Question

The year in which the use of English for official purposes was to end in India was _______.
A.1950
B.1956
C.1965
D.1980

Answer 1

Hint: English is one of the few foreign languages that has had a lasting impact on India’s culture. This is mainly because it was used for official purposes during the Colonial Rule. Before it, Persian was the court language and in 1835, English replaced it. The British East India Company was responsible for introducing English in the subcontinent when they established their operations in the 17th century. Then the Charter Act of 1813 permitted Christian missionaries to propagate English in colonial India. However, after Independence, the use of English for official purposes was to be stopped.

Complete step by step solution:
Option A: 1950 is incorrect because although the Indian Constitution came into force that year on Jan 26, it was not when the use of English for official purposes was to be stopped.
Option B: 1956 is incorrect. The State Reorganisation Act 1956 was passed this year to restructure the boundaries of Indian states and territories on a linguistic basis.
Option C: 1965 is correct. After Hindi was declared as the official language in 1947, there was too much resistance from the South Indian non-Hindi-speaking states over its acceptance as the sole national language. Thus the Constitution granted the use of English for official purposes till 1965. However, even after 1965, various states and even union government institutions continue to use English as an associate language.
Option D: 1980 is incorrect. After being met by protests in 1964 over the end of English for official purposes, the Union Government made it an associate language. However, it is yet to be included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

Note: As far as a national language is concerned, India does not have one. The Constitutional provisions of the Eighth Schedule are contained in Articles 344(1) and 351 of the Indian Constitution. It contains 22 official languages (previously 14, increased by amendments) of the Republic of India. The Eighth Schedule provides for the establishment of the Official Languages Commission by the President of India that would have members representing the various languages contained in the Schedule.