UPSC Prelims 2012 · CSAT

Question 55: Reading Comprehension

Passage beginning “In a typical Western liberal context,…” — Passage – 2 · as printed by UPSC

Greater democratization in India has not necessarily led to

athe dilution of caste and communal identities in the public sphere.

birrelevance of community identity as a governing force in Indian politics.

cmarginalization of elite groups in society.

drelative unimportance of hereditary identities over class identities.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

The passage describes Indian politics as driven largely by community identity, based on caste or religion, with marginalised groups taking part while holding on to their group identities. So democratization has not made community identity irrelevant as a governing force, option (b). Options (a) and (d) also describe things the passage suggests have not happened, but (b) is the direct reversal of its central claim. Option (c) is something the passage says did happen: power passed from upper-caste elites to subaltern groups.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Wrong by the key. The passage suggests identities have not diluted, but (b) is the clearer reversal of its main claim.
(b) Right. The passage presents community identity as the main driving force in Indian politics, so it has not become irrelevant.
(c) Wrong. Power moved from upper-caste elites to subaltern groups, so democratization did lead to this.
(d) Wrong by the key. Hereditary identities remain important in the passage, but (b) is the more direct reversal.

Worth knowing: Options (a), (b) and (d) all describe outcomes that the passage suggests have not happened; the key picks (b) as the most direct reversal of the passage.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2012, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.