General Awareness ยท Civics Polity

Indian and Sri Lankan Languages

2,991 Questions

Indian and Sri Lankan languages cover various linguistic families, regional dialects, and official state languages. A significant focus is placed on Dravidian languages and their distinctive scripts. Strengthen your general awareness of regional language distribution for upcoming tests.

Dravidian language familyOfficial state languagesRegional Indian dialectsSri Lankan languagesLinguistic communities

Indian and Sri Lankan Languages Questions

Multiple choice

Which language is spoken by the third largest number of people in India but is not included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution?

  1. Telugu

  2. Marathi

  3. Tamil

  4. Gujarati
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Telugu is spoken by over 80 million people in India, making it the third most widely spoken language in the country. However, it is not included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

Multiple choice

Which language is spoken by the fourth largest number of people in India but is not included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution?

  1. Marathi

  2. Tamil

  3. Gujarati

  4. Kannada
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Marathi is spoken by over 70 million people in India, making it the fourth most widely spoken language in the country. However, it is not included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

Multiple choice

Which language is spoken by the fifth largest number of people in India but is not included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution?

  1. Tamil

  2. Gujarati

  3. Kannada

  4. Malayalam
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Tamil is spoken by over 60 million people in India, making it the fifth most widely spoken language in the country. However, it is not included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

Multiple choice

Which of the following languages is NOT spoken by the Indian diaspora in Guyana?

  1. Tamil

  2. Telugu

  3. Marathi

  4. Punjabi
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Marathi is not spoken by the Indian diaspora in Guyana.

Multiple choice

Which South Indian language has the oldest literary tradition?

  1. Tamil

  2. Kannada

  3. Telugu

  4. Malayalam
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Tamil has the oldest literary tradition among South Indian languages, with a history dating back to the Sangam period (3rd century BCE to 3rd century CE).

Multiple choice

Which South Indian language is closely related to Tamil?

  1. Kannada

  2. Telugu

  3. Malayalam

  4. Tulu
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Malayalam is closely related to Tamil, both belonging to the Dravidian language family.

Multiple choice

Which South Indian language is known for its rich Telugu literature?

  1. Tamil

  2. Kannada

  3. Telugu

  4. Malayalam
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Telugu is known for its rich literature, including works like the Mahabharata and Ramayana, translated by Nannaya Bhattaraka and Tikkana Somayaji respectively.

Multiple choice

Which South Indian language is spoken in the state of Kerala?

  1. Tamil

  2. Kannada

  3. Telugu

  4. Malayalam
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Malayalam is the official language of the state of Kerala, spoken by a majority of the population.

Multiple choice

Which South Indian language is spoken in the state of Karnataka?

  1. Tamil

  2. Kannada

  3. Telugu

  4. Malayalam
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Kannada is the official language of the state of Karnataka, spoken by a majority of the population.

Multiple choice

Which South Indian language is spoken in the state of Tamil Nadu?

  1. Tamil

  2. Kannada

  3. Telugu

  4. Malayalam
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Tamil is the official language of the state of Tamil Nadu, spoken by a majority of the population.

Multiple choice

Which South Indian language is spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh?

  1. Tamil

  2. Kannada

  3. Telugu

  4. Malayalam
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Telugu is the official language of the state of Andhra Pradesh, spoken by a majority of the population.

Multiple choice

Which South Indian language is spoken in the state of Telangana?

  1. Tamil

  2. Kannada

  3. Telugu

  4. Malayalam
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Telugu is the official language of the state of Telangana, spoken by a majority of the population.

Multiple choice

Which language is primarily used in the Hindu religious texts, such as the Vedas, Upanishads, and Bhagavad Gita?

  1. Sanskrit

  2. Hindi

  3. Tamil

  4. Telugu
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Sanskrit is the primary language used in Hindu religious texts, holding a sacred and revered position in Hinduism.

Multiple choice

In which language are the Jain religious texts, such as the Agamas and Sutras, primarily written?

  1. Sanskrit

  2. Prakrit

  3. Hindi

  4. Tamil
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Jain religious texts, including the Agamas and Sutras, are predominantly written in Prakrit, a group of ancient Indian languages.

Multiple choice

Which language is predominantly used in the religious practices and texts of the Christian community in India?

  1. Latin

  2. Greek

  3. English

  4. Hindi
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

English is the widely used language in the religious practices and texts of the Christian community in India, due to historical and colonial influences.