UPSC Prelims 2023 · GS Paper I
Question 91: Polity and Governance
With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements :
- 1.Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards Act and Rules of the Central Government.
- 2.The role of the Home Guards is to serve as an auxiliary force to the police in maintenance of internal security.
- 3.To prevent infiltration on the international border/coastal areas, the Border Wing Home Guards Battalions have been raised in some States.
How many of the above statements are correct?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
Statements 2 and 3 are correct. Home Guards are a voluntary force that serves as an auxiliary to the police in maintaining internal security and helping in emergencies and disasters, and Border Wing Home Guards battalions have been raised in some border and coastal States to help prevent infiltration. Statement 1 is wrong: Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards Acts and Rules of the respective State Governments, not of the Central Government.
- 1. Home Guards are raised under State Home Guards Acts and Rules.
- 2. They serve as an auxiliary force to the police.
- 3. Border Wing battalions exist in some States to prevent infiltration.
How you could have got this
No shortcut here: in a “how many” question, ruling out options doesn’t help. Every statement has to be judged.
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) Only one undercounts; statements 2 and 3 are both true.
- (b) Correct: statements 2 and 3 hold.
- (c) Statement 1 wrongly names the Central Government, so not all three.
- (d) Statements 2 and 3 are true, so not none.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2023, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.