How many languages are listed in the Eighth Schedule (VIII Schedule) of the Constitution of India?

Introduction / Context:
The Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India lists the recognised scheduled languages of the country. This is an important static general knowledge topic, as questions on the number of languages and their status often appear in exams about Indian polity and culture. This question asks you to recall the total count of languages currently included in this schedule.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is specifically on the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
• We are asked to state how many languages are contained in this schedule.
• The options include 18, 22, 16 and 12.

Concept / Approach:
Originally, the Eighth Schedule contained 14 languages. Over time, through constitutional amendments, additional languages were added. Several amendments, including the 71st and 92nd, increased the total number of scheduled languages to 22. This is the commonly tested figure in present-day examinations.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that India's Eighth Schedule lists scheduled languages recognised by the Constitution.Step 2: Remember that the original number (14) has been increased through amendments.Step 3: Important additions included languages like Sindhi, Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali, Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhali.Step 4: The current total, after all these additions, stands at 22 scheduled languages.Step 5: Among the options, the correct number is therefore 22.

Verification / Alternative check:
Polity textbooks and official constitutional references clearly state that there are now 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule. This fact is stable and frequently repeated in exam-oriented material. You can also verify by recalling that the 92nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 2003 added Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhali, bringing the total to 22.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• 18: Does not correspond to any final official total; it may be an intermediate distractor but is not the current count.
• 16: Again, not the present official number of languages in the Eighth Schedule.
• 12: Fewer than the original 14, so clearly incorrect historically and constitutionally.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates recall older figures like 14 and then incorrectly adjust them in mind, leading to guesses such as 18 or 20. Others confuse the number of official languages at the Union level (for example, Hindi and English used for official purposes) with the number of scheduled languages. To avoid this, memorize clearly that at present there are 22 scheduled languages in the Eighth Schedule.

Final Answer:
The Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India currently lists 22 languages.