History · 15 Sep 2026

Piggott Commission Hindi Urdu

Consider the following statements:

  1. The 1900 United Provinces resolution permitted the use of Devanagari script alongside Persian script in courts, which for the first time turned script choice into a communal marker.
  2. The Piggott Commission of 1912-13 succeeded in sustaining a single common-language policy, resulting in a unified Hindi-Urdu reader being prescribed from 1916.
  3. Article 351 of the Constitution directs the Union to promote the spread of Hindi as an expression of the composite culture of India.
A1 only
B2 only
C1 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3
This question is based on: When Decolonising a Culture Means Purifying It
Take this in full test mode → Instructions for 15 Sep 2026
About this question

Why in news

Hindi Diwas 2026 (September 14) and the Sixth All-India Official Language Conference prompted renewed debate on whether modern "pure" Hindi reflects an actual pre-colonial linguistic reality or a colonial-era administrative construction.

Why for UPSC

Tests the commonly-confused distinction between Articles 343 and 351 and probes whether aspirants know the Piggott Commission's outcome was institutional failure and split, not successful unification - a classic UPSC "reverse the expected direction" trap.

Prelims summary

The Piggott Commission (1912-13) failed to sustain a common Hindi-Urdu language policy, leading to separate standardised readers from 1916. Article 343 gives Hindi official status; Article 351 separately mandates its enrichment as an expression of composite culture.

On web, answers are shown once after a test — no save or reattempt. For unlimited reattempts, Hindi medium, and Mentor Observations, use the TAN App.