1996 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 1996 · General Studies

Question 70: Economy and Social Development

Assertion (A): Though India’s national income has gone up several fold since 1947, there has been no marked improvement in the per capita income level. Reason (R): Sizeable proportion of the population of India is still living below the poverty line. In the context of the above two statements which one of the following is correct?

aBoth A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
bBoth A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A
cA is true but R is false
dA is false but R is true

AnswerThe answer is (b).

R is true: a large share of Indians still lives below the poverty line, which shows that gains have not reached everyone. But poverty is a matter of how income is shared, while per capita income is an average driven by how fast population grows; so R does not explain A. The key accepts A: national income rose, but population growth absorbed much of the gain. Remember: per capita income = national income divided by population.

  • A. The key accepts it: population growth absorbed much of the rise in national income.
  • R. A large part of the population still lives below the poverty line.

How you could have got this

If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (d) goes. Then judge the second statement; if it is correct too, decide whether it explains the first.

This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) R does not explain A: poverty concerns distribution, while per capita income is an average.
  • (b) Right: both are taken as true, and R is not the explanation of A.
  • (c) R is true, so this option fails.
  • (d) A is taken as true by the key, so this option fails.

Worth knowing: Per capita income did rise after 1947, if slowly, so A is overstated.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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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.