UPSC CAPF Archives

11. Which of the following statements about ‘Barnaparichay’, a mid 19th ce

Which of the following statements about ‘Barnaparichay’, a mid 19th century Bengali text is / are correct ?

1. It was written by Raja Rammohan Roy
2. It was the most widely used Bengali primer of the time

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

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The correct option is B.

‘Barnaparichay’ (বর্ণপরিচয়, meaning ‘Introduction to the Alphabet’) is a seminal Bengali primer.
– Statement 1: It was written by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, a prominent Bengali polymath and social reformer. Raja Rammohan Roy died in 1833, whereas ‘Barnaparichay’ was published in 1855 (Part 1) and 1856 (Part 2). Therefore, this statement is incorrect.
– Statement 2: ‘Barnaparichay’ revolutionized Bengali education by simplifying the alphabet and using a scientific approach to teach reading and writing. It became immensely popular and served as the standard primer for learning Bengali for several decades, widely used across Bengal. This statement is correct.

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar’s work in Bengali language reform and education had a profound and lasting impact. ‘Barnaparichay’ standardized the Bengali alphabet and its sequence, making it significantly easier for children to learn.

12. Who among the following British ethnographers launched the Survey of I

Who among the following British ethnographers launched the Survey of India project in the 1860s ?

Hunter

Dufferin

Risley

Thurston

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UPSC CAPF – 2016

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The correct option is A.

The question asks about a “Survey of India project” launched in the 1860s by a British ethnographer. While the formal Survey of India is a mapping agency, the term might be used here loosely to refer to a major large-scale documentation effort *about* India that included ethnographic aspects.
– William Wilson Hunter (A) was appointed to organize a statistical survey of India in 1869 (late 1860s). This project, which led to the creation of the “Statistical Accounts of Bengal” and eventually the “Imperial Gazetteer of India”, involved collecting vast amounts of data on geography, statistics, history, and also socio-cultural aspects, including ethnographic details. While not solely an ethnographer, Hunter initiated this major survey project in the specified timeframe, and his work contained significant ethnographic information.
– Lord Dufferin (B) was a Viceroy (1884-1888) and not an ethnographer or survey initiator in the 1860s.
– Herbert Hope Risley (C) is a prominent ethnographer known for his anthropometric surveys and works like “The Tribes and Castes of Bengal” (1891) and “The People of India” (1908). His major systematic ethnographic work began later than the 1860s.
– Edgar Thurston (D) was another significant ethnographer who worked in South India and published “Castes and Tribes of Southern India” (1909). His work is also from a later period.
Given the timeframe of the 1860s and the options provided, W.W. Hunter is the most plausible figure who initiated a large-scale survey project covering various aspects of India, including ethnographic information, around that period.

Systematic ethnographic surveys became more prominent in British India later in the 19th century, often linked with Census operations, which began collecting detailed socio-ethnic data from 1871 onwards. Risley played a key role in using anthropometry to classify Indian populations during the censuses he supervised. However, Hunter’s initiation of the Statistical Survey in 1869 fits the ‘1860s project’ description better than the major works of Risley or Thurston.

13. The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir came into force on :

The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir came into force on :

15 August 1946

15 August 1947

26 January 1950

26 January 1957

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The correct option is D.

Jammu and Kashmir had a special status under Article 370 of the Constitution of India (now revoked). It had its own Constitution.
– The Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir was convened in 1951 to draft a Constitution for the state.
– The Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 17, 1956.
– The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir came into force on January 26, 1957. This date coincided with India’s Republic Day.
– 15 August 1947 (B) is India’s Independence Day; 26 January 1950 (C) is India’s Republic Day, when the Constitution of India came into force.

The special status of Jammu and Kashmir and its separate Constitution were abrogated by the Indian Parliament in August 2019, reorganizing the state into two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

14. Who among the following sociologists is the first to propound the conc

Who among the following sociologists is the first to propound the concept of civil society ?

Adam Ferguson

Antonio Gramsci

Friedrich Hegel

Alexis de Tocqueville

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The correct option is A.

The concept of civil society has ancient roots, but its modern theoretical articulation began during the Enlightenment. Adam Ferguson, a Scottish Enlightenment philosopher, is widely credited with developing one of the earliest systematic modern concepts of civil society in his work “An Essay on the History of Civil Society” (1767). He described civil society as a state of polished and commercial society characterized by law, property rights, and the development of specialized roles, contrasting it with more primitive stages of human existence.
– Adam Ferguson (A): Articulated a distinct modern concept of civil society as a realm of commercial life, property, and law.
– Antonio Gramsci (B): Developed a Marxist perspective on civil society, seeing it as a sphere of cultural and ideological hegemony, distinct from but linked to the state, crucial for maintaining ruling class power. His work is significant but later (early 20th century).
– Friedrich Hegel (C): Presented a complex philosophical theory of civil society (bürgerliche Gesellschaft) in his “Philosophy of Right” (1820), placing it as a sphere between the family and the state, based on economic activity and individual needs. His formulation was highly influential but followed Ferguson.
– Alexis de Tocqueville (D): Studied civil society in America in the 1830s, focusing on the importance of voluntary associations for a healthy democracy. His empirical study was crucial but built upon existing ideas.
While the concept evolved significantly through Hegel, Tocqueville, and Gramsci, Ferguson is recognized for his foundational contribution in defining a distinct sphere of civil society in modern thought.

The definition and role of civil society have been debated and redefined throughout history and across different theoretical traditions, from liberal thinkers who see it as a sphere of freedom and association to Marxist theorists who analyze its role in power and ideology.

15. Parochial political culture is generally found in :

Parochial political culture is generally found in :

Developing societies.

Societies having multi-party system.

Developed societies.

Monarchical societies.

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The correct option is A.

Political culture, as described by political scientists like Gabriel Almond and Sidney Verba, can be broadly classified into parochial, subject, and participant.
– Parochial political culture is characterized by low levels of political awareness and political efficacy. Individuals living in a parochial political culture have little or no knowledge of the national political system; their loyalties and identities are typically centered around local, tribal, or kinship groups. They do not identify themselves as citizens of a larger nation-state and have no expectations from the government or the political system.
– Such a culture is most commonly found in traditional societies or segments within larger states that are not integrated into the modern political system. These conditions are often prevalent in developing societies, especially in rural or remote areas transitioning from traditional structures.
– Societies with multi-party systems (B) and developed societies (C) are generally associated with participant political culture, where citizens are aware of and actively participate in the political process. Monarchical societies (D) could exhibit subject or even participant culture depending on the degree of political modernization and citizen participation, but parochial culture is not their defining characteristic as much as it is for traditional/developing societies.

Subject political culture involves awareness of the political system and its outputs (laws, policies) but a passive role, seeing oneself as a subject rather than a participant. Participant political culture involves active engagement and belief in one’s ability to influence the political system.

16. The provision under Article 51A of the Constitution of India relates t

The provision under Article 51A of the Constitution of India relates to the :

uniform civil code for the citizens.

organization of village panchayats.

right to education.

fundamental duties.

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The correct option is D.

Article 51A of the Constitution of India enumerates the Fundamental Duties of citizens. This Article was added to the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment Act in 1976, based on the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee.
– A) Uniform civil code for the citizens: This is provided for in Article 44, which is a Directive Principle of State Policy.
– B) Organization of village panchayats: This is provided for in Article 40, which is a Directive Principle of State Policy.
– C) Right to education: This is a Fundamental Right guaranteed under Article 21A, inserted by the 86th Amendment Act, 2002.
– D) Fundamental duties: Article 51A specifically lists the eleven Fundamental Duties that citizens are expected to observe.

The Fundamental Duties are non-justiciable, meaning they are not enforceable by courts. They are intended to remind citizens of their responsibilities towards the nation and fellow citizens.

17. Which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India conta

Which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India contains provisions for the abolition and creation of Legislative Councils ?

Article 171

Article 169

Article 356

Article 182

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The correct option is B.

Article 169 of the Constitution of India provides the procedure for the abolition or creation of Legislative Councils in States.
– Article 169: Lays down that Parliament may, by law, create or abolish a Legislative Council in a state if the Legislative Assembly of that state passes a resolution to that effect by a special majority (two-thirds of members present and voting, and a majority of the total membership of the House).
– Article 171: Deals with the composition of the Legislative Councils.
– Article 356: Relates to the imposition of President’s Rule in a state due to the failure of constitutional machinery.
– Article 182: Deals with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council.

Currently, six states in India have Legislative Councils: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh. The process outlined in Article 169 involves both the state legislature and the Union Parliament.

18. Which one of the following is a characteristic of Presidential form of

Which one of the following is a characteristic of Presidential form of Government ?

President is not a part of legislative body

It does not separate Legislative and Executive functions

President follows the principle of collective responsibility

The tenure of the President depends on the Legislature

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The correct option is A.

The Presidential form of government is characterized by a clear separation of powers between the executive and the legislature.
– A) President is not a part of legislative body: In a presidential system (like the USA), the head of the executive (President) and their cabinet are separate from the legislature (Congress). They do not hold membership in the legislative body. This is a key characteristic.
– B) It does not separate Legislative and Executive functions: This is incorrect. A fundamental principle of the presidential system is the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches.
– C) President follows the principle of collective responsibility: Collective responsibility, where the executive (cabinet) is collectively accountable to the legislature, is a hallmark of the parliamentary system, not the presidential system.
– D) The tenure of the President depends on the Legislature: This is incorrect. The tenure of the President in a presidential system is fixed for a specific term and does not ordinarily depend on the confidence of the legislature (though impeachment procedures exist for grave misconduct). In contrast, in a parliamentary system, the executive’s tenure depends on maintaining the confidence of the legislature.

Other characteristics of the presidential system include the President being both the head of state and head of government, a fixed term for the executive, and the absence of dual membership between the executive and legislative branches.

19. Which one of the following is not a source of political legitimacy?

Which one of the following is not a source of political legitimacy?

Consent

Rational prudence

Political will of the ruler

Public reason

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The correct option is C.

Political legitimacy refers to the right and acceptance of an authority, usually a governing law or a regime. Common sources of political legitimacy include consent of the governed, tradition, charisma, and rational-legal authority (based on established laws and procedures).
– Consent (A): In democratic theory, the legitimacy of the government is derived from the consent of the people it governs. This is a primary source of legitimacy.
– Rational prudence (B): While prudent decision-making by a ruler or government might contribute to its effectiveness and public acceptance over time, “rational prudence” itself is not typically considered a fundamental *source* of political legitimacy in the way consent, tradition, or legal-rational rules are. It describes a quality of governance rather than the basis of the right to govern.
– Political will of the ruler (C): Legitimacy is distinct from mere power. A ruler exercising power solely based on their ‘political will’ without justification derived from consent, law, or tradition is often seen as arbitrary rule, lacking legitimacy. In fact, rule based purely on the ruler’s will is often contrasted with legitimate rule.
– Public reason (D): Associated with liberal political philosophy, public reason (where political decisions are justifiable to all citizens based on reasons they can reasonably accept) is considered a source of legitimacy for laws and policies in a democratic society.
Comparing the options, the “political will of the ruler,” when considered as the *sole* basis for authority, is the least likely to be regarded as a source of legitimacy in political science, as it implies arbitrary power rather than justified authority.

Max Weber identified three pure types of legitimate domination: traditional (based on custom and history), charismatic (based on the leader’s personal appeal), and rational-legal (based on codified laws and procedures). Modern discussions of legitimacy often build upon or critique these types, incorporating concepts like consent, justice, and public reason. Arbitrary will is generally not considered a legitimate basis for rule.

20. Which one of the following fiction was selected for Man Booker Prize,

Which one of the following fiction was selected for Man Booker Prize, 2015?

A Little Life

The Fishermen

A Brief History of Seven Killings

Satin Island

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UPSC CAPF – 2016

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The correct option is C. ‘A Brief History of Seven Killings’ by Marlon James was the winner of the Man Booker Prize in 2015.

The Man Booker Prize is a prestigious literary award given annually for the best original novel written in the English language and published in the UK.
In 2015, the prize was awarded to Jamaican author Marlon James for his novel ‘A Brief History of Seven Killings’. The novel is a fictional account inspired by the attempted assassination of Bob Marley in 1976 and the subsequent violence in Jamaica.

Other shortlisted novels for the Man Booker Prize in 2015 included ‘The Fishermen’ by Chigozie Obioma, ‘A Little Life’ by Hanya Yanagihara, ‘Satin Island’ by Tom McCarthy, ‘The High Mountains of Portugal’ by Yann Martel, and ‘Satin Island’ by Tom McCarthy.