In which of the following years was the Official Languages Act enacted?

Appeared in: DSSSB 13 August 2024

Explanation

The Official Languages Act was passed by the Indian Parliament in the year 1963.
Its primary purpose was to allow for the continued use of English, in addition to Hindi, for all official purposes of the Union government and for conducting business in Parliament.
This legislation was necessary because the original 15-year period for using English, as mandated by the Constitution in 1950, was set to expire in 1965.

Option A: The year 1962 is primarily remembered for the Sino-Indian War, a major conflict between India and China.
Option B: In 1954, the Indian Parliament enacted the Special Marriage Act, which governs civil marriages irrespective of religion.
Option D: The year 1960 is significant for the division of Bombay State into the two new states of Maharashtra and Gujarat based on linguistic lines.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Historical timeline of Indian legislation, specifically the Official Languages Act as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This is a general knowledge question, often included in competitive exams for nursing positions to assess a candidate's overall awareness.
Understanding the linguistic and political history of India provides context for the diverse cultural backgrounds of patients and colleagues, which is an aspect of culturally competent care.
What if the question asked which amendment made English a permanent associate official language? The Official Languages Act was amended in 1967 to provide for the indefinite use of English, making it a permanent associate official language alongside Hindi.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question based on Indian history and polity.
First, identify the core subject of the question: the 'Official Languages Act'.
Access your memory of post-independence Indian history, specifically focusing on legislative acts.
Recall the constitutional context: The Constitution of 1950 gave a 15-year timeline for the use of English, which would end in 1965.
Deduce that a law to continue the use of English must have been passed shortly before 1965.
From the given options, 1963 is the most logical choice that fits this timeline.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Historical timeline of Indian legislation, specifically the Official Languages Act.
Stem keywords: Official Languages Act, enacted, year
Lead-in keywords: In which of the following years

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Practise the full DSSSB 13 August 2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.