2018 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2018 · GS Paper I

Question 28: Economy and Social Development

With reference to digital payments, consider the following statements :

  1. 1.BHIM app allows the user to transfer money to anyone with a UPI-enabled bank account.
  2. 2.While a chip-pin debit card has four factors of authentication, BHIM app has only two factors of authentication.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

The BHIM app is built on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), so a user can send money to anyone who has a UPI-enabled bank account, using a virtual payment address, mobile number or account details. Statement 2 is wrong: a chip-and-PIN debit card relies on two factors (the card you hold and the PIN you know), and BHIM also uses two (the registered device and mobile number, plus the UPI PIN). Remember: UPI is bank-to-bank, instant and round the clock.

  • 1. BHIM runs on UPI and can pay any UPI-enabled bank account.
  • 2. A chip-and-PIN card has two factors, not four; BHIM also uses two (device and UPI PIN).

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) and (c) go: each of them includes 2.

    What you needed to know: A chip-and-PIN card has two factors, not four; BHIM also uses two (device and UPI PIN).

    The red flag in statement 2 is “only”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “only” were true 27% of the time (82 statements). A hint, not a rule.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 1 is correct, (d) goes: it leaves 1 out.

    What you needed to know: BHIM runs on UPI and can pay any UPI-enabled bank account.

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: statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is wrong.
  • (b) Wrong: statement 2 is false.
  • (c) Wrong: statement 2 is false.
  • (d) Wrong: statement 1 is true.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2018, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.