The Sahitya Akademi Awards are given for the best literary writings in how many Indian languages recognised by the Akademi?

Introduction / Context:
The Sahitya Akademi Awards are important Indian literary honours presented annually by the National Academy of Letters. They recognise outstanding books of literary merit in various Indian languages. Knowing how many languages are covered by these awards is a standard general knowledge point, often asked in exams that include literature and culture topics. This question focuses on that specific number.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The awards are Sahitya Akademi Awards.
• The focus is on the number of Indian languages in which these awards are given.
• The options are 12, 15, 20, and 24.
• Only one of these matches the official count used by the Akademi.

Concept / Approach:
The Sahitya Akademi presently gives awards in 24 languages. These include the 22 scheduled languages listed in the Constitution of India, plus additional recognised languages such as English and others as decided by the Akademi. Therefore, when asked how many languages are covered by the Sahitya Akademi Awards, the correct answer according to standard general knowledge is 24. The smaller numbers in the options are either outdated or incorrect for the current structure.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Academy supports a broad set of Indian languages, more than just the main scheduled ones. Step 2: Link Sahitya Akademi with 24 languages, a figure commonly mentioned in exam preparation material. Step 3: Compare the options and note that 24 is the largest and best matches the inclusive nature of the Akademi. Step 4: Reject 12, 15, and 20 as too small for the wide linguistic coverage of the award. Step 5: Select 24 as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify this, recall that the Constitution lists 22 scheduled languages, and the Sahitya Akademi recognises more than that in its award scheme. Many standard general knowledge books and exam guides clearly state that Sahitya Akademi Awards are given in 24 languages. By matching this fact with the options, you confirm that 24 must be selected.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Twelve languages would be far too few and does not match the pan Indian scope of the Akademi.

Fifteen languages also underestimates the wide representation that the institution aims to offer.

Twenty languages come closer but still fails to include all scheduled and recognised languages for which awards are presently given.

Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to assume that the number of languages is the same as the number of official languages at some earlier point in time, leading to confusion with figures like 14 or 15. Another pitfall is to guess a rounded number like 20 without checking. To avoid this, fix the number 24 in your memory as a key fact linked with Sahitya Akademi Awards and revise it along with other major numbers such as states and union territories.

Final Answer:
The Sahitya Akademi Awards are given for the best writings in 24 Indian languages.