Tribes, Languages and Religions PYQs – Static GK, SSC & Railway

Answer: Option 2 — Gurpurab
The Akhand Path is an unbroken reading of all 1,430 angs of the Guru Granth Sahib, finished in about 48 hours by relays of readers.
It is begun two days before a Gurpurab so that its Bhog (conclusion) falls on the festival morning.
Gurpurabs are the birth or martyrdom anniversaries of the Sikh Gurus, and the Akhand Path is their central observance.
Revision note — Gurpurab and the Guru Granth Sahib
• The chief Gurpurab is Guru Nanak Jayanti on Kartik Purnima (October–November).
• It is marked by Prabhat Pheris, the Akhand Path, a Nagar Kirtan led by the Panj Pyare, and langar.
• Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti falls in December–January; Shahidi Divas of Guru Arjan Dev (martyred 1606) is observed in June.
• The Adi Granth was compiled by the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev, in 1604, scribed by Bhai Gurdas, and installed in the Harmandir Sahib.
• Guru Gobind Singh added the hymns of Guru Tegh Bahadur and in 1708 at Nanded declared the Granth the eternal Guru.
• It is written in Gurmukhi and contains hymns of Bhakti and Sufi saints too — Kabir, Namdev, Ravidas, Sheikh Farid.
• Sikh festivals in the year: Gurpurabs, Baisakhi (13–14 April), Hola Mohalla (day after Holi), Bandi Chhor Divas (Diwali).
Do not mix these up
• Gurpurab vs Baisakhi — Baisakhi marks the founding of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 and the spring harvest; Gurpurab marks a Guru's anniversary.
• Hola Mohalla vs Bandi Chhor Divas — Hola Mohalla (Anandpur Sahib, 1701) is the martial festival of mock battles; Bandi Chhor Divas, on Diwali, recalls Guru Hargobind's release from Gwalior Fort, 1619.
Also asked from this topic: whom Gurpurab honours (the Sikh Gurus); the scripture recited at Hola Mohalla (Guru Granth Sahib); what Bandi Chhor Divas marks (Guru Hargobind's release with 52 kings).

Answer: Option 3 — Only 3
Only the third statement holds: Sino-Tibetan (Tibeto-Burman) speech in India is concentrated in the Himalaya and the North-East.
The Austric (Austro-Asiatic) family belongs to the eastern and central tribal belt and Meghalaya, not the Indo-Gangetic plains.
Dravidian is not confined to the south either — Kurukh, Malto, Gondi and Brahui lie north of the Vindhyas, so the word exclusively breaks statement 2.
Revision note — The language families of India
• Four families: Indo-European (Indo-Aryan) about 78 per cent of speakers, Dravidian about 20 per cent, and Austro-Asiatic (Nishada) and Sino-Tibetan (Kirata) about 1 per cent each.
• Austro-Asiatic has two branches — the Munda branch (Santali, Mundari, Ho, Korku) in Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and the Mon-Khmer branch (Khasi in Meghalaya, Nicobarese).
• Santali is the only Austro-Asiatic language in the Eighth Schedule, added with Bodo, Dogri and Maithili by the 92nd Amendment, 2003.
• Sino-Tibetan in India is almost entirely its Tibeto-Burman branch — Bodo, Garo, Mizo, Meitei (Manipuri), Lepcha, Naga — and Bodo and Manipuri are in the Eighth Schedule.
• Dravidian outside the south: Kurukh (Oraon) and Malto in Jharkhand and Odisha, Gondi in central India, and Brahui in Balochistan, Pakistan.
• The Eighth Schedule today lists 22 languages, and Hindi is the mother tongue of the largest number of Indians.
Do not mix these up
• Austro-Asiatic vs Sino-Tibetan — Santali and Khasi are Austro-Asiatic; Bodo, Garo and Manipuri are Tibeto-Burman under Sino-Tibetan.
• Region vs family — Assamese is spoken in the North-East but is Indo-Aryan; Kurukh is spoken in Jharkhand but is Dravidian. Where a language is spoken does not decide its family.
Also asked from this topic: the largest language family in India (Indo-European); the family of the Munda languages (Austroasiatic); the Tibeto-Burman language in the Eighth Schedule (Bodo).

Answer: Option 3 — Only 1 and 3
Statement 1 is true: the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European family is spoken by about three-quarters of Indians over the largest area.
Statement 3 is true: Tamil and Malayalam are Dravidian.
Statement 2 is false: besides Odia, the state of Odisha also has Austroasiatic (Munda) languages such as Santali and Ho and Dravidian languages such as Kui and Kuvi.
Revision note — Language families of India
• Indo-Aryan (Indo-European): the largest family, about 78 per cent of speakers — Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Gujarati, Assamese, Urdu, Konkani, Maithili, Sindhi, Kashmiri, Nepali, Sanskrit.
• Dravidian: about 19 per cent — Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and tribal languages such as Gondi, Kurukh (Oraon), Brahui (spoken far away in Pakistan).
• Austroasiatic (Austric): the Munda group — Santali, Ho, Mundari, Khasi, spoken in Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and Meghalaya.
• Sino-Tibetan (Tibeto-Burman): Bodo, Manipuri (Meitei), Garo, Lepcha, Mizo, Naga languages of the north-east and the Himalayas.
• The Eighth Schedule now lists 22 languages; Sindhi was added by the 21st Amendment (1967) and Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali by the 71st Amendment (1992).
• Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhali were added by the 92nd Amendment (2003).
• Classical language status: Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada and Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), Odia (2014), and five more in 2024.
Do not mix these up
• Indo-Aryan vs Dravidian — Odia, Bengali and Marathi are Indo-Aryan; Kurukh, Gondi and Brahui look tribal or distant but are Dravidian.
• Santhali vs Bodo — both are Eighth Schedule languages of the east, but Santhali is Austroasiatic (Munda) and Bodo is Tibeto-Burman.
Also asked from this topic: the most spoken language family in India (Indo-European / Indo-Aryan, SSC MTS 2026); the Tibeto-Burman language in the Eighth Schedule (Bodo, RRB NTPC GL 2026).

Classical Languages of India
Odia was declared as the6th Classical Languageof India.
The Government of India granted this status on20 February 2014.
Other classical languages: Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005),
Kannada (2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013).
Answer: Option 1 → 2014

Topic: Indian Languages and Scripts
Gurmukhi Scriptis the writing system used for the Punjabi language.
Developed by Guru Angad Dev Ji (2nd Sikh Guru) in the 16th century.
Used primarily in Punjab, India and for writing Sikh religious texts.
Answer: Option 2 → Punjabi

Topic: Dravidian Languages
Brahuiis a Dravidian language spoken in Baluchistan (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran).
It is the only Dravidian language spoken significantly outside India.
Other options (Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam) are spoken primarily in South India.
Answer: Option 3 → Brahui

Topic:Sanskrit Commission
The first Sanskrit Commission was constituted by the Government of India in1956.
It was established to promote and develop the Sanskrit language in India.
The commission made recommendations for Sanskrit education and preservation.
Answer: Option 3 → 1956

Classical Languages in India (as of December 2022):
Six languages have been granted classical status:
1.Tamil(2004) - First classical language
2.Sanskrit(2005)
3.Telugu(2008)
4.Kannada(2008)
5.Malayalam(2013)
6.Odia(2014)
Marathiis NOT a classical language.
From given options: Tamil, Sanskrit, Odia are classical.
Answer: Option 3 → Only 2, 3 and 4

Classical Language Status - October 2024
In October 2024, the Government of India conferredClassical Language status to Marathi.
This made Marathi the7th Classical Languageof India.
Other Classical Languages: Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Telugu (2008), Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013), Odia (2014).
Answer: Option 4 → Marathi

Topic: Munda Languages - Language Family
Munda languages are spoken by tribal communities in eastern and central India (Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh).
Major Munda languages: Santali, Mundari, Ho, Korku.
They belong to theAustroasiatic language family, which also includes Khasi (Meghalaya) and Mon-Khmer languages of Southeast Asia.
This family is distinct from Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, and Sino-Tibetan families.
Answer: Option 4 → Austroasiatic

Classical Languages of India
Telugu was declared as aClassical Languagein2008.
Order of declaration:
1. Tamil (2004)
2. Sanskrit (2005)
3. Kannada (2008)
4. Telugu (2008)
Answer: Option 1 → 2008

Correct Answer: Shifting cultivation — Option (c)
The Gonds primarily practiced Shifting cultivation (also known as Podu cultivation or slash-and-burn/Jhum cultivation). About the Gonds: Who they are: One of the largest tribal communities in India; Population: Among the largest Scheduled Tribe groups in India; Location: Primarily found in: Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana; The Gondwana region (named after them) covers large parts of central India; Language: Gondi (Dravidian language family); About Shifting Cultivation ( Podu /Bewar): Also known as: Jhum cultivation (Northeast India), Bewar (in parts of MP), Podu (Andhra Pradesh/Telangana among Gonds and Koyas ); Process: A patch of forest is cleared by cutting and burning (slash-and-burn); Crops are grown for 2-3 years; When soil fertility declines, the farmers move to a new patch; The old patch is left to regenerate (fallowing); Repeat after several years (10-15 year cycle); Crops grown: Mixed cropping — millets, sorghum, pulses, vegetables; Advantages: Requires minimal inputs (no irrigation, fertilizers); Works in hilly terrain where plowing is difficult; Sustainable if the fallow period is long enough; Environmental concern: When population pressure reduces the fallow period, shifting cultivation leads to deforestation and soil erosion; Government policy: Indian government has discouraged shifting cultivation and promoted settled farming; Modern Gonds increasingly practice settled agriculture.
Option (a) Terrace cultivation — Incorrect: Terrace cultivation is practiced in hilly/mountainous regions to prevent soil erosion — typically by communities in the Himalayan foothills and northeastern India (like the Nagas); the Gonds of central India primarily practiced Shifting cultivation ( Podu /Bewar), not terrace cultivation. The candidate selected this incorrect option.
Option (b) Permanent farming — Incorrect: Permanent farming (settled agriculture) was NOT the PRIMARY traditional practice of the Gonds; their traditional agricultural practice was Shifting cultivation ( Podu /Bewar); while modern Gond communities have increasingly adopted settled agriculture due to government policies and population pressure, their traditional/primary practice was shifting cultivation.
Option (d) Irrigation-based farming — Incorrect: Irrigation-based farming was NOT the primary cultivation practice of the Gonds; shifting cultivation (slash-and-burn) is rain-dependent and does NOT use irrigation infrastructure; irrigation-based farming is characteristic of settled agricultural communities in river plains, not tribal communities practicing shifting cultivation.

Topic: Indo-Aryan Language Family
Indo-Aryan languages belong to the Indo-European family and include most North Indian languages.
Analysis of Options:
Hindi, Urdu, Bengali → All are Indo-Aryan languages
Kurukh (Oraon)→ Belongs to theDravidian family
Spoken mainly in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha
Answer: Option 1 → Kurukh

Classical Languages of India (as of October 2025)
Total:11 languageshave been granted Classical Language status
First 6 (before 2024): Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), Odia (2014)
Recently added 5 (October 2024): Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, Bengali
These 5 languages were declared Classical in October 2024 by the Union Cabinet
Answer: Option 3 → 11

Correct Answer: Jahangir — Option (d)
Mughal Emperor Jahangir (1569-1627) mentioned the role of the Banjaras in transporting grain in his memoirs, the Tuzuk - i -Jahangiri (also called Jahangirnama ). The Banjaras were a nomadic trading community who served as the primary grain carriers and transport merchants in medieval India. They were known for their enormous caravans of thousands of bullocks loaded with grain, salt, and other commodities. During the Mughal period, the Banjaras were crucial to the military logistics, supplying grain to armies on the move. They travelled across the subcontinent, playing an essential role in maintaining the food supply chain of the Mughal empire.
Option (a) Babur — Incorrect: Babur's memoirs ( Baburnama ) focus on his conquests and observations of Hindustan; the specific mention of Banjaras' role in grain transport in Mughal memoirs is attributed to Jahangir.
Option (b) Humayun — Incorrect: Humayun's memoir ( Humayunnama , written by his sister Gulbadan Begum) focuses on court life and events; the reference to Banjaras in grain transport is from Jahangir's memoirs.
Option (c) Sher Shah Suri — Incorrect: Sher Shah Suri (1540-45) was an Afghan ruler who briefly displaced the Mughals; he is known for administrative reforms, but the memoir mentioning Banjaras' grain transport role belongs to Jahangir.

Classical Language Status in India
Odia (Oriya) was declared aClassical Languageby the Government of India in2014.
It became the6th Classical Languageof India after Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Telugu (2008), Kannada (2008), and Malayalam (2013).
Odia has a rich literary history spanning over2000 yearswith ancient texts and inscriptions.
Answer: Option 2 → 2014

Classical Language Script Evolution
Malayalam underwent scriptural evolution through:
•Grantha script(ancient Sanskrit-based)
•Vatteluttu(old Tamil-Malayalam script)
•Kolezhuthu(medieval transitional script)
•Modern Malayalam script(current form)
This evolution occurred between 9th-16th centuries CE.
Malayalam became a Classical Language in 2013.
Answer: Option 3 → Malayalam

Classical Languages in India
The Government of India grants Classical Language status to languages with rich ancient literary heritage.
Timeline:
• Tamil - 2004 (first classical language)
• Sanskrit - 2005
•Telugu and Kannada - 2008(both declared together)
• Malayalam - 2013
• Odia - 2014
Telugu and Kannada were recognized for their ancient literature dating back over 1500-2000 years.
Answer: Option 1 → 2008

Topic: Indian Language Families
Tibeto-Burman Family:Part of Sino-Tibetan language group, spoken in Northeast India.
Lepcha:Spoken in Sikkim - Tibeto-Burman language.
Bodo:Spoken in Assam - Tibeto-Burman language.
Garo:Spoken in Meghalaya - Tibeto-Burman language.
Assamese:Belongs toIndo-Aryan family, NOT Tibeto-Burman.
It is derived from Sanskrit and uses Assamese script.
Answer: Option 1 → Assamese

Classical Language Status in India
The Government of India grants classical language status to languages with rich ancient heritage and independent literary tradition.
Main Objectives:
• Promote research and academic studies in ancient texts
• Preserve and document linguistic heritage
• Establish centers of excellence for classical language studies
• Provide financial support for research and scholarships
Classical Languages:Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Telugu (2008), Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013), Odia (2014)
Answer: Option 3 → To promote research and preservation of ancient linguistic heritage

Eighth Schedule lists 22 official languages of India.
Tibeto-Burman languages are part of Sino-Tibetan family.
Option 1 - Santhali : Austro-Asiatic language.
Option 2 - Konkani: Indo-Aryan language.
Option 3 - Maithili: Indo-Aryan language.
Option 4 - Bodo: Tibeto-Burman language.
Bodo is spoken in Assam, added to 8th Schedule in 2003.
Answer: Option 4 → Bodo

Urali (also called Uraly) is a Dravidian language spoken primarily by the Urali tribal community in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, both in Southern India. It belongs to the Tamil-Kannada branch of the Dravidian language family.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Northern India: Urali has no significant presence in northern India.
- Western India: Urali is not spoken in western states like Gujarat or Maharashtra.
- Eastern India: Urali is not associated with eastern India.

The Linguistic Survey of India (LSI) was initiated by George Abraham Grierson in 1894. Commissioned by the British Indian government, it was an ambitious project to document and classify the languages of India. The survey was completed in 1928 and published in 19 volumes covering hundreds of languages and dialects.
Why other options are incorrect:
- 1814: No organised linguistic survey of India was launched in 1814.
- 1824: Predates Grierson's survey; no such formal linguistic survey was launched then.
- 1914: The survey was already underway by 1914; it was initiated in 1894.

Both statements are correct regarding Toda:
Statement I: Toda is indeed classified as an endangered language by UNESCO. It is spoken by the Toda tribe living in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu, with fewer than 2,000 speakers.
Statement II: Toda belongs to the South Dravidian branch of the Dravidian language family and is considered a proto-South-Dravidian language, sharing ancient features with Tamil, Kannada, and related languages.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Only I: Statement II is also correct, so 'Only I' is incomplete.
- Only II: Statement I is also correct, so 'Only II' is incomplete.
- Neither I nor II: Both statements are verified facts about the Toda language.

The correct answer is 117 (Option 1). The Survey of Peoples and Languages of India (SPPEL) has identified 117 endangered languages from the 1,652 mother tongues recorded in the 1961 Census of India. These are languages spoken by very small communities and at risk of disappearing. Options 2 (123), 3 (149), and 4 (154) are incorrect figures.

Correct Answer: 4 – Hindi.
As of July 2025, India has recognized the following classical languages: Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), Odia (2014), and in October 2024, five more were added – Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali.
Hindi has NOT been granted classical language status. Therefore, among the given options, Hindi is the one that is NOT a classical language.
Kannada (Option 1) is a classical language since 2008.
Odia (Option 2) is a classical language since 2014.
Malayalam (Option 3) is a classical language since 2013.

Correct Answer: 4 – Punjab.
The Khokhars were a powerful tribe that dominated the Punjab region, particularly around the Salt Range (Jhelum and Rawalpindi districts), during the 13th and 14th centuries. They frequently resisted and interacted with the Delhi Sultanate rulers and were a significant political force in the Punjab.
Assam (Option 1) is incorrect – Khokhars were not prominent there.
Gujarat (Option 2) and Bengal (Option 3) were not areas of Khokhar influence.

The correct answer is (b) Central India.
The Gond tribe is one of India's largest tribal communities and is found mainly in Central India — primarily in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh. They are Dravidian-speaking people known for their distinctive Gond art (Gondi painting).
(a) North-East India: The northeastern states have their own distinct tribal communities (Naga, Mizo, Bodo, etc.); Gond tribes are not predominantly found there.
(c) South India: While some Gond presence exists in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, their primary concentration is in Central India.
(d) Himalayan Region: The Himalayan region has its own tribal communities (Gujjar, Ladakhi, Bhotia , etc.); not primarily where Gond tribes are found.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Alauddin Khalji
Alauddin Khalji introduced a comprehensive market control system (Market Reforms) in which he used the Banjaras — nomadic grain traders — to transport grain from rural areas to city markets. This was part of his price regulation policy to ensure affordable food for his large army.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 (Muhammad bin Tughlaq): He is known for transferring the capital and other administrative experiments, not specifically for using Banjaras.
Option 3 (Sher Shah Suri): He is known for administrative reforms and the Grand Trunk Road, not for the Banjara grain transport system.
Option 4 (Babur): He was the founder of the Mughal dynasty; Banjara grain transport was not associated with his reign.

Correct Answer: The Khokhar (Option 1)
The Khokhar tribe was a powerful and influential tribal group based in the Punjab region (present-day Pakistan and northwestern India) during the 13th and 14th centuries. They frequently came into conflict with the Delhi Sultanate and played a significant role in the politics of the region during the reigns of sultans like Balban and Alauddin Khalji.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 2 - The Gond: The Gonds are a tribal group predominantly found in central India (Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra), not Punjab.
Option 3 - The Santhal: The Santhals are a tribal community of eastern India (Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha), far from Punjab.
Option 4 - The Bhil: The Bhils are found mainly in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, not in Punjab.

The Gaddi tribe's shepherds lived in the Western Himalayas (primarily in the Chamba and Kangra districts of present-day Himachal Pradesh) in the fourteenth century. They were known for their pastoral lifestyle, moving their flocks between high-altitude summer pastures and lower valleys in winter. Why others are wrong: - Mysore: A region in southern India; not associated with the Gaddi tribe. - Bijapur: A historical city in Karnataka (Deccan); not the region of Gaddi shepherds. - North-east India: The Gaddi tribe is from the western Himalayan region, not the north-east.