Consider the following statements:1. The Constitution prescribes the c...
- The continued use of English was prescribed, not by the constitution, but by the Official Languages Act 1963.
- The legislatures of the states decide their official language. The constitution is silent on deciding their official languages.
Consider the following statements:1. The Constitution prescribes the c...
Understanding the Statements
To evaluate the correctness of the statements regarding the official language of India, let’s break down each statement.
Statement 1: English as the Official Language of the Union
- The Constitution of India, in Article 343, states that Hindi in the Devanagari script is the official language of the Union.
- However, it also allows for the continued use of English for official purposes for a period of 15 years from the commencement of the Constitution, which is until 1965.
- After this period, the official use of English can continue if the Parliament decides so, which has indeed occurred. Therefore, this statement is misleading as it implies a mandatory continuation rather than an allowance.
Statement 2: Official Language of Different States
- The Constitution does not explicitly specify the official language for each state.
- Instead, it empowers the states to adopt their own official languages. Article 345 states that a state can adopt any language as its official language by law.
- This means that states have the autonomy to decide their own official languages based on their linguistic demographics.
Conclusion
- Since the first statement is not entirely accurate, and the second statement is correct, the correct answer is option 'B': Only Statement 2 is correct.