UPSC Prelims · General Studies

Ancient, medieval & culture

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Indian art and culture / Literature, languages and sources

Languages, scripts and classical-language status

Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Austro-Asiatic (Munda: Ho, Santali, Mundari; Khasi), Tibeto-Burman; tribal languages such as Halbi, Ho, Kui, Gondi
Prakrits (Ardhamagadhi, Shauraseni, Maharashtri), Pali, Apabhramsha as the bridge to modern Indo-Aryan
Brahmi (Ashokan), Kharosthi (north-west, from Aramaic), Tamil-Brahmi, Gupta and Kutila, Sharada, Grantha, Vatteluttu, Nagari, Bengali, Gurmukhi
Classical Language status: Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Telugu and Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013), Odia (2014); Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, Bengali (2024); criteria and benefits
Eighth Schedule languages (22) as the constitutional list distinct from Classical status; cross-reference to Polity

Where to study

Theme 2 Kings, Farmers and Towns, pp. 1-25 (printed 28-52)
Theme 2 Kings, Farmers and Towns, 3. An Early Empire: Languages and scripts (Prakrit, Pali, Sanskrit, Tamil), p. 5 (printed 32)
Theme 2 Kings, Farmers and Towns, 3. An Early Empire: Languages and scripts; 7. Back to Basics: How Are Inscriptions Deciphered? (Brahmi, Kharosthi, Nagari, Grantha), pp. 5-6 (printed 32-33)
Theme 2 Kings, Farmers and Towns, 7. Back to Basics: How Are Inscriptions Deciphered?, pp. 19-20 (printed 46-47)

ch. 11 Buildings, Paintings and Books, The world of books (Sanskrit, Prakrit and Tamil books), pp. 6-8 (printed 119-121)

Lesson 4 Emergence of State and Empire, 4.3 Persian and Macedonian Invasions (Kharosthi from Aramaic), p. 65 (printed 61)

Sahitya Akademi: About us (the languages recognised by the Akademi)
Sahitya Akademi: About us (the 24 languages recognised by the Akademi against the constitutional list)