UPSC Prelims 1999 · General Studies

Question 101: Economy and Social Development

Assertion (A): According to statistics, more female children are born each year than male children in India. Reason (R): In India, the death rate of a male child is higher than that of the female child.

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 (d).

A is false: more boys than girls are born in India every year; the sex ratio at birth is about 105 boys to 100 girls, as in most countries. The lower number of girls in the population is due to higher mortality among girls and sex-selective practices, not to fewer births of boys. Whatever one makes of R, which the given answer takes as true, A is false, and that leaves only (d).

A. More male than female children are born in India each year.
R. Taken as true by the given answer: boys are biologically more vulnerable in infancy.

How you could have got this

If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, only (d) is left: every other option says it is correct.

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) Wrong. A is false: more boys are born than girls.
(b) Wrong. A is false, so this cannot hold.
(c) Wrong. A is false.
(d) Right. A is false; R is taken as true.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1999, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.