2013 CSAT, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2013 · CSAT

Question 1: Reading Comprehension

Passage – 1 · as printed by UPSC
Passage beginning “The subject of democracy has become severely…”Passage beginning “The subject of democracy has become severely…”

Which of the following is closest to the view of democracy as mentioned in the above passage ?

aThe subject of democracy is a muddle due to a desire to portray it as a Western concept, ‘alien’ to non-Western countries.
bThe language of imposition of democracy is inappropriate. There is, however, a need to consider this concept in the backdrop of culture of ‘own ways’ of non-Western society.
cWhile democracy is not essentially a Western idea belonging exclusively to the West, the institutional structure of current democratic practices has been their contribution.
dNone of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).

The author rejects the idea that democracy belongs only to the West: ancient India had local experiments in democracy, and the history of participation and public reasoning lies in many regions. But the author also accepts that the institutional structure of today's democratic practice is largely a product of European and American experience, a genuine Western achievement. So the closest view is that democracy is not exclusively Western, yet its present institutional form is a Western contribution. Remember: the author attacks the 'imposition' framing used by both camps.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Wrong. The muddle comes from the imposition rhetoric used by both sides; the author does not blame a wish to portray democracy as alien.
  • (b) Wrong. The author calls the imposition language inappropriate but does not argue that democracy should be judged by non-Western cultural ways.
  • (c) Right. Democracy is not exclusively Western, yet the institutional structure of current practice is largely a Western contribution.
  • (d) Wrong, because (c) matches the passage.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2013, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.