UPSC Prelims 2021 · GS Paper I
Question 50: International Relations and Current Affairs
Consider the following statements :
- 1.21st February is declared to be the International Mother Language Day by UNICEF.
- 2.The demand that Bangla has to be one of the national languages was raised in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
International Mother Language Day, observed on 21 February, was proclaimed by UNESCO, not UNICEF, to honour the 1952 language movement in East Pakistan. The demand that Bangla be one of the national languages of Pakistan was raised in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan in 1948 by Dhirendranath Datta. Remember: UNESCO proclaimed the day; the demand began in the Pakistani Constituent Assembly.
- 1. UNESCO, not UNICEF, declared the day.
- 2. The demand for Bangla as a national language was raised in Pakistan's Constituent Assembly in 1948.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes 1.
What you needed to know: UNESCO, not UNICEF, declared the day.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (d) goes: it leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: The demand for Bangla as a national language was raised in Pakistan's Constituent Assembly in 1948.
Only (b) 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) Wrong: statement 1 is false, since UNESCO and not UNICEF proclaimed it.
- (b) Right: only statement 2 is correct.
- (c) Wrong: statement 1 is false.
- (d) Wrong: statement 2 is correct.
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.