General Awareness ยท Geography
Indian Regional Languages
4,840 Questions
Indian regional languages represent a vast linguistic diversity, featuring distinct language families, dialects, and official state languages. Questions often test knowledge on Indo-Aryan languages, Dravidian scripts, and specific tribal dialects across various Indian states. This hub provides essential practice for mastering the linguistic geography of India for competitive exams.
State Official LanguagesIndo-Aryan LanguagesTribal DialectsRegional ScriptsLanguage Geography
Indian Regional Languages Questions
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Apotanji
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Kakborak
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Ladakhi
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Pahadi
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Arunachal Pradesh has tremendous linguistic diversity with numerous languages including Miji, Tagin, Adi, and others mentioned. Apotanji (also known as Apatani) is indeed one of the major languages spoken by the Apatani tribe in Arunachal Pradesh. The other options are languages from different regions - Kakborak (Tripura), Ladakhi (Ladakh), Pahadi (Himachal/Uttarakhand).
B
Correct answer
Explanation
According to census data, Marathi is spoken by approximately 69% of Maharashtra's population as their mother tongue. This reflects its status as the official language of the state.
C
Correct answer
Explanation
Approximately 11% of Maharashtra's population speaks Hindi according to demographic surveys. Hindi is widely spoken in urban areas and by migrants from northern states.
B
Correct answer
Explanation
Urdu is spoken by approximately 7% of Maharashtra's population, with higher concentrations in urban centers like Mumbai and Pune. It has a significant literary tradition in the state.
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Gujarati is spoken by approximately 2% of Maharashtra's population, primarily in areas bordering Gujarat and in Mumbai's business communities. This reflects migration patterns between the neighboring states.
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Maithili is indeed constitutionally recognized in India as one of the 22 scheduled languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. It is primarily spoken in Bihar and parts of neighboring states, with approximately 35 million speakers.
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Assamese
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Gujrati
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Haryanvi
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Marathi
B
Correct answer
Explanation
'Kem chho' is Gujarati for 'How are you?'. The word 'kem' (how) and 'chho' (are - informal 'you') are distinctive Gujarati markers. This is not Assamese, Haryanvi, or Marathi - those languages have different greetings.
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English
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Marathi
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Gujarati
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Punjabi
B
Correct answer
Explanation
'Tusa naam kahe re?' is Marathi for 'What is your name?'. The words 'tusa' (you - informal), 'naam' (name), and 'kahe' (what) are Marathi. This is not English, Gujarati, or Punjabi - those languages would phrase this differently.
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North Manipur
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Western Orissa
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East Assam
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South Gujurat
B
Correct answer
Explanation
Sambalpuri is an Indo-Aryan language spoken primarily in western Odisha (formerly Orissa). It is part of the Eastern Indo-Aryan language group. It is not spoken in Manipur, Assam, or Gujarat which have different dominant languages.
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Darjeeling
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Nagaland
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Jammu & Kashmir
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Sikkim
C
Correct answer
Explanation
Dogri is primarily spoken by people in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir. It is one of the recognized languages of the union territory and has a rich literary tradition. The other options are incorrect - Darjeeling and Sikkim have Nepali-speaking populations, while Nagaland has languages like Ao, Konyak, and Angami.
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Urdu
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Tamil
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Sanskrit
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English
D
Correct answer
Explanation
English is the associate official language of India, used extensively in government administration, judiciary, and official communications. While Hindi in Devanagari script is the official language under Article 343, English continues to serve important functions as per the Official Languages Act (1963). It bridges India's linguistic diversity and connects the country globally.
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Kashmir
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Goa
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Andaman
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Gujrat
B
Correct answer
Explanation
Konkani is primarily spoken in Goa, where it is the official language and mother tongue of a majority of the population. It is also spoken in parts of Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Kerala, but Goa remains its linguistic heartland. Konkani is not natively spoken in Kashmir, Andaman, or Gujarat.
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Gondi
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Chinese
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Kashmiri
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Bodo
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Bodo is constitutionally recognized as an official language of Assam alongside Assamese. The other options (Gondi, Chinese, Kashmiri) are not official languages of Assam.
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Rajasthan
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Karnataka
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Tamilnadu
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Meghalaya
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Bhili is an Indo-Aryan language spoken primarily in the tribal regions of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Rajasthan is one of the core states where Bhili speakers are concentrated, particularly in the southern and southeastern tribal belts. Karnataka, Tamilnadu, and Meghalaya are not associated with the Bhili language.