UPSC Prelims 2015 Q75: Art & Culture – Literature & Languages
Which one of the following was given classical language status recently?
- (a) Odia
- (b) Konkani
- (c) Bhojpuri
- (d) Assamese
Answer: (a) Odia
Explanation
Classical language status
Odia was given classical language status in 2014, the sixth language to get it.
| Language | Year declared classical |
|---|---|
| Tamil | 2004 (first) |
| Sanskrit | 2005 |
| Telugu and Kannada | 2008 |
| Malayalam | 2013 |
| Odia | 2014 |
| Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, Bengali | 2024 |
Criteria (as used in 2014):
| Criterion | Detail |
|---|---|
| Antiquity | Recorded history of 1,500 to 2,000 years |
| Literature | A body of ancient texts valued as heritage |
| Originality | Literary tradition not borrowed from another speech community |
Konkani and Bhojpuri are not classical languages; Assamese got the status only in 2024.
Answer: (a) Odia.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. Odia was given classical language status in 2014.
- (b) Incorrect. Konkani has not been given classical language status.
- (c) Incorrect. Bhojpuri is not even in the Eighth Schedule, let alone classical.
- (d) Incorrect. Assamese became classical only in 2024, long after this question.
Key point
Classical languages: Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Telugu, Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013), Odia (2014); five more added in 2024.
Remember
Odia = sixth classical language, 2014.
Common mistakes
- Confusing classical languages with the 22 Scheduled languages.
- Marking Assamese for a 2015 question; its turn came in 2024.
- Forgetting that Tamil was the first.
Exam tip
Order: Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu-Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, then the 2024 group.
Sources
- Ministry of Culture — Classical languages of India
- Press Information Bureau — Cabinet approves classical language status for Odia (20 February 2014)