From the following languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution pick out of the one which is the official language of a State?

1. Introduction to Part XVII of the Constitution (basic)

To understand the linguistic landscape of India, we must look at Part XVII of the Constitution. Unlike many countries with a single national language, the Indian Constitution-makers adopted a nuanced approach to handle India's vast diversity. Part XVII, which encompasses Articles 343 to 351, provides the legal framework for the use of official languages in various spheres of governance Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Salient Features of the Constitution, p.37.

The provisions within this Part are systematically organized into four distinct heads to ensure clarity in administration, justice, and the development of languages Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Official Language, p.540. These are:

• Language of the Union: Dealing with the official language for central administration and communication between the Union and States.
• Regional Languages: Giving States the autonomy to choose their own official languages for local administration.
• Language of the Judiciary: Specifying the language to be used in the Supreme Court, High Courts, and for the authoritative texts of Bills and Acts.
• Special Directives: Including instructions for the protection of linguistic minorities and the development of the Hindi language.

While Part XVII sets the rules for usage, it is closely linked to the Eighth Schedule, which provides a list of recognized languages. Interestingly, the Constitution does not strictly limit a State's choice of official language only to those listed in the Eighth Schedule; a State Legislature has the power to adopt any language in use within that state for its official purposes Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Official Language, p.541.

Category	Articles	Primary Focus
Union Language	343 – 344	Official language of the Central Government.
Regional Languages	345 – 347	Official language(s) of the States.
Judiciary & Laws	348 – 349	Language of Courts and legal texts.
Special Directives	350 – 351	Grievances, minority protection, and Hindi promotion.

Sources: Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Salient Features of the Constitution, p.37; Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Official Language, p.540-541

2. The Eighth Schedule: List and Evolution (basic)

India is a land of immense linguistic diversity. While the 2011 Census recorded over 1,300 mother tongues, these are grouped into major language clusters for administrative and constitutional recognition. Currently, the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution recognizes 22 languages, which are referred to as "Scheduled Languages" NCERT Class X, Democratic Politics-II, p.22. These 22 languages are spoken by approximately 91% of the Indian population and serve two primary purposes: they are represented in the Official Language Commission and they act as a base for the enrichment of the Hindi language M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, p.542.

The list of languages has evolved significantly since independence. The original Constitution enumerated only 14 languages. Over the years, political movements and the need for cultural recognition led to several amendments that expanded this list to the current 22 D.D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, p.473. This evolution highlights how the Indian state responds to the diverse linguistic aspirations of its citizens.

While many of these languages are official languages of specific states—such as Urdu, which has a long history as a primary official language in Jammu and Kashmir, or Nepali in Sikkim—others, like Sindhi or Sanskrit, do not serve as the primary official language of any specific state but are recognized for their deep cultural and historical importance M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, p.542.

Sources: Democratic Politics-II. Political Science-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025), Federalism, p.22; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.), LANGUAGES, p.465; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Official Language, p.542; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.), LANGUAGES, p.473

3. Official Language of the Union (Article 343-344) (intermediate)

When India became independent, one of the most contentious debates in the Constituent Assembly was the choice of an Official Language. To balance the need for a national identity with the reality of linguistic diversity, the framers dedicated Part XVII of the Constitution (Articles 343 to 351) to this issue M. Laxmikanth, Official Language, p.540. Unlike a 'National Language' (which the Constitution does not define), the 'Official Language' refers specifically to the language used for the government's administrative, legislative, and judicial business.

Article 343 establishes two fundamental rules: first, the official language of the Union is Hindi in Devanagari script; second, the form of numerals to be used is the international form of Indian numerals (e.g., 1, 2, 3). However, recognizing that a sudden shift from English would be administratively impossible, the Constitution provided a 15-year transition period (until 1965) during which English would continue to be used D. D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, LANGUAGES, p.466. As the deadline approached, intense protests—particularly in South India—led to the Official Languages Act of 1963, which allowed English to continue indefinitely as an 'associate' official language alongside Hindi Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, p.637.

To ensure this transition was handled democratically, Article 344 provided a structured mechanism for review. This involves two distinct bodies:

• Official Language Commission: Appointed by the President at the end of 5 and 10 years from the commencement of the Constitution to make recommendations on the progressive use of Hindi.
• Committee of Parliament on Official Language: A 30-member committee (20 from Lok Sabha, 10 from Rajya Sabha) elected by proportional representation to examine the Commission's recommendations and report their findings to the President M. Laxmikanth, Official Language, p.705.

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Official Language, p.540, 705; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, LANGUAGES, p.466; A Brief History of Modern India, Rajiv Ahir, Developments under Nehru’s Leadership (1947-64), p.637

4. Language of the Judiciary and Legislation (intermediate)

To understand the Language of the Judiciary and Legislation, we must look at Article 348 of the Indian Constitution. The framers prioritized legal certainty and uniformity, which is why they mandated that, until Parliament provides otherwise, English shall be the language for all proceedings in the Supreme Court and every High Court, as well as the authoritative texts of all Bills, Acts, and Ordinances Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Official Language, p.541. This ensures that legal precedents remain accessible and consistent across India’s diverse linguistic landscape.

However, the Constitution provides a flexible bridge toward regional languages. The Governor of a state, with the previous consent of the President, can authorize the use of Hindi or any other official language of the state (often an Eighth Schedule language) in the proceedings of the High Court. It is important to note a fine distinction: this authorization applies to proceedings (arguments and documents), but the judgments, decrees, or orders passed by the High Court must continue to be in English until Parliament enacts a law to the contrary Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, Languages, p.468.

In the realm of legislation, while a State Legislature may adopt any regional language (like Urdu in Jammu and Kashmir or Nepali in Sikkim) for its internal work, Article 348(3) mandates that an English translation of such Acts or Bills must be published in the Official Gazette to serve as the authoritative text. This creates a dual-layer system where regional identity is respected through official status, but legal technicality is preserved through English Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Official Language, p.541.

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth (7th ed.), Official Language, p.541; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.), Languages, p.468

5. Special Directives for Linguistic Minorities (intermediate)

When we talk about the Eighth Schedule, we often focus on the list of 22 languages. However, the Constitution also recognizes that India is a land of thousands of dialects and mother tongues. To protect people whose language is not the majority in their state, the Constitution includes Special Directives. These are not just decorative; they are functional safeguards designed to ensure that a child’s education and a community’s identity are not lost in the administrative machinery of a state.

The first major directive is Article 350A, which focuses on the most vulnerable stage: primary education. It directs every State and local authority to provide adequate facilities for instruction in the mother-tongue at the primary stage of education for children belonging to linguistic minority groups. Interestingly, the President has the power to issue directions to any State to ensure these facilities are provided D. D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, MINORITIES, SCHEDULED CASTES AND SCHEDULED TRIBES, p.455. However, the Supreme Court has clarified that while the State must provide these facilities, it cannot compel or force a minority group to choose only their mother tongue as the medium of instruction, as this would interfere with their Fundamental Rights under Articles 19, 29, and 30 D. D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, LANGUAGES, p.473.

The second pillar is the Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities under Article 350B. You might be surprised to learn that this office was not part of the original Constitution. It was introduced later to address the friction caused by the redrawing of state boundaries based on language.

The Special Officer is appointed by the President and is tasked with investigating all matters relating to the safeguards provided for linguistic minorities. The officer reports directly to the President, who then ensures these reports are laid before each House of Parliament and sent to the respective State Governments Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities, p.442. This ensures a level of national oversight over how states treat their linguistic fringes.

Sources: Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, MINORITIES, SCHEDULED CASTES AND SCHEDULED TRIBES, p.455; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, LANGUAGES, p.473; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities, p.442

6. Regional Languages and State Discretion (Article 345) (exam-level)

In our federal structure, the Constitution respects linguistic diversity by not imposing a single official language on all states. Instead, Article 345 grants State Legislatures the constitutional discretion to adopt any one or more languages in use within that state, or Hindi, as their official language(s). As highlighted in Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Official Language, p.541, a critical point for the UPSC is that a state's choice is not restricted to the 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule. A state can choose a minor dialect or even a foreign language like English if it is 'in use' within its territory.

Until a state legislature formally adopts an official language through law, the Constitution provides a 'default' setting: English continues to be used for official purposes within that state just as it was before the Constitution commenced Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, LANGUAGES, p.468. This ensures there is no administrative vacuum. Furthermore, this discretion allows for multiple official languages; for example, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir currently recognizes five official languages (Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu, Hindi, and English), reflecting its complex linguistic fabric.

It is also important to distinguish between the powers of the State Legislature and the President. While Article 345 is about the state's own initiative, Article 347 allows the President to intervene. If the President is satisfied that a 'substantial proportion' of a state's population desires their language to be recognized, they can direct the state to officially recognize it Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, LANGUAGES, p.469. This acts as a democratic safeguard for linguistic minorities who might be overlooked by the state legislature.

Feature	Article 345 (State Discretion)	Article 347 (Presidential Power)
Authority	State Legislature	President of India
Trigger	Legislative will/discretion	Demand by a "substantial proportion" of the population
Language Source	Any language "in use" or Hindi	Language spoken by a section of the population

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Official Language, p.541; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, LANGUAGES, p.468; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, LANGUAGES, p.469

7. Specific Case Studies: Urdu, Nepali, and Kashmiri (exam-level)

While the Eighth Schedule provides a list of 22 languages, the way these languages function as official languages at the state level varies greatly. Some languages have a clear geographical home, while others serve as administrative links or historical legacies. Three languages—Urdu, Nepali, and Kashmiri—offer fascinating case studies into India’s linguistic federalism.

Urdu occupies a unique position. Often described as a language born in India but lacking a single "strong regional base" where it is the primary spoken tongue of the majority, it has nonetheless played a massive role in administration. Historically, Urdu was the sole official language of the state of Jammu and Kashmir Geography of India, Chapter 13, p. 49. Beyond J&K, Urdu is frequently adopted as a second official language to protect the rights of linguistic minorities. For instance, the Supreme Court upheld its status as a second official language in Uttar Pradesh for specific administrative purposes Introduction to the Constitution of India, LANGUAGES, p. 469. This highlights Article 345, which allows a state legislature to adopt any language "in use" in the state for official purposes.

Nepali and Kashmiri present a contrast in demographic vs. administrative recognition:

• Nepali: In Sikkim, Nepali is the language of the overwhelming majority of the population. This demographic reality was a core part of the democratic aspirations that led to Sikkim’s full integration into India in 1975, moving away from the rule of the Chogyal Politics in India since Independence, Chapter 7, p. 131. Today, it serves as the official language of the state.
• Kashmiri: Despite being spoken by a significant portion of the population in Jammu and Kashmir (approx. 0.56% of the national population, but a majority in the Valley), it was not an official language of the state for decades. This changed with the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020.

The 2020 Act was a landmark shift for the Union Territory. It expanded the official language list from just Urdu and English to include five languages to better reflect the linguistic diversity of the region Introduction to the Constitution of India, Chapter 15, p. 299.

Language	Primary Official Status (Current/Historical)	Key Context
Urdu	Jammu & Kashmir (UT), Uttar Pradesh (2nd), Telangana (2nd)	Historically the sole official language of J&K; used for revenue and police records.
Nepali	Sikkim, West Bengal (Darjeeling/Kalimpong)	Reflects the majority demographic in Sikkim since its merger with India.
Kashmiri	Jammu & Kashmir (UT)	Granted official status only recently via the 2020 Act.

Sources: Geography of India, Cultural Setting, p.49; Introduction to the Constitution of India, Jammu and Kashmir, p.299; Introduction to the Constitution of India, LANGUAGES, p.469; Politics in India since Independence, Regional Aspirations, p.131

8. Solving the Original PYQ (exam-level)

Now that you have mastered the Eighth Schedule and the constitutional provisions regarding Official Languages, this question serves as the perfect test of your ability to apply that knowledge. The core concept here is the distinction between a language being 'scheduled' (listed in the Constitution for preservation and representation) and being 'official' (the language used for government business in a specific state under Article 345). While all four options are among the 22 scheduled languages, only (B) Urdu has traditionally been recognized as the primary official language of a state in this specific UPSC context.

To arrive at the correct answer, you must evaluate the administrative status of each option. As noted in Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, Urdu was the sole official language of the state of Jammu and Kashmir for decades, a status it maintains alongside others in the current Union Territory framework. You might be tempted by (D) Nepali, which is an official language of Sikkim, but in the hierarchy of 'classic' UPSC questions, Urdu's historical and unique administrative role in the North makes it the most established answer for this set of options. Reasoning through the administrative reality of the state, rather than just the list of 22, is the key to cracking such questions.

The common traps to avoid are (A) Kashmiri and (C) Sindhi. A frequent mistake is assuming Kashmiri is the official language of J&K simply because of the state's name; however, it only recently gained that status in 2020. Sindhi represents a classic 'stateless language' trap—it is a scheduled language, but as explained in Geography of India, Majid Husain, it does not serve as the primary official language for any specific Indian state. Remember: not every language in the Eighth Schedule is a state's official language, and not every state's official language is in the Eighth Schedule (like English in Nagaland)!