How many languages enjoy the ‘classical’ status in India ?

Ten
Eight
Six
Four

The correct answer is (a) Ten.

The following languages enjoy the ‘classical’ status in India:

  • Sanskrit
  • Tamil
  • Telugu
  • Kannada
  • Malayalam
  • Odia
  • Bengali
  • Assamese
  • Marathi
  • Gujarati
  • Punjabi

The status of a classical language in India is conferred by the Central Government. The criteria for conferring this status are:

  • The language must have a long literary history.
  • The language must have a rich and varied literature.
  • The language must have a significant impact on the culture and history of India.
  • The language must be spoken by a large number of people.

The languages listed above have all been conferred the status of classical languages by the Central Government.