Consider the following statements : 1. 21st February is declared to be the International Mother Language Day by UNICEF. 2. The demand that Bangla has to be one of the national languages was raised in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan. Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only ✓ UPSC's answer
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Why the answer is (b)

• Statement 1 is wrong: International Mother Language Day (21 February) was proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999 and endorsed by the UN General Assembly, not by UNICEF.

• The date commemorates the 1952 Dhaka students killed while demanding recognition of Bangla.

• Statement 2 is correct: in February 1948 Dhirendranath Datta moved in Pakistan's Constituent Assembly that Bangla be made a state/national language alongside Urdu and English; the rejection fuelled the Bhasha Andolan.

• Hence 2 only, option (b).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) 1 only: Statement 1 is wrong: UNESCO, not UNICEF, declared the day.
(c) Both 1 and 2: Statement 1 is wrong.
(d) Neither 1 nor 2: Statement 2 is correct: the Bangla demand was raised in Pakistan's Constituent Assembly.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2021, held on 10 October 2021. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.