UPSC Prelims 1998 · General Studies
Question 96: History and Culture
“The Congress is tottering to its fall and one of my great ambitions while in India, is to assist it to a peaceful demise.” This statement is attributed to
AnswerThe answer is (b).
Lord Curzon, Viceroy from 1899 to 1905, wrote to the Secretary of State George Hamilton in 1900 that the Congress was tottering to its fall and that he hoped to assist it to a peaceful demise. His policies, notably the partition of Bengal in 1905, instead strengthened the nationalist movement. Dufferin (1884-88) was Viceroy at the time the Congress was founded and Lytton (1876-80) was earlier still.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Dufferin was Viceroy when the Congress was founded, but the remark is Curzon's.
- (b) Right: Curzon made this remark.
- (c) Lytton was Viceroy before the Congress existed.
- (d) Wrong, since the remark is attributed to Curzon.
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.