UPSC NDA-1 Archives

1. Which of the following is/are not fundamental right(s) under the Const

Which of the following is/are not fundamental right(s) under the Constitution of India ?

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1. Right to education.
2. Right to work.
3. Right to form associations.
4. Right to practise any profession.

1 and 2

2 and 4

2 only

1 and 3

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The question asks to identify which of the listed rights are *not* fundamental rights under the Constitution of India.
1. Right to education is a fundamental right under Article 21A, inserted by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002.
2. Right to work is not a fundamental right. It is mentioned as a Directive Principle of State Policy under Article 41, which directs the state to make effective provision for securing the right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement, and in other cases of undeserved want.
3. Right to form associations is a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 19(1)(c), which is part of the Right to Freedom.
4. Right to practise any profession is a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 19(1)(g), which is part of the Right to Freedom.
Only statement 2 is not a fundamental right. Therefore, the correct option is C, which indicates “2 only”.

Fundamental Rights (Part III) are justiciable, meaning individuals can approach courts for their enforcement. Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV), like the right to work, are non-justiciable guidelines for the government.

While the right to work is not a fundamental right, the right to livelihood has been interpreted by the Supreme Court as part of the fundamental right to life under Article 21.

2. What is the common element among Ram Prasad Bismil, Roshan Singh and R

What is the common element among Ram Prasad Bismil, Roshan Singh and Rajendra Lahiri ?

They threw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly on 8 April, 1929

They were the founder members of Swaraj Party

They were the founders of Hindustan Republican Association

They were associated with Kakori Conspiracy case

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Ram Prasad Bismil, Roshan Singh, and Rajendra Lahiri were all prominent revolutionaries associated with the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA). Their common and most significant link is their involvement in the Kakori Conspiracy Case of 1925. They participated in the train robbery at Kakori, which was planned to fund the HRA’s revolutionary activities. Along with Ashfaqulla Khan, these three were arrested, tried, and subsequently sentenced to death and executed by the British government for their role in the conspiracy.

The Kakori Conspiracy (August 9, 1925) was a defining event for the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) and highlighted the commitment of its members to armed revolution. The trial and execution of key leaders like Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, Lahiri, and Roshan Singh created martyrs for the independence movement.

While Ram Prasad Bismil was a leading figure in the HRA and one of its early organizers, the statement that they were the ‘founders’ of HRA (Option C) is not as precise as their shared involvement and fate in the Kakori Conspiracy case. The HRA was founded earlier in 1924 by individuals like Sachindra Nath Sanyal, Narendra Mohan Sen, and Pratul Ganguly, with Bismil being a prominent leader within the organization.

3. Soon after the formation of Indian National Congress, the British beca

Soon after the formation of Indian National Congress, the British became suspicious of nationalists. Who among the following called Congress representing only the elite — ‘a microscopic minority’ ?

Lord Napier

Lord Dufferin

Lord Ripon

Lord Lytton

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The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 during the tenure of Lord Dufferin as the Viceroy of India (1884-1888). Initially, the Viceroy viewed the Congress positively, seeing it as a potential ‘safety valve’. However, as the demands of the Congress grew and it gained popularity, Dufferin became critical of it. He famously ridiculed the Congress, stating it represented only a “microscopic minority” of the Indian population, suggesting it did not speak for the masses.

Lord Dufferin’s description of the INC as a “microscopic minority” reflects the early British imperial stance of dismissing the representative character and political significance of the nascent nationalist movement.

The early Indian National Congress was indeed composed primarily of Western-educated elites from various parts of India. However, its leaders aspired to represent the interests of the entire nation and gradually broadened its base and demands over time.

4. While opposing the Public Safety Bill, 1928 who among the following sa

While opposing the Public Safety Bill, 1928 who among the following said that it was ‘a direct attack on Indian nationalism, on the Indian National Congress’ and as ‘the Slavery of India, Bill No. 1’ ?

Motilal Nehru

Lala Lajpat Rai

T Prakasam

Diwan Chaman Lal

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The quote condemning the Public Safety Bill, 1928 as ‘a direct attack on Indian nationalism, on the Indian National Congress’ and ‘the Slavery of India, Bill No. 1’ was made by Diwan Chaman Lal during the legislative debates on the bill. The Public Safety Bill of 1928 aimed to deport foreign communists and curtail civil liberties, sparking strong opposition from Indian nationalist leaders and labour activists. Diwan Chaman Lal, a prominent labour leader and legislator, was a vocal critic of the bill, using this strong language to highlight its repressive nature and perceived threat to the national movement and workers’ rights.

The Public Safety Bill, 1928, along with the Trade Disputes Bill, were controversial pieces of legislation aimed at suppressing nationalist and labour movements in British India. They were met with widespread opposition in the legislative assembly and outside.

The bombing of the Central Legislative Assembly by Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt on April 8, 1929, was done in protest against the passage of the Public Safety Bill and the Trade Disputes Bill, among other repressive measures. They threw bombs not to kill, but “to make the deaf hear.”

5. Arrange the following inventions in the field of cotton industry in ch

Arrange the following inventions in the field of cotton industry in chronological order (starting with the earliest) :

James Hargreaves’s Spinning Jenny
John Kay’s Flying Shuttle
Samuel Crompton’s Mule
Richard Arkwright’s Water Frame

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1, 3, 4, 2

2, 1, 4, 3

4, 1, 3, 2

2, 4, 1, 3

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The question asks for the chronological order of the given inventions in the cotton industry, starting with the earliest.
1. James Hargreaves’s Spinning Jenny was invented in 1764.
2. John Kay’s Flying Shuttle was invented in 1733.
3. Samuel Crompton’s Mule, combining features of the Spinning Jenny and Water Frame, was invented in 1779.
4. Richard Arkwright’s Water Frame was patented in 1769.
Arranging these inventions by their invention date:
– John Kay’s Flying Shuttle (1733)
– James Hargreaves’s Spinning Jenny (1764)
– Richard Arkwright’s Water Frame (1769)
– Samuel Crompton’s Mule (1779)
The corresponding numbers from the list are 2, 1, 4, 3. This sequence matches option B.

These inventions were crucial innovations during the Industrial Revolution that significantly mechanized and improved the efficiency of textile production, moving from home-based spinning and weaving towards factory production.

The Flying Shuttle increased the speed of weaving, creating a demand for more yarn than could be supplied by traditional spinning methods. This led to the invention of improved spinning machines like the Spinning Jenny, Water Frame, and Spinning Mule, which dramatically increased yarn production. These technological advancements were interconnected, driving further innovation and the growth of the factory system.

6. Which of the following statement(s) is/are true for Olympe de Gouges ?

Which of the following statement(s) is/are true for Olympe de Gouges ?

She was one of the most important politically active woman in revolutionary France.
She was one of the members of the Committee that drafted the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen.
She wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and Citizen.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only

3 only

1 and 2

1 and 3

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Statement 1: Olympe de Gouges (1748-1793) was a prominent playwright, activist, and feminist during the French Revolution. She was indeed one of the most important politically active women of her time, advocating for women’s rights and abolitionism. This statement is true.
Statement 2: The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was drafted by the National Assembly in 1789. Olympe de Gouges was not a member of this committee or the National Assembly. This statement is false.
Statement 3: In 1791, as a response to the 1789 Declaration which only addressed “Man” (understood at the time to exclude women from full citizenship rights), Olympe de Gouges wrote and published the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen, directly challenging the exclusion of women. This statement is true.
Therefore, statements 1 and 3 are true, while statement 2 is false. Option D correctly identifies statements 1 and 3 as true.

Olympe de Gouges was a key figure in early feminism, known for adapting the revolutionary ideals of liberty and equality to explicitly include women through her Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen.

Olympe de Gouges was a Girondist sympathizer and was critical of the Jacobins. During the Reign of Terror, she was arrested, tried for sedition (particularly for her support of the deposed king and criticism of Marat), and guillotined in 1793.

7. Consider the following statements about the early modern technology in

Consider the following statements about the early modern technology in India :

1. The Portuguese brought European movable metal types to Goa in 1550.
2. The first Indian script of which types were prepared was Tamil.
3. The English Company’s first experiment with printing press was at Calcutta.
4. The English Company imported printing press to India in 1674-75 at the request of Bhimji Parak.

Which of the statements given above are correct ?

1 and 2 only

2 and 3

3 and 4

1, 2 and 4

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Statement 1: The arrival of the first printing press in Goa with the Portuguese is documented around 1556, not 1550. However, given the other options and the likely intent of the question to test knowledge about the early introduction of printing technology, the statement about Portuguese bringing movable metal types to Goa in the early 1550s or mid-1550s might be considered broadly correct in a historical context, even if the precise year is off by a few years.
Statement 2: Tamil was one of the earliest Indian languages for which movable types were prepared by European missionaries, particularly by Jesuits in the late 16th century for printing Christian literature. It is often cited as the first or among the very first.
Statement 3: The English East India Company’s first printing press was established in Bombay (modern-day Mumbai) around 1674-75, not Calcutta. Calcutta became a prominent British centre much later.
Statement 4: The English East India Company did import a printing press to Bombay in 1674-75 at the request of Bhimji Parak, a prominent Parsi merchant and their chief broker in Surat and Bombay, who saw the potential of printing.
Statements 1, 2, and 4 are presented as correct in Option D. Despite the slight date inaccuracy in statement 1, statements 2 and 4 are historically accurate, while statement 3 is definitively incorrect. The combination offered in D suggests that the question setters considered statement 1 to be sufficiently accurate for the purpose of the question.

The introduction of the printing press to India by the Portuguese in the 16th century in Goa marked a significant technological shift. Early efforts included preparing types for Indian scripts, with Tamil being notably among the first. The English Company introduced printing much later, first in Bombay.

The first book printed in India was likely a religious text in Portuguese or Latin in 1556 in Goa. The printing of vernacular languages, starting with Konkani, Tamil, and Malayalam, followed shortly after. The press imported by the English Company to Bombay in 1674-75 was primarily for commercial and administrative purposes.

8. Which one among the following sects was associated with Gosala Maskari

Which one among the following sects was associated with Gosala Maskariputra ?

Vajrayana

Ajivikas

Sthaviravadins

Mahasanghikas

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The correct answer is B) Ajivikas. Gosala Maskariputra (Makkhali Gosala) was the founder and leader of the Ajivika sect, one of the ancient Indian ascetic movements that existed concurrently with early Buddhism and Jainism.

– Gosala Maskariputra was a contemporary of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) and Mahavira (the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism).
– The Ajivika philosophy is known for its strict determinism (Niyati), asserting that everything is predetermined and human effort is futile in altering destiny.
– The Ajivika sect was a prominent non-Vedic ascetic tradition in ancient India but eventually declined.

Vajrayana is a later development within Mahayana Buddhism. Sthaviravadins and Mahasanghikas were the two main early schools of Buddhism that emerged after the Second Buddhist Council, following a schism within the Buddhist Sangha.

9. Which one of the following is the common element among Rajagriha, Vais

Which one of the following is the common element among Rajagriha, Vaishali and Pataliputra ?

Pali canon of the Sthaviravadins was compiled there

Ashokan Major Rock Edicts were found there

Places where Buddhist Councils were held

Places associated with the compilation of Buddhist canons of the Mahasanghikas

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The correct answer is C) Places where Buddhist Councils were held. Rajagriha, Vaishali, and Pataliputra are famous in Buddhist history as the locations where the first, second, and third Buddhist Councils were held, respectively.

– The First Buddhist Council was held at Rajagriha (modern Rajgir) shortly after the Mahaparinirvana of the Buddha to preserve his teachings (Sutta Pitaka) and monastic rules (Vinaya Pitaka).
– The Second Buddhist Council was held at Vaishali about a century after the Buddha’s death to discuss controversial points of Vinaya.
– The Third Buddhist Council was held at Pataliputra (modern Patna) during the reign of Emperor Ashoka under the presidency of Moggaliputta Tissa. This council aimed to purify the Sangha and compile the Kathāvatthu (part of the Abhidhamma Pitaka).

While these cities were important centers in the Magadha empire and under Ashoka’s rule, they are most distinctly linked by having hosted these pivotal early Buddhist councils which played a crucial role in the compilation and preservation of the Buddhist canon and the early development of different Buddhist schools.

10. Consider the following statements about Ashokan rock edicts : 1. Ma

Consider the following statements about Ashokan rock edicts :

1. Major Rock Edict XIII records Ashoka’s remorse at the sufferings caused by his Kalinga campaign.
2. Major Rock Edict X records Ashoka’s visit to Lumbini.
3. Major Rock Edict XII refers to Dhamma Mahamattas as a new category of officers instituted by Ashoka.
4. Major Rock Edict XII speaks about showing tolerance towards all sects.

Which of the statements given above are correct ?

1 and 4 only

2 and 3

3 and 4 only

1, 3 and 4

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The correct answer is A) 1 and 4 only. Statements 1 and 4 correctly describe the content of Major Rock Edicts XIII and XII respectively, while statements 2 and 3 are incorrect about the content of the specified edicts.

– Major Rock Edict XIII is famously known for Ashoka’s description of the Kalinga War and his remorse over the suffering it caused, leading to his conversion to Dhamma.
– Major Rock Edict XII is primarily an appeal for religious tolerance, mutual respect among different sects, and the importance of controlling one’s speech when criticizing others’ faiths.
– Major Rock Edict X expresses Ashoka’s desire for true glory, which he defines as winning the respect of people through the practice of Dhamma, rather than worldly conquest. It does not record his visit to Lumbini.
– Major Rock Edict V describes the appointment of Dhamma Mahamattas (officers of Dhamma) for the first time to spread the message of Dhamma and work for the welfare of various groups.

Ashoka’s edicts, inscribed on rocks and pillars throughout his empire, are primary sources for understanding his reign, his conversion to Buddhism, and his efforts to propagate Dhamma. They provide valuable insights into his policies, administration, and moral philosophy. The Lumbini visit and associated tax reduction are recorded in the Rummindei Pillar Inscription.