UPSC Prelims 2021 · GS Paper I
Question 40: History and Culture
With reference to the history of ancient India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- 1.Mitakshara was the civil law for upper castes and Dayabhaga was the civil law for lower castes.
- 2.In the Mitakshara system, the sons can claim right to the property during the lifetime of the father, whereas in the Dayabhaga system, it is only after the death of the father that the sons can claim right to the property.
- 3.The Mitakshara system deals with the matters related to the property held by male members only of a family, whereas the Dayabhaga system deals with the matters related to the property held by both male and female members of a family.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
Mitakshara and Dayabhaga are two schools of Hindu law on inheritance and joint family property, and they differ by region, not by caste. Mitakshara applies across most of India; Dayabhaga applies in Bengal and Assam. Under Mitakshara a son acquires a right in ancestral property by birth and can claim partition even in the father's lifetime. Under Dayabhaga, the right arises only after the father's death. Both deal with family property, so statement 3 is wrong.
- 1. The two schools differ by region, not by caste.
- 2. Mitakshara gives sons a birth right; under Dayabhaga the right arises only after the father's death.
- 3. Neither school confines itself to male property; both govern family property.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 2 is correct, (c) and (d) go: each of them leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: Mitakshara gives sons a birth right; under Dayabhaga the right arises only after the father's death.
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.
- Then, if you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) goes: it includes 1.
What you needed to know: The two schools differ by region, not by caste.
Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statement 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 1 is false, since the schools are regional, not caste-based.
- (b) Right: only statement 2 is correct.
- (c) Wrong: statements 1 and 3 are both false.
- (d) Wrong: statement 3 is false.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2021, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.