UPSC Prelims 2020 · GS Paper I
Question 14: History and Culture
One common agreement between Gandhism and Marxism is
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).
Both Gandhi and Marx saw the final goal as a society without a coercive State. Marx expected the State to wither away under communism, and Gandhi's ideal of enlightened anarchy rested on self-rule and voluntary cooperation, seeing the State as violence in concentrated form. They differ on the rest: Gandhi rejected class struggle in favour of class harmony and trusteeship, did not seek forcible abolition of private property, and denied economic determinism.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Right: both pointed to an ultimately stateless society.
- (b) Wrong: Marx made class struggle central; Gandhi stood for class harmony.
- (c) Wrong: Marx wanted private property in means of production abolished; Gandhi preferred trusteeship.
- (d) Wrong: economic determinism is Marx's view; Gandhi gave primacy to moral forces.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2020, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.