1(e) 'Khap' Panchayat
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 5.1 Indian Village > Traditional village institutions
Linguistic Minorities in India — 2020 Paper II
Question · 2020 · Paper II · 10 Marks
Linguistic minorities in India
Model Answer
VAID ICSApproach
- Demand of Question: Explain the nature, problems and constitutional protection of linguistic minorities in India.
- Structuring the Response: Define linguistic minority, discuss identity and marginalization, and highlight major constitutional safeguards.
Model Answer
Introduction
A linguistic minority is a community whose mother tongue differs from the numerically or politically dominant language of a state or region. India’s multilingual character makes language an important basis of identity, cultural transmission and political mobilization.
Major issues
Linguistic minorities may face:
- declining intergenerational transmission of language;
- inadequate mother-tongue schooling;
- limited representation in administration;
- pressure to assimilate into dominant regional languages;
- reduced availability of print and digital material;
- marginalization of small tribal languages.
Language loss can lead to erosion of:
Oral tradition → Indigenous knowledge → Cultural memory → Group identity
Constitutional safeguards
Important protections include:
- Article 29: Right to conserve a distinct language, script or culture.
- Article 30: Right of linguistic minorities to establish and administer educational institutions.
- Article 347: Special recognition of a language spoken by a section of a State’s population in appropriate circumstances.
- Article 350A: Facilities for primary education in the mother tongue for children belonging to linguistic minority groups.
- Article 350B: Provides for the Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities.
Anthropological significance
Language is not merely a communication system but a repository of worldview, oral history and ethnic identity.
Conclusion
Protection of linguistic minorities requires not only constitutional recognition but active support for mother-tongue education, cultural transmission and multilingual participation.
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UPSC Anthropology Optional 2020 — Paper II
28 questions5(b) 'Narmada' Man
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 1.2 Palaeo-anthropological evidences from India > Narmada Man
Syllabus: Paper II > 1.1 Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilization > Neolithic
Syllabus: Paper II > 3.2 Caste system in India > Structure and characteristics
5(c) Concept of 'Dominant' caste
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 3.2 Caste system in India > Dominant caste
5(e) Concept of Ethnicity
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 7.3 The concept of ethnicity
5(a) Concept of Sanskritisation
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 5.3 Indigenous and exogenous processes of socio-cultural change > Sanskritization
Syllabus: Paper II > 7.1 Constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
1(b) Debates on 'Aryan' invasion
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 1.1 Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilization > Post-Harappan cultures > Aryan debate
Syllabus: Paper II > 6.3 Developmental projects and their impact on tribal displacement
1(d) Dravidian languages
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 2. Demographic profile of India > Linguistic elements > Dravidian family
3(b) Discuss the importance of Ethnoarchaeology in reconstructing the Past citing Indian examples.
15 Marks
Syllabus: Paper II > 1.3 Ethno-archaeology in India > Survivals and parallels
Syllabus: Paper II > 9.1 Tribal policies, plans and programmes of tribal development
Syllabus: Paper II > 5.1 Indian Village > Impact of globalization on Indian villages
Syllabus: Paper II > 8.1 Impact of Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and other religions on tribal societies > Hinduism
Syllabus: Paper II > 3.4 Impact of Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity on Indian society > Islam
Syllabus: Paper II > 7.2 Impact of development programmes and welfare measures on tribals
1(c) Contribution of K. S. Singh to Indian Anthropology
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 4. Emergence, growth and development of anthropology in India > Contributions of Indian anthropologists
Syllabus: Paper II > 6.2 Problems of the tribal communities > Land alienation
Syllabus: Paper II > 6.1 Tribal situation in India > Linguistic characteristics of tribal populations
5(d) Linguistic minorities in India
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 5.2 Linguistic and religious minorities and their social, political and economic status
Syllabus: Paper II > 3.2 Caste system in India > Caste conflict and violence
Syllabus: Paper II > 7.3 Regionalism and demand for autonomy
1(a) Contribution of Robert Bruce Foote to Indian Archaeology
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 1.1 Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilization > Prehistoric archaeology in India
Syllabus: Paper II > 5.1 Indian Village > Traditional and changing patterns of settlement
Syllabus: Paper II > 7.1 Constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Tribes > Sixth Schedule
Syllabus: Paper II > 5.2 Linguistic and religious minorities and their social, political and economic status
Syllabus: Paper II > 1.1 Evolution of Indian Culture and Civilization > Prehistoric archaeology in India