Dogri language, recognised in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India, is primarily spoken in which Indian state or union territory?

Introduction / Context:
India is a multilingual country where different regions have their own major languages and dialects. Some of these languages are recognised in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution as scheduled languages. Dogri is one such language and is often asked about in examinations that test knowledge of Indian languages and their regional distribution. This question checks whether you know which state or union territory is primarily associated with Dogri.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The language in focus is Dogri, which is a scheduled language of India.
We are asked to identify the state or union territory where Dogri is primarily spoken.
Options provided are Assam, West Bengal, Meghalaya, and Jammu & Kashmir.
We assume standard geographical and linguistic classifications used in school and exam material.

Concept / Approach:
Dogri belongs to the Indo Aryan language family and is primarily spoken in the Jammu region in the northern part of India. It is closely associated with the cultural identity of people in Jammu. After the reorganisation of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir, the region still retains its linguistic identity. The other listed options are states in eastern and northeastern India where other languages such as Assamese, Bengali, and Khasi dominate, not Dogri. Therefore, recognising the Jammu region as the home of Dogri leads directly to the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Dogri is a language traditionally spoken in and around Jammu. Step 2: Note that the former state of Jammu and Kashmir and the present union territory with the same name contain the main Dogri speaking population. Step 3: Examine the options and locate Jammu & Kashmir as the only one referring to that northern Himalayan region. Step 4: Recognise that Assam, West Bengal, and Meghalaya lie in the eastern and northeastern part of India and have different primary languages. Step 5: Conclude that Dogri is primarily spoken in Jammu & Kashmir.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think about the list of scheduled languages and their states. Dogri is often listed with Jammu and Kashmir, just as Assamese is listed with Assam and Punjabi with Punjab. Many cultural references such as Dogri literature, folk songs, and theatre are connected with Jammu. There are no similar references connecting Dogri with Assam, West Bengal, or Meghalaya, which confirms that Jammu & Kashmir is the correct option.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Assam is wrong because the main language there is Assamese, along with Bodo and other tribal languages. West Bengal is wrong because Bengali is the primary state language and Dogri is not a major language of that region. Meghalaya is wrong because it is dominated by tribal languages such as Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia and not by Dogri. None of these options match the traditional Dogri speaking region in northern India.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners may sometimes confuse Dogri with other northern Indian languages or think that it could be spoken in several Himalayan states. Another pitfall is to guess based only on the fact that a state is in the north or northeast without recalling specific language associations. To avoid this, it helps to study a table mapping scheduled languages to their core states, such as Dogri with Jammu & Kashmir and Nepali with Sikkim and adjoining areas.

Final Answer:
Dogri is primarily spoken in Jammu & Kashmir.