UPSC Indian Society – Chapter 2: Diversity of India – Unity in Diversity (20 MCQs)

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UPSC Indian Society – Chapter 2: Diversity of India – Unity in Diversity (20 MCQs) – 20 questions, subject: Indian Society. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

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1.  

The first language to be declared a classical language by the Government of India was:

Correct Answer: C [Tamil]

Explanation:

2004.

2.  

Which of the following languages was added to the Eighth Schedule in 1967?

Correct Answer: A [Sindhi]

Explanation:

21st Amendment.

3.  

According to Census 2011, the share of Christians in India's population was about:

Correct Answer: C [2.3 per cent]

Explanation:

Census 2011 counted Christians at 2.3 per cent of the population, concentrated in Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Kerala and Goa.

4.  

Article 350B of the Constitution provides for:

Correct Answer: D [a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities]

Explanation:

Article 350B, added by the 7th Amendment (1956), provides for a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities appointed by the President.

5.  

The six racial elements in India's population were identified by:

Correct Answer: A [B.S. Guha]

Explanation:

B.S. Guha, using 1931 Census data, identified six racial elements, from the Negrito to the Nordic.

6.  

Santhali belongs to which language family?

Correct Answer: C [Austro-Asiatic]

Explanation:

Munda branch.

7.  

The three-language formula, in the form adopted by the National Policy on Education of 1968, was recommended by the:

Correct Answer: B [Kothari Commission]

Explanation:

1964–66.

8.  

In which of the following States did Christians form the majority of the population at Census 2011?

Correct Answer: A [Mizoram]

Explanation:

Christians formed about 87 per cent of Mizoram's population at Census 2011, one of three Christian-majority States with Nagaland and Meghalaya.

9.  

The compromise on the official language reached in the Constituent Assembly in 1949 is known as the:

Correct Answer: B [Munshi–Ayyangar formula]

Explanation:

The Munshi–Ayyangar formula of 1949 made Hindi in Devanagari the Union's official language while keeping English for fifteen years.

10.  

Consider the following statements:

1. Census 2011 recorded 121 languages spoken by 10,000 or more people.
2. Hindi is the largest mother tongue in India.
3. The Eighth Schedule now lists 24 languages.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

Census 2011 counted 121 languages with 10,000 or more speakers and Hindi led at 43.63 per cent; the Schedule lists 22.

11.  

Assertion (A): The reorganisation of States on linguistic lines did not lead to the break-up of India.

Reason (R): Recognising linguistic identities gave groups a stake in the federal system.

Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]

Explanation:

Linguistic States gave each language group a stake in the federal system, which is why reorganisation strengthened rather than broke India.

12.  

Jains were notified as a religious minority at the national level in:

Correct Answer: C [2014]

Explanation:

Jains were notified in January 2014 as the sixth national minority under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.

13.  

Which of the following was NOT among the five languages given classical status in October 2024?

Correct Answer: A [Odia]

Explanation:

Odia got classical status in 2014.

14.  

Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhali were added to the Eighth Schedule by the:

Correct Answer: D [92nd Amendment]

Explanation:

2003.

15.  

The "salad bowl" model of managing diversity means:

Correct Answer: A [keeping distinct identities within one nation]

Explanation:

In the salad bowl model groups keep their distinct identities within one nation, the model India's Constitution adopted.

16.  

Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat was announced on:

Correct Answer: B [31 October 2015]

Explanation:

birth anniversary of Sardar Patel.

17.  

Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. Official Languages Act
2. Munshi–Ayyangar formula
3. Tamil declared a classical language
4. Report of the States Reorganisation Commission

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [2-4-1-3]

Explanation:

1949, 1955, 1963, 2004.

18.  

Which language family has the largest share of speakers in India?

Correct Answer: B [Indo-Aryan]

Explanation:

about 78%.

19.  

Article 29 of the Constitution protects:

Correct Answer: D [the language, script and culture of any section of citizens]

Explanation:

Article 29 gives any section of citizens with a distinct language, script or culture the right to conserve it.

20.  

Punjab is the only State in which the majority of the population (Census 2011) is:

Correct Answer: D [Sikh]

Explanation:

Punjab is India's only Sikh-majority State; Sikhs formed about 58 per cent of its population at Census 2011.

➤ Full notes, maps, tables, a reason for every option and Mains PYQs – U07 · Indian Society (UPSC book, ₹249): www.shanmugamiasacademy.in/study-materials/upsc-indian-society

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