UPSC Prelims 2017 · GS Paper I
Question 5: Polity and Governance
One of the implications of equality in society is the absence of
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).
Equality in society does not mean everyone is the same; it means no group enjoys special privileges by birth, caste, sex or wealth, and everyone gets equal opportunity to develop. Competition between equals still goes on, laws still restrain everybody alike, and equality is itself an ideal rather than the absence of ideology. So the thing equality removes is privilege. Remember the classic formulation: equality means the absence of special privileges.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Right: equality means no one holds special privileges.
- (b) Wrong: laws still restrain everyone equally.
- (c) Wrong: competition on equal terms continues in an equal society.
- (d) Wrong: equality is itself an ideology or ideal, so it does not remove ideology.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2017, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.