As of April 2025, how many languages are listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution?

Correct option is B

The correct answer is: (B) 22

Explanation:
As of April 2025, the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution officially recognizes 22 languages. 

• 1950: The Constitution initially included 14 languages: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya (now Odia), Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.

• 1967 (21st Amendment): Sindhi was added, increasing the total to 15 languages.

• 1992 (71st Amendment): Konkani, Manipuri (Meitei), and Nepali were included, bringing the total to 18 languages.

• 2003 (92nd Amendment): Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, and Santali were added, raising the total to 22 languages.

• 2011 (96th Amendment): The spelling of Oriya was changed to Odia to reflect the native pronunciation.

These languages are recognized for their cultural and historical significance and are used for official purposes in various states and union territories across India.

Information Booster:

• Official Recognition: Inclusion in the Eighth Schedule grants languages official status, allowing their use in Parliament, judiciary, and other governmental functions.

• Classical Languages: Some languages in the Eighth Schedule, such as Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia, have been designated as classical languages due to their ancient origins and rich literary traditions.

• Demands for Inclusion: There are ongoing demands from various linguistic communities for the inclusion of additional languages in the Eighth Schedule, reflecting India's diverse linguistic landscape.