Consider the following statements with respect to the Language used in Parliament:

1. The Constitution has declared Hindi in Devanagari script as the Official Language of the Parliament. 

2. If a member wants to address a house of the Parliament in his mother tongue, he needs the prior consent of the Presiding Officer. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

a) 1 only 

b) 2 only 

c) Both 1 and 2 

d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution: 

• The Constitution has declared Hindi and English to be the languages for transacting business in the Parliament. 
• Article 343 states that the official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script. 
• Though English was to be discontinued as a floor language after the expiration of fifteen years from the commencement of the Constitution (that is, in 1965), the Official Languages Act (1963) allowed English to be continued along with Hindi. 
• The presiding officer can permit a member to address the House in his mother-tongue. 
• In both the Houses, arrangements are made for simultaneous translation.

Ans: (c)