2019 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2019 · GS Paper I

Question 1: History and Culture

With reference to Mughal India, what is/are the difference/differences between Jagirdar and Zamindar?

  1. 1.Jagirdars were holders of land assignments in lieu of judicial and police duties, whereas Zamindars were holders of revenue rights without obligation to perform any duty other than revenue collection.
  2. 2.Land assignments to Jagirdars were hereditary and revenue rights of Zamindars were not hereditary.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).

Both statements get the roles wrong. A jagirdar held a revenue assignment in place of salary for his mansab rank, mostly for military service; it was not payment for judicial and police duties, and jagirs were transferable and not hereditary. A zamindar held hereditary rights to a share of the revenue and also carried local obligations such as keeping the peace and supplying troops. So heredity belongs to the zamindar, not the jagirdar. Remember: jagir means pay that moves with the officer, zamindari means an inherited local right.

  • 1. Jagirs were pay assignments for rank, not for judicial and police duty, and zamindars had local obligations too.
  • 2. Jagirs were transferable and not hereditary; zamindari rights were hereditary.

How you could have got this

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

    What you needed to know: Jagirs were pay assignments for rank, not for judicial and police duty, and zamindars had local obligations too.

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

    What you needed to know: Jagirs were transferable and not hereditary; zamindari rights were hereditary.

Only (d) 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 itself wrong, so it cannot stand alone.
  • (b) Statement 2 reverses the facts: jagirs were not hereditary.
  • (c) Neither statement is correct, so they cannot both be right.
  • (d) Correct: statement 1 misstates both roles and statement 2 reverses heredity.

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

Practise this paper timedNext question

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2019, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.