UPSC Prelims 2009 · General Studies
Question 88: Polity and Governance
With reference to Union Government, consider the following statements :
- 1.The number of Ministries at the Centre on 15th August 1947 was 18.
- 2.The number of Ministries at the Centre at present is 36.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
AnswerThe answer is (a).
Statement 1 is accepted as correct: polity texts give 18 ministries at the Centre on 15 August 1947. Statement 2 is wrong: the Union Government has well over 50 ministries and departments, far above 36, and the number changes with each reshuffle. Remember the contrast between a small 1947 set-up and today's much larger government.
- 1. There were 18 ministries at the Centre on 15 August 1947.
- 2. The count of Union ministries is well above 36.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) and (d) go: each of them leaves 1 out.
What you needed to know: There were 18 ministries at the Centre on 15 August 1947.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (c) goes: it includes 2.
What you needed to know: The count of Union ministries is well above 36.
Only (a) is left. This one needs every statement.
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: only statement 1 is correct.
- (b) Wrong: the number of ministries is much more than 36.
- (c) Wrong: statement 2 is false.
- (d) Wrong: statement 1 is accepted as correct.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2009, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.