UPSC Prelims 2004 · General Studies
Question 120: History and Culture
Consider the following statements about Sikh Gurus:
- 1.Banda Bahadur was appointed as the military leader of the Sikhs by Guru Tegh Bahadur.
- 2.Guru Arjun Dev became the Sikh Guru after Guru Ram Das.
- 3.Guru Arjun Dev gave to Sikhs their own script – Guru mukhi.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
AnswerThe answer is (b).
Statement 1 is wrong: Banda Bahadur was appointed military leader of the Sikhs by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru, not by Guru Tegh Bahadur. Guru Arjun Dev was the fifth Guru, following Guru Ram Das, so statement 2 is correct. The key also counts statement 3 as correct, linking Guru Arjun Dev to Gurmukhi through the Adi Granth he compiled.
- 1. Banda Bahadur was appointed by Guru Gobind Singh.
- 2. Guru Arjun Dev succeeded Guru Ram Das.
- 3. Counted true by the key, via the Adi Granth in Gurmukhi.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a), (c) and (d) go: each of them includes 1.
What you needed to know: Banda Bahadur was appointed by Guru Gobind Singh.
Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statements 2 or 3.
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) Statement 1 is false.
- (b) Correct on the key: statements 2 and 3.
- (c) Statement 1 is false, and statement 2 is left out.
- (d) Statement 1 is false.
Worth knowing: Statement 3 is shaky, since Gurmukhi is usually credited to Guru Angad, but (b) is still the only option that fits statements 1 and 2.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2004, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.