2021 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2021 · GS Paper I

Question 81: Polity and Governance

Consider the following statements :

  1. 1.‘Right to the City’ is an agreed human right and the UN-Habitat monitors the commitments made by each country in this regard.
  2. 2.‘Right to the City’ gives every occupant of the city the right to reclaim public spaces and public participation in the city.
  3. 3.‘Right to the City’ means that the State cannot deny any public service or facility to the unauthorized colonies in the city.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a1 only
b3 only
c1 and 2
d2 and 3

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).

Right to the City is an idea, promoted through UN-Habitat's New Urban Agenda and by civil society, that every inhabitant of a city should be able to use, shape and take part in city life. It is not an agreed human right that UN-Habitat monitors country by country, so statement 1 is wrong. It includes reclaiming public spaces and taking part in decisions, and UPSC reads it to mean that basic services cannot be denied to residents of unauthorised colonies.

  • 1. It is a concept, not an agreed human right monitored by UN-Habitat.
  • 2. It covers reclaiming public spaces and taking part in city decisions.
  • 3. UPSC reads it to mean services cannot be denied to residents of unauthorised colonies.

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: It is a concept, not an agreed human right monitored by UN-Habitat.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (b) goes: it leaves 2 out.

    What you needed to know: It covers reclaiming public spaces and taking part in city decisions.

Only (d) 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.
  • (b) Wrong: statement 2 is also correct.
  • (c) Wrong: statement 1 is false.
  • (d) Right: statements 2 and 3 are correct.

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

Practise this paper timedPrevious questionNext question

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2021, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.