Question

Identify the true statements about classical languages in India

i. The first declared classical language in India was Sanskrit.

ii. Only six languages have been identified so far.

iii. Classical languages are identified once in five years.

Iv. The languages of all the four South Indian states come under the classical category.

1. Only i & ii are correct
2. Only ii & iv are correct
3. Only i & iv are correct
4. Only i & iii are correct.

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : Only ii & iv are correct

The correct answer is Only ii & iv are correct.

• Presently there are Six classical languages in India
• Classical Languages are declared by the Government of India.
• Classical languages are declared following the guidelines of the Ministry of culture.
• Guidelines for declaring classical languages are
  • High antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1500-2000 years,
  • A body of ancient literature/texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers,
  • The literary tradition be original and not borrowed from another speech community,
  • The classical language and literature being distinct from modern, there may also be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or its offshoots.
• ​The Human Resource and Development Ministry provide certain benefits to promote the classical Languages of India when a language is notified Classical.
  • Two major annual international awards for scholars of eminence in classical Indian languages
  • A Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Languages is set up
  • The University Grants Commission is requested to create, to start with at least in the Central Universities, a certain number of Professional Chairs for the Classical Languages so declared.

•  The six classical languages and when they are declared
  • Tamil in 2004,
  • Sanskrit in 2005,
  • Kannada in 2008,
  • Telugu in 2008,
  • Malayalam in 2013, and
  • Odia in 2014
• All the Classical Languages are listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.