2019 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2019 · GS Paper I

Question 14: History and Culture

With reference to the British colonial rule in India, consider the following statements :

  1. 1.Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in the abolition of the system of ‘indentured labour’.
  2. 2.In Lord Chelmsford’s ‘War Conference’, Mahatma Gandhi did not support the resolution on recruiting Indians for World War.
  3. 3.Consequent upon the breaking of Salt Law by Indian people, the Indian National Congress was declared illegal by the colonial rulers.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

a1 and 2 only
b1 and 3 only
c2 and 3 only
d1, 2 and 3

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

Statements 1 and 3 are correct. The system of indentured labour was abolished in 1917 after a sustained campaign in which Gandhi had a leading part. After the Salt Law was broken in the Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930, the Congress was declared illegal by the government. Statement 2 is wrong: at the Delhi War Conference of 1918 called by Lord Chelmsford, Gandhi supported the resolution on recruiting Indians for the war, hoping that Britain would reward India's loyalty.

  • 1. Indentured labour was abolished in 1917 after Gandhi's campaign.
  • 2. Gandhi supported the resolution at the 1918 War Conference.
  • 3. The Congress was declared illegal after the Salt Law was broken.

How you could have got this

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

    What you needed to know: Gandhi supported the resolution at the 1918 War Conference.

Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statements 1 or 3.

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) Wrong: statement 2 is false, since Gandhi supported the recruitment resolution.
  • (b) Correct: statements 1 and 3 hold and statement 2 does not.
  • (c) Wrong: it includes statement 2, which is false, and leaves out statement 1.
  • (d) Wrong: statement 2 is false.

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

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