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Federalism
Question
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Explain the language policy of India.

Answer

Language policy of India:

1. Our Constitution did not give the status of national language to any one language. Hindi was identified as the official language. But Hindi is the mother tongue of only about 40 per cent of the Indians. Therefore, there were many safeguards to protect other languages.

2. Besides Hindi, there are 21 other languages recognised as scheduled languages by the Constitution.

3. A candidate in an examination conducted for the national government positions may opt to take the examination in any of these languages. States too have their own official languages. Much of the government work takes place in the official language of the concerned state.

4. Unlike Sri Lanka, the leaders of our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi. According to the Constitution, the use of English for official purposes was to stop in 1965.

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Some More Questions From Federalism Chapter

Here are three reactions to the language policy followed in India. Give an argument and an example to support any of these positions.
Sangeeta: The policy of accommodation has strengthened national unity.
Arman: Language based States have divided us by making everyone conscious of their language.
Harish: This policy has only helped to consolidate the dominance of English over all other languages.

The distinguishing feature of a federal government is

A few subjects in various lists of the Indian Constitution are given here. Group them under the Union, State and Concurrent Lists as provided in the table below:

Union List

 

State List

 

Concurrent List

 

Examine the following pairs that give the level of government in India and the powers of the government at that level to make laws on the subjects mentioned against each. Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

(a) State government

State List

(b) Central government

Union List

(c) Central and State governments

Concurrent List

(d) Local governments

Residuary Powers

 

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:

List-I

List-II

1. Union of India

2. State

3. Municipal Corporation

4. Gram Panchayat

A. Prime Minister

B. Sarpanch

C. Governor

D. Mayor

 

 

1

2

3

4

(a)

D

A

B

C

(b)

B

C

D

A

(c)

A

C

D

B

(d)

C

D

A

B

 

Consider the following statements:
A. In a federation the powers of the federal and provincial governments are clearly demarcated.
B. India is a federation because the powers of the Union and State governments are specified in the Constitution and they have exclusive jurisdiction on their respective subjects.
C. Sri Lanka is a federation because the country is divided into provinces.
D. India is no longer a federation because the some powers of the states have been devolved to the local government bodies.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?

 

Here are three reactions to the language policy followed in India. Which of the following holds true in the case of India?

In a ‘Holding together federation’
(A) A large country divides its power between constituent states and the national government
(B) The Central government tends to be more powerful vis-a-vis the states
(C) All the constituent states usually have equal powers
(D) Constituent states have unequal powers
Which of the above statements are correct?

Which among the following are examples of ‘Coming together federations’?

___________ has a unitary form of government whereas ___________ has a federal government.