UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Ministry of Education Approves Five Centres of Excellence for Studies in Classical Languages

Q1. With reference to 'Classical Language' status and the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A language can be granted Classical Language status by a decision of the Union executive, without any amendment to the Constitution.
  2. Every language that holds Classical Language status as of 2026 is also listed in the Eighth Schedule.
  3. A language can be listed in the Eighth Schedule without holding Classical Language status.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q2. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Pali and Prakrit have been accorded Classical Language status even though neither is listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
  2. Classical Language status is assessed on a language's antiquity and ancient literary heritage, not on its inclusion in the Eighth Schedule or its present-day official use.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q3. With reference to the criteria for declaring a language 'Classical', as revised in 2024, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The required antiquity of early texts or recorded history is higher than the threshold used when the category was first created in 2004.
  2. The classical form of the language must be continuous with the language as spoken today.
  3. A body of ancient poetry and inscriptions, without any knowledge texts, satisfies the literary requirement.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 only

Q4. A State seeks Classical status for a language. Its earliest inscriptions are about 1,800 years old, and it has a rich ancient body of poetry and prose treatises that its speakers value as heritage. However, the ancient form is largely unintelligible to the language's modern speakers. Under the criteria revised in 2024, which one of the following is correct?

  • A. It can qualify, as a break between the ancient and modern forms is no bar.
  • B. It cannot qualify, as its antiquity falls short of a 2,000-year minimum.
  • C. It cannot qualify, as the ancient form must be continuous with the modern language.
  • D. It can qualify, but only after Parliament adds it to the Eighth Schedule.

Q5. Consider the following: The Charyapadas are mystic songs composed by Buddhist Siddhacharyas between roughly the 8th and 12th centuries. They are claimed as the earliest literary specimens of both Assamese and Bengali, and they are closely related to the Magadhan group of languages. Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above?

  1. Assamese and Bengali passed through a common early stage of development.
  2. Buddhist religious communities contributed to early literary production in the eastern vernaculars.
  3. By the 8th century, Assamese and Bengali had already become fully distinct, separately standardised languages.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1 only

Q6. Suppose Parliament amends the Constitution to add Pali, already a Classical Language, to the Eighth Schedule. Which one of the following would follow?

  • A. Its Classical status would have to be conferred afresh by the Union Cabinet.
  • B. It would become an official language of the Union alongside Hindi under Article 343.
  • C. It would lose its Classical status, since a language cannot be in both lists.
  • D. It would become one of the languages drawn upon to enrich Hindi under Article 351.