UPSC Prelims 2003 · General Studies

Question 111: History and Culture

Assertion (A): In 1916, Maulana Mohammad Ali and Abul Kalam Azad resigned from the Legislative Council. Reason (R): The Rowlatt Act was passed by the government in spite of being opposed by all Indian members of the Legislative Council.

aBoth A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A

bBoth A and R are individually true but R is NOT the 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: in 1916 Maulana Mohammad Ali and Abul Kalam Azad were not members of the Legislative Council, and both were being restricted by the government at the time, so they had no seats to resign. The Council member who famously resigned over the Rowlatt Act in 1919 was Jinnah. R is true: the Rowlatt Act was passed in March 1919 despite the opposition of all the Indian members of the Council.

A. Mohammad Ali and Azad were not Council members in 1916; the resignations came in 1919.
R. The Rowlatt Act was passed in 1919 against the opposition of all Indian members.

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) A is false, so 'both true' fails.
(b) A is false, so 'both true, R not the explanation' fails.
(c) A is false, so 'A true, R false' fails.
(d) Correct: A is false and R is true.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2003, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.