2002 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2002 · General Studies

Question 76: Economy and Social Development

Consider the following countries of South Asia:

  1. 1.Bangladesh
  2. 2.India
  3. 3.Pakistan
  4. 4.Sri Lanka The descending order of literacy among these countries is
a4, 2, 1, 3
b2, 4, 3, 1
c4, 2, 3, 1
d2, 4, 1, 3

AnswerThe answer is (c).

Literacy rates around 2000-01 ran roughly: Sri Lanka about 92 percent, India about 65 percent, Pakistan about 44 percent and Bangladesh about 41 percent. So the descending order is Sri Lanka (4), India (2), Pakistan (3), Bangladesh (1). Remember: Sri Lanka and the Maldives lead South Asia in literacy, and Pakistan and Bangladesh are well behind India.

  • 1. Bangladesh, about 41 percent: lowest, fourth.
  • 2. India, about 65 percent: second.
  • 3. Pakistan, about 44 percent: third.
  • 4. Sri Lanka, about 92 percent: highest, first.
Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Puts Bangladesh above Pakistan; Bangladesh had the lower literacy rate.
  • (b) Puts India above Sri Lanka; Sri Lanka's literacy was far higher.
  • (c) Right: Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh.
  • (d) Puts India above Sri Lanka and Bangladesh above Pakistan; both are reversed.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2002, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.