2010 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2010 · General Studies

Question 119: History and Culture

Consider the following statements :

  1. 1.The “Bombay Manifesto” signed in 1936 openly opposed the preaching of socialist ideals.
  2. 2.It evoked support from a large section of business community from all across India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

a1 only
b2 only
cBoth 1 and 2
dNeither 1 nor 2

AnswerThe answer is (c).

The Bombay Manifesto of 1936 was issued by Bombay industrialists in reaction to the socialist ideas that Jawaharlal Nehru was then preaching as Congress president. It openly opposed the preaching of socialist ideals, which it saw as harmful to industry and to the country's economic prospects. The given answer also takes statement 2 as correct, that it won support from a large section of the business community.

  • 1. The manifesto openly opposed the preaching of socialist ideals.
  • 2. As keyed, it drew support from a large section of the business community.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 2 is correct, (a) and (d) go: each of them leaves 2 out.

    What you needed to know: As keyed, it drew support from a large section of the business community.

    The red flag in statement 2 is “all”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “all” were true 41% of the time (76 statements). A hint, not a rule.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) goes: it leaves 1 out.

    What you needed to know: The manifesto openly opposed the preaching of socialist ideals.

Only (c) 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) Statement 2 is also accepted as correct in the key.
  • (b) Statement 1 is correct too: the manifesto opposed socialist preaching.
  • (c) Right (as keyed): both statements are accepted.
  • (d) Statement 1 is correct, so 'neither' fails.

Worth knowing: Statement 2 is hard to verify from standard sources; the given answer treats it as true.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2010, General Studies, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.