2010 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2010 · General Studies

Question 140: History and Culture

With reference to Pondicherry (now Puducherry), consider the following statements :

  1. 1.The first European power to occupy Pondicherry were the Portuguese.
  2. 2.The second European power to occupy Pondicherry were the French.
  3. 3.The English never occupied Pondicherry.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

a1 only
b2 and 3 only
c3 only
d1, 2 and 3

AnswerThe answer is (a).

The given answer accepts only statement 1, that the Portuguese were the first European power to occupy Pondicherry. Statement 2 is rejected: the French are not accepted as the second power. Statement 3 is false because the British captured Pondicherry from the French several times in the eighteenth century wars (for example in 1761). Remember: Pondicherry changed hands among several European powers.

  • 1. As keyed, the Portuguese were the first European power there.
  • 2. The given answer does not accept the French as the second power to occupy it.
  • 3. The British captured Pondicherry several times, for example in 1761.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 3 is not correct, (b), (c) and (d) go: each of them includes 3.

    What you needed to know: The British captured Pondicherry several times, for example in 1761.

Only (a) is left. You didn’t need statements 1 or 2.

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 (as keyed): only statement 1 is accepted.
  • (b) Statement 3 is false: the British captured Pondicherry more than once.
  • (c) Statement 3 is false, so 'only 3' fails.
  • (d) Statements 2 and 3 are not accepted, so all three fail.

Worth knowing: The order of European occupation of Pondicherry is reported differently in different sources, so statement 2 is open to dispute.

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.