UPSC Prelims 1996 · General Studies
Question 3: History and Culture
Who among the following was a prominent leader of the Congress Socialist Party?
AnswerThe answer is (d).
Acharya Narendra Dev was a leading figure of the Congress Socialist Party, formed in 1934 inside the Congress by Jayaprakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia, Narendra Dev, Minoo Masani and others. M. N. Roy is linked with the Communist movement and later radical humanism, Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi was a Kanpur journalist and Congress leader, and Pattam Thanu Pillai was a Travancore leader. Remember the founding year, 1934.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) M. N. Roy was a Communist and later a radical humanist, not a CSP leader.
- (b) Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi was a Kanpur journalist and Congress leader who died in 1931, before the CSP existed.
- (c) Pattam Thanu Pillai was a Travancore political leader, not a CSP leader.
- (d) Right: Acharya Narendra Dev was among the CSP's founders and leading thinkers.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1996, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.