UPSC Prelims 2012 · GS Paper I
Question 82: History and Culture
With reference to the guilds (Shreni) of ancient India that played a very important role in the country's economy, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- 1.Every guild was registered with the central authority of the State and the king was the chief administrative authority on them.
- 2.The wages, rules of work, standards and prices were fixed by the guild.
- 3.The guild had judicial powers over its own members.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).
Guilds (shrenis) of ancient India were self-governing bodies of merchants and craftsmen. They fixed wages, rules of work, standards and prices, and they exercised judicial powers over their own members, as ancient law books recognise. There is no evidence that every guild had to be registered with a central authority or that the king was their chief administrative authority.
- 1. Guilds were largely self-governing, with no central registration or royal administration of them.
- 2. Guilds fixed wages, rules of work, standards and prices.
- 3. Guilds had judicial powers over their members.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (d) go: each of them includes 1.
What you needed to know: Guilds were largely self-governing, with no central registration or royal administration of them.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (b) goes: it leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: Guilds fixed wages, rules of work, standards and prices.
Only (c) is left. You didn’t need statement 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: guilds were not registered with a central authority under the king.
- (b) Incomplete: guilds also fixed wages, rules, standards and prices.
- (c) Correct: guilds fixed wages and standards, and held judicial powers over members.
- (d) Wrong: statement 1 on royal registration and control is false.
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.