General Awareness · 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 Indian language has the largest number of loanwords from English?

  1. Hindi

  2. Bengali

  3. Marathi

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

Hindi has the largest number of loanwords from English due to its status as the official language of India and its widespread use in education, media, and government.

Multiple choice

Which Indian language has been influenced by English the least?

  1. Hindi

  2. Bengali

  3. Marathi

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

Tamil has been influenced by English the least among the major Indian languages due to its strong literary tradition and its resistance to foreign influences.

Multiple choice

What are some examples of English loanwords in Marathi?

  1. टेलीफोन

  2. कंप्यूटर

  3. इंटरनेट

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

All of the given options are examples of English loanwords in Marathi.

Multiple choice

What are some examples of English loanwords in Tamil?

  1. தொலைபேசி

  2. கணினி

  3. இணையம்

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

All of the given options are examples of English loanwords in Tamil.

Multiple choice

What is the official language of the Union Territory of Puducherry?

  1. Tamil

  2. French

  3. English

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

Tamil is the official language of Puducherry, as per the Official Languages Act, 1963.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a major language of instruction in Indian schools?

  1. Hindi

  2. English

  3. Sanskrit

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

Sanskrit is not a major language of instruction in Indian schools, although it is a classical language of India.

Multiple choice

Which of the following regional languages has had a significant impact on contemporary Indian literature?

  1. Hindi

  2. Bengali

  3. Tamil

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

All of the mentioned regional languages have contributed to the richness and diversity of contemporary Indian literature.

Multiple choice

Which regional language novel was adapted into the popular television series "Mirzapur"?

  1. Hindi

  2. Marathi

  3. Tamil

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

The novel "Mirzapur" by Anubhav Sinha was originally written in Hindi and later adapted into a popular television series.

Multiple choice

Which regional language novel was adapted into the popular television series "Paatal Lok"?

  1. Hindi

  2. Marathi

  3. Tamil

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

The novel "Paatal Lok" by Sudip Sharma was originally written in Hindi and later adapted into a popular television series.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a major linguistic family found in India?

  1. Indo-European

  2. Dravidian

  3. Sino-Tibetan

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

The Indo-European language family is the most widely spoken in India, with languages such as Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, and Gujarati belonging to this group.

Multiple choice

Which state in India has the distinction of having two official languages, one of which is a classical language?

  1. Karnataka

  2. Telangana

  3. Andhra Pradesh

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

Karnataka holds the unique position of having two official languages: Kannada, a Dravidian language, and Sanskrit, a classical language of India.

Multiple choice

Which state in India has the unique distinction of having two official languages, both of which are Dravidian languages?

  1. Tamil Nadu

  2. Kerala

  3. Andhra Pradesh

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

Tamil Nadu is the only state in India with two official languages, Tamil and English, both of which belong to the Dravidian language family.

Multiple choice

Which state in India has the unique distinction of having three official languages, all of which are Dravidian languages?

  1. Andhra Pradesh

  2. Karnataka

  3. Tamil Nadu

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

Andhra Pradesh is the only state in India with three official languages, Telugu, Urdu, and English, all of which belong to the Dravidian language family.

Multiple choice

What is the primary language used in Mohiniyattam songs?

  1. Hindi

  2. Sanskrit

  3. Tamil

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

Malayalam is the primary language used in Mohiniyattam songs.

Multiple choice

What is the primary language used in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India?

  1. Hindi

  2. Tamil

  3. Telugu

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

Nicobarese is a group of languages spoken by the indigenous people of the Nicobar Islands. These languages belong to the Austroasiatic language family.