2011 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2011 · GS Paper I

Question 100: History and Culture

The "dharma" and "rita" depict a central idea of ancient Vedic civilization of India. In this context, consider the following statements :

  1. 1.Dharma was a conception of obligations and of the discharge of one's duties to oneself and to others.
  2. 2.Rita was the fundamental moral law governing the functioning of the universe and all it contained.

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).

Rita, in the Rig Veda, is the cosmic order or moral law that governs the universe, the movement of the sun and seasons, and human conduct, and it was upheld by Varuna. Dharma, which grew in importance later, is the idea of the duties one owes to oneself and to others. Both statements describe these ideas correctly.

  • 1. Dharma is the conception of duties to oneself and others.
  • 2. Rita is the fundamental order governing the universe.

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: Rita is the fundamental order governing the universe.

    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: Dharma is the conception of duties to oneself and others.

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 on Rita is also correct.
  • (b) Statement 1 on dharma is also correct.
  • (c) Right: dharma means obligations, and Rita is the fundamental moral law of the universe.
  • (d) Both statements are correct, so 'neither' fails.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2011, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.