Which Indian state assembly recently passed a Bill to make Sanskrit the second official language of the state?

Introduction / Context:
Language policy in Indian states sometimes reflects cultural priorities and historical heritage. Sanskrit, an ancient classical language of India, has been given special status in a few states. The question asks you to identify which state assembly passed a Bill to make Sanskrit the second official language, an important fact in Indian polity and current affairs, especially for exams focusing on state level developments.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The question refers to a Bill passed by a state assembly.
• The Bill aims to make Sanskrit the second official language of that state.
• Options include Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Rajasthan.
• You need to pick the exact state that took this decision.

Concept / Approach:
To answer this correctly, you should remember news on state language amendments. Himachal Pradesh gained attention for passing the Official Language Amendment Bill that granted Sanskrit the status of second official language. While states like Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan have strong connections with Sanskrit and Hindi, this specific legislative move was associated with Himachal Pradesh. Distinguishing between general cultural association and a formal amendment is the key conceptual step here.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall which state legislature debated and passed a Bill specifically to grant second official language status to Sanskrit. Step 2: Remember that news reports highlighted Himachal Pradesh as the state taking this formal step. Step 3: Review the given options: Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Rajasthan. Step 4: Eliminate states that did not pass such a Bill, even if they have a cultural or religious link with Sanskrit. Step 5: Choose “Himachal Pradesh” as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
As a verification step, think back to headlines that mentioned the Himachal Pradesh Official Language Amendment Bill. Those reports clearly noted that Sanskrit would become the second official language of the state, with Hindi remaining the first official language. No similar official language amendment giving Sanskrit this exact status was reported from Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, or Rajasthan in the same context, confirming your choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Uttar Pradesh: Although it has many Sanskrit learning institutions and a strong Hindi base, it was not the state that passed this specific Bill at the time described, so this option is incorrect.
Telangana: The official language and policy discussions in Telangana have focused more on Telugu and Urdu, not on granting Sanskrit second official language status, making this option wrong.
Karnataka: Karnataka has supported Sanskrit education but did not pass the highlighted amendment to make Sanskrit the second official language in the same news context.
Rajasthan: Rajasthan has historical ties with Sanskrit but was not associated with this particular legislative step, so this choice is also incorrect.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes assume that any state with strong traditional or religious institutions must have adopted Sanskrit in its official language policy. Another pitfall is mixing up initiatives promoting Sanskrit education with formal official language amendments. Reading headlines carefully and noting the exact action taken, such as “Bill passed” or “second official language declared”, helps keep such details accurate for examination purposes.

Final Answer:
The state assembly that passed a Bill to make Sanskrit the second official language is Himachal Pradesh.