2012 GS Paper I, all questions
UPSC Prelims 2012 · GS Paper I
Question 28: History and Culture
During Indian freedom struggle, the National Social Conference was formed. What was the reason for its formation?
aDifferent social reform groups or organizations of Bengal region united to form a single body to discuss the issues of larger interest and to prepare appropriate petitions/representations to the government
bIndian National Congress did not want to include social reforms in its deliberations and decided to form a separate body for such a purpose
cBehramji Malabari and M. G. Ranade decided to bring together all the social reform groups of the country under one organization
dNone of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct in this context
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
The National Social Conference was founded in 1887 by M. G. Ranade and Raghunath Rao as the social-reform wing of the Congress. The Congress had decided to confine itself to political questions and not take up social reform, so a separate body that met alongside its sessions was formed for that purpose. It was a national body, not a grouping of Bengal organisations.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong: it was a national body, not a union of Bengal reform groups.
- (b) Correct: the Congress kept to politics, so a separate body took up social reform.
- (c) Wrong: it misstates why the body was formed; the reason was the Congress leaving out social reform.
- (d) Wrong: statement (b) gives the reason.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2012, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.