Centenary Celebrations of Ol Chiki Script
Why focus: GS1 Art & Culture / GS2 8th Schedule — 100-year script anniversary creates a prime target for Santhali language MCQs.
In News
What Happened
Why It Matters
Background
History & Context
What Changed
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BEFORE: Santhali lacked a dedicated script and relied on Odia, Bengali, or Roman scripts, which could not accurately represent its unique phonetics. NOW: The language uses the Ol Chiki script, preserving its distinct linguistic identity and sounds.
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BEFORE: Santhali was excluded from India's official constitutional language framework for decades. NOW: Following the 92nd Amendment (2003), it is one of the 22 officially recognized languages under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
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BEFORE: The Ol Chiki script functioned primarily as a grassroots cultural and literary movement among the Santhal people. NOW: It has full state backing, celebrated nationally with a commemorative ₹100 coin and stamp, signifying mainstream institutional integration.
Prelims Angle
NCERT Connection
Practice Questions
Q1
Correct Statement(s)Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Santhali language and the Ol Chiki script? 1. The Ol Chiki script was developed by Pandit Raghunath Murmu for the Santhali language, which belongs to the Austroasiatic language family. 2. Santhali was included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution by the 71st Constitutional Amendment Act.