2016 CSAT, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2016 · CSAT

Question 2: Reading Comprehension

Passage-1 · as printed by UPSC
Passage beginning “Accountability, or the lack of it,…”

With reference to the passage, the following assumptions have been made :

  1. 1.Political executive is an obstacle to the accountability of the civil services to the society
  2. 2.In the present framework of Indian polity, the political executive is no longer accountable to the society

Which of these assumptions is/are valid ?

a1 only
b2 only
cBoth 1 and 2
dNeither 1 nor 2

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

The passage says civil services have become more answerable to the political leaders of the day, and that this route to answering to society has not worked, so the political executive stands in the way (assumption 1 is valid). But it says leaders are expected to answer to society through elections, so claiming they are no longer accountable goes beyond the passage (assumption 2 is invalid). Remember: strong words like 'no longer' need direct support in the text.

  • 1. The tilt towards the executive blocks the services answering to society.
  • 2. Leaders are described as externally accountable through elections.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) and (d) go: each of them leaves 1 out.

    What you needed to know: The tilt towards the executive blocks the services answering to society.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (c) goes: it includes 2.

    What you needed to know: Leaders are described as externally accountable through elections.

Only (a) is left. This one needs every statement.

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) Right: the executive standing in the way is supported; the second claim is not.
  • (b) Assumption 2 fails: leaders are expected to answer to society through elections.
  • (c) Assumption 2 is invalid, so both cannot hold.
  • (d) Assumption 1 is supported by the tilt towards the executive.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2016, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.