Q. The Constitution (Amendment) Act, 1992 amends the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution to include which of the following languages?
- Konkani
- Manipuri
- Nepali
- Maithili
Select the correct answer using the code given below: (UPSC Prelims 2024)
Answer:
1, 2 and 3
Notes: The correct answer is
[A] 1, 2 and 3. The 71st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, amended the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution to include Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali.
- 71st Amendment Act (1992): This amendment added three languages—Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali—bringing the total number of scheduled languages to 18 at that time.
- Maithili (Statement 4 – Incorrect): Maithili was added later via the 92nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003, along with Bodo, Dogri, and Santhali (often remembered by the acronym BDM S).
- Eighth Schedule Overview: Originally, the Constitution contained 14 languages. Subsequent amendments expanded this list:
- 21st Amendment (1967): Added Sindhi.
- 71st Amendment (1992): Added Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali.
- 92nd Amendment (2003): Added Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, and Santhali.
- 96th Amendment (2011): Changed the spelling of "Oriya" to "Odia".
Currently, there are 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule. These languages enjoy official recognition, and candidates appearing for UPSC civil services examinations can opt for any of these as a medium for the written exam.