2010 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2010 · General Studies

Question 97: Polity and Governance

With reference to the National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, 2007, consider the following statements :

  1. 1.This policy is applicable only to the persons affected by the acquisition of land for projects and not to the involuntary displacement due to any other reason.
  2. 2.This policy has been formulated by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

AnswerThe answer is (d).

The National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, 2007 was framed by the Ministry of Rural Development (Department of Land Resources), not the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, so statement 2 is wrong. The given answer also treats statement 1 as wrong, because the policy dealt with involuntary displacement more broadly than land acquisition alone. Remember: the 2007 policy was an executive policy, later replaced by the 2013 land acquisition law.

  • 1. The policy covers displacement more broadly than acquisition of land.
  • 2. It was formulated by the Ministry of Rural Development.

How you could have got this

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

    What you needed to know: The policy covers displacement more broadly than acquisition of land.

    The red flag in statement 1 is “only”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “only” were true 27% of the time (82 statements). A hint, not a rule.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) goes: it includes 2.

    What you needed to know: It was formulated by the Ministry of Rural Development.

Only (d) 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 1 is wrong in the key: the policy is not limited to land acquisition.
  • (b) Statement 2 is wrong: the policy came from the Ministry of Rural Development.
  • (c) Both statements are wrong, so 'both correct' fails.
  • (d) Right: neither statement is correct.

Worth knowing: The 2007 policy has been replaced by the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

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.