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Official Language (Part XVII) in India constitution

 

Official Language (Part XVII) in India constitution 


🏛️ Part XVII: Official Language (Articles 343 to 351)

🗂️ Covers: Articles 343 to 351
🔹 Adopted to ensure linguistic unity and promote Indian languages while preserving diversity.

📘 Key Articles in Part XVII: Summary Table

Article Subject Key Points
343 Official language of the Union Hindi in Devanagari script; English to continue for 15 years (from 1950)
344 Commission and Committee on Official Language President to form a Commission after 5 years to recommend promotion of Hindi
345 Official language of States State can adopt Hindi or any language in 8th Schedule
346 Language used for communication between one State and another Hindi or English
347 Special provision for recognition of a language in a State If linguistic minority demands it
348 Language of Supreme Court, High Courts, laws English (until Parliament provides otherwise)
349 Special procedure for language Bills President’s prior sanction needed to introduce bills under Article 348
350 Rights of individuals to represent in any language Can submit grievance in any language used in Union or State
350A Instruction in mother tongue at primary stage Especially for linguistic minorities
350B Special Officer for linguistic minorities Appointed by President
351 Directive for development of Hindi Promote Hindi as a medium of expression of India’s composite culture

🟨 Important Highlights

🗣️ 1. Official Language of the Union – Article 343

  • Hindi in Devanagari script is the official language of the Union.

  • English continued for official use alongside Hindi for 15 years (1950–1965), but was extended indefinitely by the Official Languages Act, 1963.

📖 2. States Can Have Their Own Official Language – Article 345

  • States can adopt any language used in the state or listed in the 8th Schedule.

  • Example: Tamil Nadu uses Tamil, Maharashtra uses Marathi, etc.

🏛️ 3. Judiciary Language – Article 348

  • English is used for:

    • Supreme Court

    • High Courts

    • Acts, Bills, and Ordinances

👧 4. Mother Tongue Education – Article 350A

  • Primary education should be in the mother tongue, especially for linguistic minorities.

📢 5. Promotion of Hindi – Article 351

  • Hindi to be developed to serve as a link language and expression of India’s composite culture.

📚 Important Facts for Exams

  • There is no national language in India.

  • Hindi is the official language of the Union Government.

  • English is an associate official language, used for all official purposes of communication between:

    • Union & States

    • Between States

🧠 Mnemonic to Remember Article Range (343–351)

“Union States Communicate Laws, Represent Cultures Happily”

  • 343: Union Language

  • 345: State Language

  • 346–347: Communication & Recognition

  • 348–349: Laws & Bills

  • 350–351: Rights, Education, Culture

Here are important MCQs on the Official Language provisions (Articles 343 to 351) of the Indian Constitution — essential for UPSC, UKPSC, SSC, PCS, NDA, and other competitive exams:

✅ MCQs on Official Language (Articles 343–351)

(Answers with explanations provided below)

🟢 Single Correct Answer Questions

  1. Which article of the Constitution declares Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of the Union?
    A) Article 344
    B) Article 343
    C) Article 345
    D) Article 351
    ✔️ Answer: B) Article 343

  2. For how many years was English to be used along with Hindi for official purposes after the Constitution came into force?
    A) 10 years
    B) 5 years
    C) 15 years
    D) 20 years
    ✔️ Answer: C) 15 years

  3. The Official Languages Act, 1963 allowed the continued use of which language for official purposes?
    A) Sanskrit
    B) Urdu
    C) English
    D) Kannada
    ✔️ Answer: C) English

  4. Which Article provides for the formation of a Commission to review the progress of the use of Hindi?
    A) Article 343
    B) Article 346
    C) Article 344
    D) Article 348
    ✔️ Answer: C) Article 344

  5. States can adopt their own official language(s) under which Article?
    A) Article 343
    B) Article 351
    C) Article 345
    D) Article 347
    ✔️ Answer: C) Article 345

  6. Which Article deals with the use of English in the Supreme Court and High Courts?
    A) Article 348
    B) Article 349
    C) Article 351
    D) Article 346
    ✔️ Answer: A) Article 348

  7. The President of India can appoint a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities under which Article?
    A) Article 350
    B) Article 350A
    C) Article 350B
    D) Article 351
    ✔️ Answer: C) Article 350B

  8. Under which Article is instruction in the mother tongue at the primary stage of education ensured?
    A) Article 343
    B) Article 344
    C) Article 350A
    D) Article 345
    ✔️ Answer: C) Article 350A

  9. Which Article directs the Union to promote the spread and development of the Hindi language?
    A) Article 344
    B) Article 345
    C) Article 349
    D) Article 351
    ✔️ Answer: D) Article 351

  10. Communication between the Union and the States shall ordinarily be in which language(s)?
    A) Hindi only
    B) English only
    C) Hindi or English
    D) Hindi and regional language
    ✔️ Answer: C) Hindi or English (Article 346)


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