UPSC Prelims 2025 · GS Paper I
Question 11: History and Culture
Consider the following statements about Raja Ram Mohan Roy :
- IHe possessed great love and respect for the traditional philosophical systems of the East.
- IIHe desired his countrymen to accept the rational and scientific approach and the principle of human dignity and social equality of all men and women.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
AnswerThe answer is (c).
Raja Ram Mohan Roy, founder of the Brahmo Samaj, drew on the Upanishads and Vedanta and translated them, so he valued the East's philosophical traditions. At the same time he urged modern scientific education (his 1823 letter to Lord Amherst asked for it in place of Sanskrit colleges), reasoned argument over custom, and human dignity and equality, shown in his campaign against sati and for women's rights over property. Both statements describe him. Remember: he combined Vedantic roots with rationalism.
- I. He studied and translated the Upanishads and based his reform on Vedanta.
- II. He backed scientific education, reason, human dignity and the equality of women and men.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement II is correct, (a) and (d) go: each of them leaves II out.
What you needed to know: He backed scientific education, reason, human dignity and the equality of women and men.
The red flag in statement II is “all”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “all” were true 41% of the time (76 statements). A hint, not a rule.
- Then, if you were sure statement I is correct, (b) goes: it leaves I out.
What you needed to know: He studied and translated the Upanishads and based his reform on Vedanta.
Only (c) is left. This one needs every statement.
This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.
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: he also pressed for a rational, scientific outlook and equality.
- (b) Wrong: he also respected and drew on the East's philosophical systems, especially Vedanta.
- (c) Right: he joined respect for Vedanta with a rational, scientific and egalitarian outlook.
- (d) Wrong: both statements describe his views.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2025, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.