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Question

Which one of the following languages was added to the Eighth Schedule by a Constitutional Amendment in 1967?

This question was previously asked in
CDS I 2022 English Previous Year Paper (10-April-2022)
The correct answer is

Sindhi

Understanding the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution

The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution lists the languages recognized by the Republic of India. Initially, this schedule included 14 languages. Over time, several other languages have been added through Constitutional Amendments, reflecting the diverse linguistic landscape of the country.

Inclusion in the Eighth Schedule provides a language with certain benefits and recognition, such as representation on the Official Languages Commission and the ability for speakers to appear in examinations conducted for public services at the Union level in that language.

Initial Languages in the Eighth Schedule

When the Constitution was adopted in 1950, the Eighth Schedule contained the following 14 languages:

  • Assamese
  • Bengali
  • Bodo
  • Dogri
  • Gujarati
  • Hindi
  • Kannada
  • Kashmiri
  • Konkani
  • Maithili
  • Malayalam
  • Manipuri
  • Marathi
  • Nepali
  • Odia
  • Punjabi
  • Sanskrit
  • Santali
  • Sindhi
  • Tamil
  • Telugu
  • Urdu

Wait, that list seems incorrect. Let's list the original 14 languages:

  • Assamese
  • Bengali
  • Gujarati
  • Hindi
  • Kannada
  • Kashmiri
  • Malayalam
  • Marathi
  • Oriya (now Odia)
  • Punjabi
  • Sanskrit
  • Tamil
  • Telugu
  • Urdu

Yes, that is the correct list of 14 original languages.

Languages Added by Constitutional Amendments

Since its adoption, the Eighth Schedule has been amended three times to add more languages.

  1. The 21st Amendment Act of 1967
  2. The 71st Amendment Act of 1992
  3. The 92nd Amendment Act of 2003

Focus on the 1967 Constitutional Amendment

The question specifically asks about the language added in 1967 by a Constitutional Amendment. This refers to the 21st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1967.

This amendment added only one language to the Eighth Schedule. We need to determine which language among the options was added by this specific amendment.

Analyzing the Options

Sindhi

Historical records confirm that the 21st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1967 added the Sindhi language to the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Prior to 1967, Sindhi was not one of the 14 recognized languages.

Khasi

Khasi is a language spoken in Meghalaya. It is currently not listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

Kashmiri

Kashmiri was one of the 14 original languages included in the Eighth Schedule when the Constitution was adopted in 1950. Therefore, it was not added in 1967.

Urdu

Urdu was also one of the 14 original languages included in the Eighth Schedule when the Constitution was adopted in 1950. Therefore, it was not added in 1967.

Based on the analysis, the language added to the Eighth Schedule by a Constitutional Amendment in 1967 was Sindhi.

Summary of Language Additions to the Eighth Schedule

Constitutional Amendment Act Year Languages Added Total Languages After Amendment
Original Schedule 1950 14 languages 14
21st Amendment Act 1967 Sindhi 15
71st Amendment Act 1992 Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali 18
92nd Amendment Act 2003 Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santali 22

Revision Table: Eighth Schedule Languages

Year of Inclusion Languages
1950 (Original) Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu (14 languages)
1967 (21st Amendment) Sindhi (1 language)
1992 (71st Amendment) Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali (3 languages)
2003 (92nd Amendment) Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santali (4 languages)

Additional Information: Significance of Eighth Schedule

The inclusion of a language in the Eighth Schedule is a significant recognition by the Indian government. While it doesn't automatically make a language an official language of the Union (Hindi and English are the official languages for specific purposes), it confers several benefits. These benefits include:

  • The language is represented in the Official Languages Commission constituted under Article 344.
  • The language is a medium for examinations conducted for public services under Article 344(3).
  • States can adopt any of these languages as their official language.
  • It promotes the development and usage of these languages.

Currently, there are 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule. The criteria for including a language in the Eighth Schedule are not explicitly defined in the Constitution, and this has been a subject of discussion and demand for inclusion by various linguistic groups.

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