UPSC Prelims 2000 · General Studies

Question 89: Geography

Assertion (A): Ganga Plain is the most densely populated part of India. Reason (R): Ganga is the most harnessed river of India.

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).

The Ganga Plain is the most densely populated part of India because of its fertile alluvial soil, flat land, plentiful water and long history of settled agriculture. The Ganga is much used for canal irrigation, which helps, but the density rests mainly on soil, climate and agriculture, not on the harnessing of the river. So both statements are true, but R is not the explanation of A.

A. The Ganga Plain is the most densely populated part of India.
R. The Ganga is taken as the most harnessed river, but this does not explain the density.

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 is not the explanation: soil, plain, climate and agriculture explain the density.
(b) Right: both are true, but R is not the correct explanation.
(c) R is taken as true here, so it cannot be called false.
(d) A is true, so it cannot be called false.

Worth knowing: Whether the Ganga is India's most harnessed river is debatable; if R were false, the answer would be (c).

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2000, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.