General Awareness ยท Civics Polity

Indian and Sri Lankan Languages

3,062 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 predominantly used in the regional literature of West Bengal?

  1. Hindi

  2. Bengali

  3. Marathi

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

Bengali is the primary language used in the regional literature of West Bengal, which has a rich literary tradition dating back centuries.

Multiple choice

Which language is primarily used in the regional literature of Maharashtra?

  1. Hindi

  2. Bengali

  3. Marathi

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

Marathi is the primary language used in the regional literature of Maharashtra, with a rich tradition of poetry, drama, and prose.

Multiple choice

Which regional language is spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh?

  1. Marathi

  2. Telugu

  3. Odia

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

Telugu is the official language of the state of Andhra Pradesh and is widely used in regional literature, poetry, and cultural expressions.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not an East Indian language?

  1. Bengali

  2. Hindi

  3. Kannada

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

Kannada is a Dravidian language spoken in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, while Bengali, Hindi, and Odia are Indo-Aryan languages spoken in the eastern part of India.

Multiple choice

Which East Indian language is considered to be the oldest?

  1. Sanskrit

  2. Tamil

  3. Odia

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

Sanskrit is an ancient Indo-Aryan language that is considered to be the oldest of the East Indian languages. It is the liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism and is still used in religious ceremonies and rituals.

Multiple choice

Which regional language literature has had the most significant impact on the development of Indian literature?

  1. Hindi

  2. Bengali

  3. Tamil

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

Bengali literature has had a profound influence on the development of Indian literature, with its rich tradition of poetry, prose, and drama.

Multiple choice

Which regional language literature is known for its strong tradition of oral storytelling?

  1. Hindi

  2. Marathi

  3. Telugu

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

Rajasthani literature is known for its strong tradition of oral storytelling, with tales of bravery, romance, and chivalry passed down through generations.

Multiple choice

Which regional language literature is known for its rich tradition of devotional poetry?

  1. Gujarati

  2. Marathi

  3. Tamil

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

Tamil literature is known for its rich tradition of devotional poetry, with works such as the Tirukkural and the Thevaram.

Multiple choice

Which regional language literature is known for its strong tradition of theater and drama?

  1. Marathi

  2. Gujarati

  3. Telugu

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

Marathi literature is known for its strong tradition of theater and drama, with works such as the plays of Vijay Tendulkar and Girish Karnad.

Multiple choice

Which language is spoken by the majority of the population in Sri Lanka?

  1. Sinhala

  2. Tamil

  3. English

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

Sinhala is the official language of Sri Lanka and is spoken by the majority of the population.

Multiple choice

Which language is spoken by the majority of the population in the Lakshadweep Islands?

  1. Hindi

  2. Urdu

  3. Malayalam

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

Lakshadweep Creole, a Malayalam-based language, is spoken by the majority of the population in the Lakshadweep Islands.

Multiple choice

Which extinct language was spoken in ancient India and is the ancestor of many modern Indo-Aryan languages?

  1. Sanskrit

  2. Prakrit

  3. Pali

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

Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language, is the ancestor of many modern Indo-Aryan languages spoken in South Asia. It is known for its rich literature, including the Vedas, Upanishads, and epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana.

Multiple choice

Which language is the official language of the state of Tamil Nadu?

  1. Hindi

  2. English

  3. Tamil

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

Tamil is the official language of the state of Tamil Nadu, as per the Tamil Nadu Official Language Act, 1956.

Multiple choice

Which language is the official language of the state of Karnataka?

  1. Hindi

  2. English

  3. Kannada

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

Kannada is the official language of the state of Karnataka, as per the Karnataka Official Language Act, 1963.

Multiple choice

Which language is the official language of the state of Andhra Pradesh?

  1. Hindi

  2. English

  3. Telugu

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

Telugu is the official language of the state of Andhra Pradesh, as per the Andhra Pradesh Official Language Act, 1966.