength of Class I — an obligation from which unaided minority schools stand excluded?

  • A. One-fourth
  • B. One-tenth
  • C. One-third
  • D. One-half