Question map
The Constitution (71st Amendment) Act, 1992 amends the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution to include which of the following languages ? 1. Konkani 2. Manipuri 3. Nepali 4. Maithili Select the correct answer using the code given below :
Explanation
The Constitution (71st Amendment) Act, 1992 included Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali languages in the Eighth Schedule[3]. Therefore, languages 1, 2, and 3 mentioned in the question were added by this amendment.
Maithili was not part of the 71st Amendment. Maithili was added later through the 92nd Amendment Act, 2003, along with Bodo, Dogri, and Santhali, bringing the total number of scheduled languages to 22[6]. This is an important distinction for UPSC aspirants to remember.
The 71st Amendment Act specifically made the total number of scheduled languages 18[6], adding the three languages to the existing 15. Hence, option A (1, 2 and 3) is the correct answer as it accurately identifies only those languages included in the 71st Amendment.
Sources- [1] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 92: World Constitutions > APPENDIX IV Constitutional Amendments at a Glance > p. 722
- [2] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 92: World Constitutions > APPENDIX IV Constitutional Amendments at a Glance > p. 722
- [3] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 92: World Constitutions > APPENDIX IV Constitutional Amendments at a Glance > p. 722
- [4] Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 33: LANGUAGES > REFERENCES > p. 473
- [5] Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 33: LANGUAGES > REFERENCES > p. 473
- [6] Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 33: LANGUAGES > REFERENCES > p. 473
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a textbook 'Sitter' directly from the Appendix of Laxmikanth or D.D. Basu. It tests the 'Holy Trinity' of Language Amendments (21st, 71st, 92nd). If you missed this, your static core revision is compromised.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Was Konkani included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution by the Constitution (71st Amendment) Act, 1992?
- Statement 2: Was Manipuri included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution by the Constitution (71st Amendment) Act, 1992?
- Statement 3: Was Nepali included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution by the Constitution (71st Amendment) Act, 1992?
- Statement 4: Was Maithili included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution by the Constitution (71st Amendment) Act, 1992?
- Directly names the Seventy-First Amendment Act, 1992 and records inclusion of Konkani among languages added to the Eighth Schedule
- Specifically groups Konkani with Manipuri and Nepali as the three languages added by that amendment
- Explicitly states the 71st Amendment (1992) added Konkani, Nepali and Manipuri, raising the total number of scheduled languages
- Provides the numerical effect (total became 18), confirming the amendment's substantive change to the Eighth Schedule
- Explicitly states the 71st Amendment Act, 1992 added Konkani, Nepali and Manipuri to the Eighth Schedule.
- Gives the resulting count (made it 18), directly confirming inclusion of Manipuri by that amendment.
- Lists the Seventy-First Amendment Act, 1992 and records inclusion of Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali in the Eighth Schedule.
- Acts as a succinct amendment-entry confirming Manipuri was added by the 71st Amendment.
- Explicitly names the Seventy-First Amendment Act, 1992 as including Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali in the Eighth Schedule.
- Direct statement linking the 71st Amendment (1992) to inclusion of Nepali in the Eighth Schedule.
- States that the 71st Amendment Act, 1992 added Konkani, Nepali and Manipuri, increasing the count to 18 languages.
- Provides a clear timeline and count showing Nepali was added by the 71st Amendment.
- Explicitly states which languages were added in 1992 and which were added later.
- Says Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were included in 1992, while Maithili was added subsequently in 2004 — showing Maithili was not added by the 1992 amendment.
- Describes the Constitution (Seventy-first Amendment) Act, 1992 and the languages it sought to include.
- Names Konkani, Meitei (Manipuri) and Nepali as the languages added by the 71st Amendment, not Maithili.
- Official parliamentary response listing dates of inclusion for languages in the Eighth Schedule.
- Specifies Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were included on 31.08.1992 and separately lists Bodo, Dogri, Maithili & Santhali as included (implying a later action).
Explicitly states which languages the Seventy-First Amendment (1992) included in the Eighth Schedule: Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali.
A student can use this list to check whether Maithili appears among the languages added by the 71st Amendment (if not listed, that suggests Maithili was not added by this amendment).
Notes that the Eighth Schedule has been amended to include three new languages and comments on the absence of a definite standard for inclusion.
Use this pattern to infer amendments often add a small set of named languages; check the specific names in the 71st Amendment text to verify presence/absence of Maithili.
Shows that later amendments (e.g., the Ninety-sixth Amendment, 2011) are used to amend the Eighth Schedule, indicating a pattern of language additions via amendment acts.
Knowing that amendments are the mechanism for adding languages, a student can consult the enacted text of the 71st Amendment to see which languages it added and thereby determine whether Maithili was included.
Is a tabular list of Constitution Amendment Acts and their subjects (including amendments related to creating legislative assemblies and other changes), illustrating that amendment acts are catalogued and can be checked for their specific effects.
A student could look up the entry for the 71st Amendment in such an official table or the amendment act text to confirm which language additions were made and whether Maithili was one of them.
- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Direct lift from Laxmikanth Chapter 'Official Languages' or Appendix 'Constitutional Amendments'.
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: The evolution of the Eighth Schedule (from 14 original languages to the current 22).
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the timeline: 21st Amendment (1967) added Sindhi; 71st (1992) added Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali (Mnemonic: KMN); 92nd (2003) added Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali (Mnemonic: BDMS); 96th (2011) renamed Oriya to Odia.
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Do not read amendments linearly (1 to 105). Group them thematically: Language Amendments, Land Reform Amendments (1st, 44th), and Anti-Defection (52nd, 91st). Use mnemonics for lists.
The 71st Amendment of 1992 specifically added Konkani, Nepali and Manipuri to the Constitution's Eighth Schedule.
High-yield for UPSC because questions often ask which amendment added particular languages or altered the Eighth Schedule; connects constitutional amendment chronology with language policy and regional politics. Mastery enables quick elimination in MCQs and structured answers on language recognition.
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 92: World Constitutions > APPENDIX IV Constitutional Amendments at a Glance > p. 722
- Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 33: LANGUAGES > REFERENCES > p. 473
Inclusion of languages by amendments changes the total count in the Eighth Schedule (e.g., 71st made it 18; later amendments raised it further).
Knowing how amendments altered the count is useful for factual questions and essays on language policy; it links amendment numbers, years, and their substantive effects—frequent UPSC testing pattern.
- Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 33: LANGUAGES > REFERENCES > p. 473
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 92: World Constitutions > APPENDIX IV Constitutional Amendments at a Glance > p. 724
Inclusion in the Eighth Schedule carries specific constitutional implications such as representation and language-related functions under Articles 344(1) and 351.
Understanding the consequences of schedule inclusion is critical for analytical answers on language policy and constitutional safeguards; it connects schedule entries to Articles governing official language commissions and functions—common themes in polity questions.
- Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 34: HOW THE CONSTITUTION HAS WORKED > HOW THE CONSTITUTION HAS WORKED 1 > p. 483
The 71st Amendment added Konkani, Nepali and Manipuri to the Eighth Schedule.
High-yield for UPSC because questions frequently ask which amendments added specific languages; links constitutional amendments to language policy and cultural federalism. Mastering this helps answer amendment-content and language-recognition questions quickly.
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 92: World Constitutions > APPENDIX IV Constitutional Amendments at a Glance > p. 722
- Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 33: LANGUAGES > REFERENCES > p. 473
Amendment numbers and years (for example, the 71st in 1992 and the 92nd in 2003) identify the specific constitutional changes made.
Important for recall under exam conditions: UPSC often asks 'which amendment did X' or 'in which year'; learning the number-year-content mapping reduces elimination errors and links to broader topics on amendment procedure and legislative history.
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 92: World Constitutions > APPENDIX IV Constitutional Amendments at a Glance > p. 722
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 92: World Constitutions > APPENDIX IV Constitutional Amendments at a Glance > p. 724
Articles 344(1) and 351 are the constitutional provisions relevant to languages listed in the Eighth Schedule.
Useful for answering higher-order questions on language policy and constitutional safeguards: connects the list of recognized languages to procedural and administrative implications under the Constitution. Helps in conceptual questions on language-related rights and central language functions.
- Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 34: HOW THE CONSTITUTION HAS WORKED > HOW THE CONSTITUTION HAS WORKED 1 > p. 483
The inclusion of Nepali in the Eighth Schedule occurred through a specific Constitutional amendment (the 71st Amendment, 1992).
High-yield for UPSC: questions often ask which languages were constitutionally recognised and by which amendment. Mastering this helps answer exam items on language policy, amendment history, and constitutional recognition of languages.
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 92: World Constitutions > APPENDIX IV Constitutional Amendments at a Glance > p. 722
- Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 33: LANGUAGES > REFERENCES > p. 473
The 96th Amendment Act, 2011, did not add a language but substituted 'Odia' for 'Oriya'. Also, distinguish this from 'Classical Languages' (Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Odia)—a separate status not defined in the Constitution but by executive order.
Use the 'Batch Size' Logic: The 1992 amendment added a medium batch (3 languages: KMN). The 2003 amendment added a large batch (4 languages: BDMS). Maithili is part of the 'BDMS' group (Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali). Since Maithili belongs to the later, larger group, eliminate option 4.
Mains GS-2 (Federalism & Regional Aspirations): The inclusion of languages like Nepali (1992) and Santhali (2003) is a prime example of 'Asymmetric Federalism' and state accommodation to cool down sub-national movements (e.g., Gorkhaland agitation).