UPSC Prelims 2014 · CSAT
Question 64: Logical Reasoning and Mental Ability
“If political leadership fails to emerge, there is likelihood of military taking over power in developing countries. Radical student groups or labour may try to raise revolution but they are not likely to compete with the military. Military intervention, rule, and withdrawal from politics is closely related to a society's level of political development.”
In the context of political development, the assumption in the above passage is that
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
The author argues that a developing country without strong political leaders risks a military takeover, because radical students or workers are unlikely to rival the army. The unstated assumption is that the army steps into the gap left by missing leadership. The author does not call leadership ineffective, nor military rule essential for development; intervention is tied to how politically developed a society is.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) The passage says leadership may fail to emerge, not that it is an ineffective tool.
- (b) Right. The military takes over when political leadership is missing.
- (c) The passage links intervention to the level of political development; it does not call it inevitable for development.
- (d) The assumption in (b) is supported by the passage.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2014, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.