1998 General Studies, all questions
UPSC Prelims 1998 · General Studies
Question 51: History and Culture
At the time of India’s Independence, Mahatma Gandhi was
aa member of Congress Working Committee
bnot a member of the Congress
cthe President of the Congress
dthe General Secretary of the Congress
AnswerThe answer is (b).
Gandhi had resigned from the primary membership of the Congress in 1934 and never rejoined it, though he guided it as its moral leader. At Independence in August 1947 he was not a member, and the Congress president was J.B. Kripalani. On the day of Independence he was in Calcutta, fasting and working for communal peace, and did not attend the celebrations in Delhi.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) He was not even a primary member, so not on the Working Committee.
- (b) Right: he had left the Congress in 1934 and was not a member in 1947.
- (c) The Congress president in 1947 was J.B. Kripalani.
- (d) He never held the post of General Secretary.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1998, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.