UPSC Prelims 2016 · GS Paper I
Question 40: Polity and Governance
With reference to the ‘Gram Nyayalaya Act’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- 1.As per the Act, Gram Nyayalayas can hear only civil cases and not criminal cases.
- 2.The Act allows local social activists as mediators/reconciliators.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
The Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 created village-level courts, presided over by a judicial officer, to give speedy and cheap justice at the doorstep. They try both civil and criminal cases, so statement 1 is wrong. The Act provides for conciliation, and conciliators can be drawn from people of social standing such as local social workers, so statement 2 is correct.
- 1. Gram Nyayalayas try both civil and criminal cases.
- 2. The Act allows social workers to serve as conciliators.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes 1.
What you needed to know: Gram Nyayalayas try both civil and criminal cases.
The red flag in statement 1 is “only”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “only” were true 27% of the time (82 statements). A hint, not a rule.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (d) goes: it leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: The Act allows social workers to serve as conciliators.
Only (b) 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) Statement 1 is false: Gram Nyayalayas hear criminal cases too.
- (b) Right: only statement 2, on social activists as conciliators, is correct.
- (c) Statement 1 is false, so 'both' fails.
- (d) Statement 2 is correct, so 'neither' fails.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2016, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.