UPSC Prelims 2014 – Question 8

Q: Consider the following languages:

a) Gujarati

b) Kannada

c) Telugu

Which of the above has/have been declared as ‘Classical Language / Languages’ by the Government?

The Correct Answer is Option 3.

Classical Language

• Currently, there are six languages that enjoy the ‘Classical’ status in India: Tamil (declared in 2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014). Therefore, Gujarati is not classical language but Telugu and Kannada are classical language. Hence, Option 3 is correct.
• The Ministry of Culture provides the guidelines regarding Classical languages.
• Guidelines for declaring a language as ‘Classical’ 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.

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