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Read the following… (Social Science 2024 32/2/1 Q36)

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Social ScienceCBSE Class 10 · Board exam 2024, set 32/2/1 · 4 marks · Case-based

CBSE Class 10 Social Science 2024: question 36

Set in the CBSE Class 10 board exam of 2024, paper 32/2/1, section E, question 36, for 4 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q36 · 4 marks · Case-basedCompetency-basedFederalism

Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

Linguistic diversity of India

How many languages do we have in India? The answer depends on how one counts it. The latest information that we have is from the Census of India held in 2011. This census recorded more than 1300 distinct languages which people mentioned as their mother tongues. These languages were grouped together under some major languages. For example, languages like Bhojpuri, Magadhi, Bundelkhandi, Chhattisgarhi, Rajasthani and many others were grouped together under 'Hindi'. Even after this grouping, the Census found 121 major languages. Of these, 22 languages are now included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and are therefore called 'Scheduled Languages'. Others are called 'Non-Scheduled Languages'. In terms of languages, India is perhaps the most diverse country in the world.

  1. (36.1)

    How many languages were recorded as mother tongues in the 2011 Census of India?

    1 mark
  2. (36.2)

    How were the languages grouped together in the Census report?

    1 mark
  3. (36.3)

    How does the inclusion of languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution contribute to linguistic diversity? Explain.

    2 marks

Source: official question paper from cbse.gov.in (PDF). See it in the full 2024 board paper, set 32/2/1.

Hints

Open one hint at a time and try again before the next.

Hint 1

The numbers are stated in the second sentence of the extract.

Hint 2

Which major language absorbed many smaller ones? Look at the example given.

Hint 3

For 36.3, think about what official recognition gives a language and its speakers.

Step-by-step solution

Each step shows the marks it earns, as an examiner would award them. Checked by an independent re-solve from the question paper.

  1. (36.1) The 2011 Census recorded more than 1300 distinct languages as mother tongues.

    1 mark

  2. (36.2) Languages such as Bhojpuri, Magadhi, Bundelkhandi, Chhattisgarhi and Rajasthani were grouped under the major language 'Hindi'.

    1 mark

  3. (36.3) Inclusion in the Eighth Schedule gives these languages official recognition for their cultural and linguistic importance.

    1 mark

  4. It helps protect and promote them, so speakers can get education and government services in their own language. Most are also official languages of their states.

    1 mark

Answer: (36.1) More than 1300. (36.2) Grouped under major languages, e.g. Bhojpuri, Magadhi etc. under Hindi. (36.3) Recognition, protection and promotion of the 22 Scheduled languages.

Where the marks are

  • 36.1 More than 1300 languages (1 mark)
  • 36.2 Grouped under major languages, with example (1 mark)
  • 36.3 Recognition of significance (1 mark)
  • 36.3 Protection, promotion, access to education and services (1 mark)

Revise the chapter

  • Chapter: Federalism (notes, formulas, where marks are lost and every past question)
Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from Federalism, one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paper2024 board paper, set 32/2/1: every question, by section.

The question is transcribed from the official paper; figures are described in words. The solution, hints and chapter tag are ours. Spotted an error? Write tosupport@questionbuddy.in.