UPSC Prelims 1998 · General Studies

Question 85: History and Culture

Which one of the following defines extremist ideology during the early phase of Indian freedom movement?

aStimulating the production of indigenous articles by giving them preference over imported commodities

bObtaining self-government by aggressive means in place of petitions and constitutional ways

cProviding national education according to the requirements of the country

dOrganising coups against the British empire through military revolt

AnswerThe answer is (b).

The Extremists (Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai, Aurobindo Ghose) rejected the Moderates' faith in petitions, prayers and constitutional methods and demanded swaraj, to be won by self-reliant, aggressive but mostly non-violent means: boycott, swadeshi, national education and passive resistance. The key picks the broadest statement of that ideology, obtaining self-government by aggressive means in place of petitions. The others describe parts of the programme, or revolutionary terrorism, which was a separate stream.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Swadeshi was one part of the programme, not the whole ideology.
(b) Right: self-government by assertive means instead of petitions and constitutional ways.
(c) National education was one part of the programme, not the whole ideology.
(d) Military coups belong to revolutionary groups, not the Extremists' core ideology.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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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.