Cabinet approves conferring status of Classical Language to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali languages
On 3 October 2024, in New Delhi, the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi approved conferring the status of Classical Language to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali languages.
Summary
On 3 October 2024, in New Delhi, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved conferring the status of Classical Language to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali languages. The Government created the category of 'Classical Languages' on 12 October 2004, declaring Tamil a Classical Language; Sanskrit (2005), Telugu and Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013) and Odia (2014) followed. A Linguistic Experts Committee (LEC) under Sahitya Akademi, constituted in November 2004, revised the criteria in a meeting on 25.07.2024, and Sahitya Akademi has been appointed nodal agency. Maharashtra had proposed Marathi in 2013; proposals for Pali, Prakrit, Bengali and Assamese came from Bihar, West Bengal and Assam.
Key facts
- Date
- 3 Oct 2024 (Union Cabinet)
- New classical languages
- Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, Bengali
- Category created
- 12 Oct 2004 (Tamil first)
- Earlier
- Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia
- Criteria revised
- LEC under Sahitya Akademi, 25.07.2024
- Nodal agency
- Sahitya Akademi
Practice MCQs 5 questions
On 3 October 2024, the Union Cabinet approved Classical Language status for which group of languages?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali
PIB (3 Oct 2024): Cabinet approves conferring status of Classical Language to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali languages.
Which language was declared India's first Classical Language when the category was created on 12 October 2004?
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Correct answer: D — Tamil
PIB (3 Oct 2024): the Government created the category of 'Classical Languages' on 12 October 2004, declaring Tamil as Classical Language.
Which body has been appointed the nodal agency for Classical Languages, as per the Cabinet release of 3 October 2024?
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Correct answer: A — Sahitya Akademi
PIB (3 Oct 2024): the Linguistics Experts Committee (under Sahitya Akademi) revised the criteria on 25.07.2024, and Sahitya Akademi has been appointed as nodal agency.
Before October 2024, which language was the most recent to be notified as a Classical Language, on 01/03/2014?
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Correct answer: C — Odia
PIB (3 Oct 2024) lists notification dates: Tamil 12/10/2004, Sanskrit 25/11/2005, Telugu and Kannada 31/10/2008, Malayalam 08/08/2013 and Odia 01/03/2014.
Consider the following about Classical Language status, as per the Cabinet release of 3 October 2024: 1. The Linguistic Experts Committee under Sahitya Akademi revised the criteria in a meeting on 25.07.2024. 2. The Maharashtra Government sent its proposal for Classical Language status for Marathi in 2013. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. PIB (3 Oct 2024): the LEC (under Sahitya Akademi) unanimously revised the criteria in a meeting on 25.07.2024, and a proposal from the Maharashtra Government in 2013 requested Classical Language status for Marathi.