UPSC Prelims 2000 · General Studies

Question 90: History and Culture

Assertion (A): The emphasis of Jainism on non-violence (ahimsa) prevented agriculturalists from embracing Jainism. Reason (R): Cultivation involved killing of insects and pests.

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 (a).

Jain teaching stresses ahimsa so strictly that it forbids harming even small creatures. Ploughing, weeding and harvesting kill insects and worms in the soil, so farmers found the Jain code hard to follow, and the religion spread mostly among traders and merchants. So A is true, R is true, and R explains A.

A. Jain emphasis on ahimsa kept agriculturalists from embracing Jainism.
R. Cultivation involves killing insects and pests, which is why A holds.

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) Right: both are true, and R explains why farmers kept away.
(b) R directly explains A, so it is the correct explanation.
(c) R is true, so it cannot be called false.
(d) A is true, so it cannot be called false.

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.