2012 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2012 · GS Paper I

Question 6: Polity and Governance

Consider the following provisions under the Directive Principles of State Policy as enshrined in the Constitution of India :

  1. 1.Securing for citizens of India a uniform civil code
  2. 2.Organizing village Panchayats
  3. 3.Promoting cottage industries in rural areas
  4. 4.Securing for all the workers reasonable leisure and cultural opportunities

Which of the above are the Gandhian Principles that are reflected in the Directive Principles of State Policy?

a1, 2 and 4 only
b2 and 3 only
c1, 3 and 4 only
d1, 2, 3 and 4

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

Gandhian principles in the Directive Principles include organising village panchayats (Article 40) and promoting cottage industries in rural areas (Article 43), along with prohibition and protection of cattle. A uniform civil code (Article 44) is a liberal-intellectual principle, and securing workers leisure and cultural opportunities is a socialist one. To answer such questions, sort the Directive Principles into socialist, Gandhian and liberal-intellectual groups.

  • 1. The uniform civil code (Article 44) is a liberal-intellectual principle.
  • 2. Organising village panchayats (Article 40) is a Gandhian principle.
  • 3. Promoting cottage industries in rural areas (Article 43) is Gandhian.
  • 4. Leisure and cultural opportunities for workers is a socialist principle.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 4 is not correct, (a), (c) and (d) go: each of them includes 4.

    What you needed to know: Leisure and cultural opportunities for workers is a socialist principle.

    The red flag in statement 4 is “all”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “all” were true 41% of the time (76 statements). A hint, not a rule.

Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statements 1, 2 or 3.

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) Wrong: it adds the uniform civil code and workers' leisure, which are not Gandhian.
  • (b) Correct: village panchayats and rural cottage industries are the Gandhian principles listed.
  • (c) Wrong: it drops panchayats and adds two non-Gandhian items.
  • (d) Wrong: it includes the uniform civil code and workers' leisure, which are liberal and socialist principles.

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.