UPSC Prelims 2015 · GS Paper I
Question 75: History and Culture
Which one of the following was given classical language status recently?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).
Odia was given the status of a classical language in 2014, as the sixth language after Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam. Konkani, Bhojpuri and Assamese had not been given the status at the time. The criteria include a long and independent literary tradition of at least 1,500 to 2,000 years, so Odia, with ancient inscriptions and literature, qualified.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Correct: Odia received classical status in 2014.
- (b) Konkani had not been granted classical status.
- (c) Bhojpuri had not been granted classical status.
- (d) Assamese had not been granted classical status in 2015.
Worth knowing: Odia was the classical language added in 2014; Assamese, Marathi, Bengali, Pali and Prakrit were added in October 2024, so (d) would also be true today.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2015, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.