Which Article of Indian Constitution recognizes Hindi in Devanagari script as the Official Language of the Union?

Appeared in: UPPSC 2022

Explanation

Article 343(1) of the Indian Constitution directly addresses the official language of the Union.
It specifies two key aspects: the language will be Hindi and the script will be Devanagari.
This article is part of Part XVII of the Constitution, which is dedicated to the subject of Official Language.
It also clarifies that the numerals to be used are the international form of Indian numerals (e.g., 1, 2, 3).

Option A: This article is not related to official languages. It deals with the social and legal category of Scheduled Castes.
Option B: This article is concerned with the specification of Scheduled Tribes, not the official language of the Union.
Option D: While this article is related to the official language, it does not define it. Instead, it sets up a mechanism (a Commission and a Committee) to review the progress and use of the official language.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Constitutional provisions regarding the Official Language of the Union of India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the constitutional provisions regarding the official language is crucial for general awareness and for various competitive examinations in India.
The choice of Hindi as an official language, alongside English (which was to be used for 15 years from the commencement of the constitution, but its use continues under the Official Languages Act, 1963), reflects the linguistic diversity and the efforts to create a common administrative language for the Union.
Knowledge of these articles is important for anyone working in government services to understand the legal framework for official communications.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core subject of the question, which is the 'Official Language of the Union' in the 'Indian Constitution'.
Recognize that this is a factual recall question requiring knowledge of specific articles of the Constitution.
Mentally access or look up the part of the Constitution dealing with 'Official Language', which is Part XVII.
Evaluate each option's subject matter: Article 341 (Scheduled Castes), Article 342 (Scheduled Tribes), Article 343 (Official Language of the Union), and Article 344 (Commission on Official Language).
Conclude that Article 343 is the only one that defines Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language.
Distinguish it from Article 344, which is about the implementation and review of the language policy, not its definition.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Constitutional provisions regarding the Official Language of the Union of India.
Stem keywords: Article, Indian Constitution, Hindi, Devanagari script, Official Language
Lead-in keywords: Which

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