**How many languages are there in the 8th Schedule?**
VerifiedExplanation:
The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution currently contains 22 official languages. This schedule was originally included in the Constitution when it was adopted in 1950, but it has undergone several amendments over the years to include more languages that reflect India's linguistic diversity.
Initially, the Eighth Schedule contained only 14 languages when the Constitution came into effect in 1950. These included Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. The framers of the Constitution carefully selected these languages based on their historical significance, literary heritage, and the number of speakers.
The first major addition came in 1967 through the 21st Constitutional Amendment Act, which added Sindhi to the list, bringing the total to 15 languages. This addition was significant as it recognized the linguistic needs of the Sindhi community, many of whom had migrated to India during the partition.
A more substantial expansion occurred in 1992 with the 71st Constitutional Amendment Act, which added three more languages: Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali. This brought the total to 18 languages and reflected the government's commitment to recognizing the linguistic diversity of different regions, particularly in the northeastern states and Goa.
The most recent addition came in 2003 through the 92nd Constitutional Amendment Act, which added four more languages: Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, and Santhali. This brought the current total to 22 languages and was particularly significant for tribal and regional communities whose languages gained constitutional recognition.
The complete list of 22 languages in the Eighth Schedule includes: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya (now called Odia), Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.
Being included in the Eighth Schedule gives these languages certain constitutional privileges and recognition. It enables their use in official government communications, promotes their development and preservation, and allows candidates to use these languages in various competitive examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission and other government bodies.
