2012 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2012 · GS Paper I

Question 40: Polity and Governance

Which of the following provisions of the Constitution of India have a bearing on Education?

  1. 1.Directive Principles of State Policy
  2. 2.Rural and Urban Local Bodies
  3. 3.Fifth Schedule
  4. 4.Sixth Schedule
  5. 5.Seventh Schedule

Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

a1 and 2 only
b3, 4 and 5 only
c1, 2 and 5 only
d1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).

Several constitutional provisions bear on education. The Directive Principles (such as Articles 41 and 45), the functions given to rural and urban local bodies, the Fifth and Sixth Schedules for tribal areas (Sixth Schedule district councils can run primary schools), and the Seventh Schedule (education is on the Concurrent List) all touch on it. UPSC accepts all five.

  • 1. Directive Principles such as Articles 41 and 45 deal with education.
  • 2. Rural and urban local bodies are given education functions.
  • 3. The Fifth Schedule governs Scheduled Areas and tribal welfare, including education.
  • 4. Sixth Schedule district councils can establish primary schools.
  • 5. Education appears in the Seventh Schedule lists, notably the Concurrent List.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) goes: it leaves 1 out.

    What you needed to know: Directive Principles such as Articles 41 and 45 deal with education.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 3 is correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them leaves 3 out.

    What you needed to know: The Fifth Schedule governs Scheduled Areas and tribal welfare, including education.

Only (d) is left. You didn’t need statements 2, 4 or 5.

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) Incomplete: the three Schedules also bear on education.
  • (b) Incomplete: Directive Principles and local bodies also bear on education.
  • (c) Incomplete: the Fifth and Sixth Schedules also touch on education.
  • (d) Correct: all five provisions have a bearing on education.

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 I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.