UPSC Prelims 2023 · GS Paper I
Question 92: Polity and Governance
With reference to India, consider the following pairs :
| Action | The Act under which it is covered | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Unauthorized wearing of police or military uniforms | The Official Secrets Act, 1923 |
| 2. | Knowingly misleading or otherwise interfering with a police officer or military officer when engaged in their duties | The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 |
| 3. | Celebratory gunfire which can endanger the personal safety of others | The Arms (Amendment) Act, 2019 |
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
Pairs 1 and 3 are correct. Unauthorised wearing of police or military uniforms is an offence under the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and the Arms (Amendment) Act, 2019 penalises celebratory gunfire that endangers others. Pair 2 is wrong: misleading or interfering with police and military officers in their duties is also covered by the Official Secrets Act, not the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, which deals with proof in courts.
- 1. Unauthorised wearing of uniforms is covered by the Official Secrets Act, 1923.
- 2. Interfering with officers is covered by the Official Secrets Act, not the Evidence Act.
- 3. The Arms (Amendment) Act, 2019 penalises celebratory firing.
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; pairs 1 and 3 are both right.
- (b) Correct: pairs 1 and 3 match.
- (c) Pair 2 is wrongly matched, so not all three.
- (d) Pairs 1 and 3 are right, 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.