​Which of the following statements is /are correct in the context of The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020.
​1. The Bill was for the inclusion of Kashmiri, Dogri and Hindi in the list of official languages in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
​2. The Bill is for the inclusion of Urdu and English in the list of official languages in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
​Select the correct answer by using the code mentioned below.​

Correct option is B

The correct answer is: (b) Only 1

• Statement 1 is correct: The Bill recognized Kashmiri, Dogri, and Hindi as official languages of the newly formed Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. This was in addition to the previously recognized Urdu and English.

• Statement 2 is incorrect: Urdu and English were already the official languages of the former State of Jammu & Kashmir and continued as official languages after the reorganization. They were not newly added by this Bill.

• The Act was passed by both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in September 2020, officially recognizing five official languages: Kashmiri, Dogri, Hindi, Urdu, and English.

• The inclusion of Kashmiri and Dogri addressed long-standing demands from the population, with Kashmiri spoken by over 50% and Dogri by 26% of the UT population.

• Hindi, although spoken by a smaller minority, was also recognized due to its widespread use in administration.

• The UT administration is empowered to promote regional languages like Pahari, Punjabi, and Gojari through cultural institutions.