Which was the first Indian language to be given classical status, in 2004?

SanskritCorrect answerYour answerTamilCorrect answerYour answerTeluguCorrect answerYour answerKannadaCorrect answerYour answer

Show the answer and explanation

CorrectNot quiteAnswer B

Correct answer: B

Tamil was declared a classical language in 2004, and was the first.
Sanskrit followed in 2005, and Telugu and Kannada together in 2008.
The status carries recognition and funding for study of the language rather than any constitutional consequence.

Worth noting

Classical status and the Eighth Schedule are separate things: a language can be on the Schedule without being classical, and the two lists are decided by different processes.

Concept: The first language to be declared classical
Typical timeTypical: 40 s
Your timeYours: —

The rule this testsLanguages, scripts and classical status

Practise this chapter →

Ten questions from Art, Culture & Heritage, at your own pace.

Which was the first Indian language to be given classical status, in 2004?

Explanation