UPSC Prelims 1996 · General Studies

Question 82: Polity and Governance

Assertion (A): The word ‘minority’ is not defined in the Constitution of India. Reason (R): The Minorities Commission is not a constitutional body. 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).

A is true: the Constitution uses the word 'minority' (Articles 29 and 30) but nowhere defines it. R is true: the Minorities Commission was set up in 1978 by a government resolution and was given statutory status in 1992, but it has never been a constitutional body. Yet the commission's status says nothing about why the word is undefined, so R does not explain A.

A. The Constitution does not define 'minority'.
R. The Minorities Commission is statutory, not constitutional, but this does not explain A.

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: the commission's status is unrelated to defining 'minority'.
(b) Right: both are true, and R is not the explanation of A.
(c) R is true, so A true and R false does not hold.
(d) A is true, so A false does not hold.

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.