According to the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India before the 2003 expansion, how many officially recognised languages were listed?

Introduction / Context:
Officially recognised languages in India are listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The number of these languages has changed over time as new languages were added through constitutional amendments. Many older general knowledge questions refer to the situation before the addition of four more languages in 2003. This question specifically reflects that earlier stage and checks whether you remember how many languages were recognised in the Eighth Schedule before that expansion. Understanding this also gives insight into the linguistic diversity and constitutional status of Indian languages.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The question is about the number of officially recognised languages in the Eighth Schedule before the 2003 amendment that raised the total further.
The answer options reflect different historic milestones: 12, 15, 18 and 21.
We assume that the reader is aware that the present number is higher, but the question focuses on the pre 2003 stage when many textbooks still mentioned 18 languages.
The phrase officially recognised languages refers to the languages listed in the Eighth Schedule, which have a special constitutional status.

Concept / Approach:
To answer this question, you should recall the evolution of the Eighth Schedule. At the time the Constitution came into force, there were 14 languages listed. Sindhi was added later, making 15. In 1992, three more languages Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were added, bringing the total to 18. Finally, in 2003 four more languages were added, taking the present number to 22. Because the question explicitly refers to the period before the 2003 expansion, you must choose the earlier total of 18, not the present number. The key approach is therefore to remember the timeline of amendments rather than only the current figure.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
A practical way to verify is to recall that many older competitive exam books and school textbooks mentioned 18 languages in the Eighth Schedule. Those books were written before 2003 and were updated later to mention the current total of 22. If you remember encountering both numbers in different contexts, the timeline explanation above helps reconcile them. Once you remember that 18 was the figure after the 1992 amendment and before the 2003 amendment, it becomes straightforward to match this question with option 18.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:
Many candidates simply memorise the latest figure of 22 languages and assume that all questions refer to the present situation. This leads to confusion when the original question actually reflects an older exam standard or historical stage. Another common mistake is mixing up the numbers 14, 15 and 18. To avoid such errors, learn the timeline clearly and remember which amendments added which languages. Also, always read the question carefully to see whether it refers to the present total or to a past stage, as in this case.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is 18, because before the 2003 amendment that raised the total to 22, the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India listed 18 officially recognised languages.