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

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

  1. Tamil

  2. Telugu

  3. Kannada

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

Tamil is the official language of the Union Territory of Puducherry, a region with a rich cultural heritage and a strong linguistic identity.

Multiple choice

Which language is used in the majority of websites in India?

  1. Hindi

  2. English

  3. Tamil

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

English is used in the majority of websites in India due to its status as an official language and its widespread use in business, education, and government.

Multiple choice

Which language is used in the majority of websites 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 used in the majority of websites in Sri Lanka due to its status as the national language and its widespread use in media, education, and government.

Multiple choice

Which East Indian language is considered the oldest living language in the world?

  1. Sanskrit

  2. Tamil

  3. Bengali

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

Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language, is widely recognized as the oldest living language in the world, with its roots dating back to the 2nd millennium BCE.

Multiple choice

Which East Indian language has the largest number of speakers?

  1. Hindi

  2. Bengali

  3. Marathi

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

Hindi, an Indo-Aryan language, is the most widely spoken language in India and has the largest number of speakers among East Indian languages.

Multiple choice

Which East Indian language is known for its rich classical literature?

  1. Tamil

  2. Sanskrit

  3. Odia

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

Tamil, a Dravidian language, has a rich classical literature dating back to the Sangam period (3rd century BCE to 3rd century CE).

Multiple choice

Which East Indian language is closely related to Sanskrit?

  1. Hindi

  2. Marathi

  3. Gujarati

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

Hindi, an Indo-Aryan language, is closely related to Sanskrit and shares many similarities in grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

Multiple choice

Which East Indian language is known for its unique script?

  1. Tamil

  2. Telugu

  3. Kannada

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

Tamil, a Dravidian language, has a unique script that is distinct from other Indian scripts and is used to write Tamil literature and inscriptions.

Multiple choice

Which East Indian language is known for its unique grammatical features?

  1. Magadhi

  2. Angika

  3. Vajjika

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

Magadhi, an Indo-Aryan language, is known for its unique grammatical features, including the use of certain verb forms and the retention of archaic vocabulary.

Multiple choice

Which Indian language has the distinction of being the first to have a novel translated into English?

  1. Hindi

  2. Bengali

  3. Tamil

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

Bengali holds the distinction of being the first Indian language to have a novel translated into English. The novel, "Alaler Gharer Dulal" by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, was translated into English in 1885.

Multiple choice

What is the official language of Sri Lanka?

  1. Sinhala

  2. Tamil

  3. English

  4. Malay
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 modern Indian language is widely used in Bollywood movies?

  1. Hindi

  2. Tamil

  3. Telugu

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

Hindi is the most widely used language in Bollywood movies, which is the largest film industry in India.

Multiple choice

Which modern Indian language is known for its rich literature, including the works of Rabindranath Tagore?

  1. Bengali

  2. Marathi

  3. Gujarati

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

Bengali is known for its rich literature, including the works of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

Multiple choice

Which modern Indian language is used in the Carnatic music tradition?

  1. Tamil

  2. Telugu

  3. Kannada

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

Tamil is the primary language used in the Carnatic music tradition, which is a classical music form of South India.

Multiple choice

Which modern Indian language is used in the Kathakali dance form?

  1. Malayalam

  2. Tamil

  3. Telugu

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

Malayalam is the language used in the Kathakali dance form, which is a classical dance form of Kerala.