2013 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2013 · GS Paper I

Question 6: History and Culture

The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) who visited India recorded the general conditions and culture of India at that time. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. 1.The roads and river-routes were completely immune from robbery.
  2. 2.As regards punishment for offences, ordeals by fire, water and poison were the instruments for determining the innocence or guilt of a person.
  3. 3.The tradesmen had to pay duties at ferries and barrier stations.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

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

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

Hiuen Tsang (Yuan Chwang, 7th century, Harsha's reign) described a well-ordered kingdom but did not call it crime-free: he himself was robbed by brigands on his journey, so roads and rivers were not immune from robbery. He did record that ordeals by fire, water, weighing and poison were used to decide guilt, and that traders paid duties at ferries and barrier stations. Statements 2 and 3 are correct.

  • 1. Hiuen Tsang was himself robbed; roads were not completely safe.
  • 2. He records ordeals by fire, water and poison to test guilt.
  • 3. Traders paid duties at ferries and barrier stations.

How you could have got this

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

    What you needed to know: Hiuen Tsang was himself robbed; roads were not completely safe.

Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statements 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. Statement 1 is false; travellers, including Hiuen Tsang, were robbed.
  • (b) Correct. Ordeals and ferry or barrier duties are both in his account.
  • (c) Wrong. Statement 1 is false, so this pairing fails.
  • (d) Wrong. Statement 1 is false, so not all three hold.

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

Practise this paper timedPrevious questionNext question

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