सं Samvidhan

Constitution · Part XVII

Official Language — MCQs with answers

55 exam-style questions on this part, written from the actual legal text and tagged for UPSC, Judiciary and CLAT. Five are shown below with answers and explanations — the rest are in the free interactive drill.

Q1 · easy · Article 343

According to Article 343(1), what is declared the official language of the Union?

  1. A.Hindi in Devanagari script✓ correct
  2. B.English
  3. C.Urdu
  4. D.Hindi in Roman script

Why: Article 343(1) expressly states that the official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script. The provision names Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language, not English or other scripts.

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Q2 · easy · Article 343

Article 343(1) specifies the form of numerals to be used for the official purposes of the Union as:

  1. A.Devanagari form of numerals
  2. B.International form of Indian numerals✓ correct
  3. C.Arabic numerals
  4. D.Roman numerals

Why: Article 343(1) provides that the form of numerals for official purposes shall be the international form of Indian numerals. The Devanagari form is mentioned elsewhere as a permissible addition, not as the default here.

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Q3 · medium · Article 343

Under Article 343(2), for the fifteen years from the commencement of the Constitution English shall:

  1. A.cease to be used for all official purposes immediately
  2. B.be used only if Parliament passes a special resolution
  3. C.continue to be used for all official purposes for which it was being used immediately before such commencement✓ correct
  4. D.be limited to judicial proceedings only

Why: Article 343(2) states that, notwithstanding clause (1), for a period of fifteen years from commencement the English language shall continue to be used for all the official purposes of the Union for which it was being used immediately before such commencement. It does not say English ceases or that special parliamentary action is needed within that period.

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Q4 · medium · Article 343

During the fifteen-year period, who may, by order, authorise the use of Hindi (in addition to English) and the Devanagari form of numerals (in addition to the international form)?

  1. A.Parliament
  2. B.Prime Minister
  3. C.Supreme Court
  4. D.President✓ correct

Why: The proviso to Article 343(2) states that the President may, during the fifteen-year period, by order authorise the use of the Hindi language in addition to English and of the Devanagari numerals in addition to the international form for any official purposes of the Union. The authority given is explicitly the President.

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Q5 · hard · Article 343

Article 343(3) provides that after the said fifteen-year period Parliament may by law provide for the use, after the said period, of which of the following?

  1. A.Only the English language for all official purposes
  2. B.Only the Devanagari form of numerals for all official purposes
  3. C.Either the English language or the Devanagari form of numerals for such purposes as may be specified in the law✓ correct
  4. D.Neither unless the President makes an order

Why: Article 343(3) states that Parliament may by law provide for the use, after the fifteen-year period, of (a) the English language, or (b) the Devanagari form of numerals, for such purposes as may be specified in the law. This wording permits Parliament to provide for either the English language or the Devanagari numerals for specified purposes.

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Questions are AI-generated from the legal text, machine-verified against the provision, and editorially reviewable. Education, not legal advice.