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

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.