General Comprehension (UPSC) (Part-I)

Total Questions: 50

1. With reference to the passage, consider the following statements: [2011-11]

1. When children are denied education, adult society does not act on behalf of them.

2. Right to Education as a law cannot be enforced in the country.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Now India's children have a right-to receive at least eight years of education, the gnawing question is whether it will remain on paper or become a reality. One hardly needs a reminder that this right is different from the others enshrined in the Constitution, that the beneficiary a six year old child cannot demand it, nor can she or he fight a legal battle when the right is denied or violated.

In all cases, it is the adult society which must act on behalf of the child. In another peculiarity, where a child's right to education is denied, no compensation offered later can be adequate or relevant. This is so because childhood does not last. If a legal battle fought on behalf of a child is eventually won, it may be of little use to the boy or girl because the opportunity missed at school during childhood cannot serve the same purpose later in life.

This may be painfully true for girls because our society permits them only a short childhood, if at all. The Right to Education (RTE) has become law at a point in India's history when the ghastly practice of female infanticide has resurfaced in the form of foeticide. This is "symptomatic of a deeper turmoil" in society which is compounding the traditional obstacles to the education of girls. Tenacious prejudice against the intellectual potential of girls runs across our cultural diversity and the system of education has not been able to address it.

Correct Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution:When children are denied rights, the adult should act on behalf of them. Hence 1 is wrong. And, 2 is an out of context statement.

2. According to the passage, what could be the traditional obstacles to the education of girls? [2011-11]

1. Inability of parents to fight a legal battle when the Right to Education is denied to their children.

2. The traditional way of thinking about girls' role in society.

3. The prejudice against the intellectual potential of girls.

4. Improper system of education.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below :

Now India's children have a right-to receive at least eight years of education, the gnawing question is whether it will remain on paper or become a reality. One hardly needs a reminder that this right is different from the others enshrined in the Constitution, that the beneficiary a six year old child cannot demand it, nor can she or he fight a legal battle when the right is denied or violated.

In all cases, it is the adult society which must act on behalf of the child. In another peculiarity, where a child's right to education is denied, no compensation offered later can be adequate or relevant. This is so because childhood does not last. If a legal battle fought on behalf of a child is eventually won, it may be of little use to the boy or girl because the opportunity missed at school during childhood cannot serve the same purpose later in life.

This may be painfully true for girls because our society permits them only a short childhood, if at all. The Right to Education (RTE) has become law at a point in India's history when the ghastly practice of female infanticide has resurfaced in the form of foeticide. This is "symptomatic of a deeper turmoil" in society which is compounding the traditional obstacles to the education of girls. Tenacious prejudice against the intellectual potential of girls runs across our cultural diversity and the system of education has not been able to address it.

 

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Solution:Statement I is not correct as not stated by the passage. Statements 2 & 3 are correct as stated in passage "This is ... to the education of girls." Statement 4 is correct as the faulty education system.

3. On the basis of the passage, consider the following statements: [2011-11]

1. Right to Education is a legal right and not a fundamental right.

2. For realising the goal of universal education, the education system in the country must be made identical to that of developed countries.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Now India's children have a right-to receive at least eight years of education, the gnawing question is whether it will remain on paper or become a reality. One hardly needs a reminder that this right is different from the others enshrined in the Constitution, that the beneficiary a six year old child cannot demand it, nor can she or he fight a legal battle when the right is denied or violated.

In all cases, it is the adult society which must act on behalf of the child. In another peculiarity, where a child's right to education is denied, no compensation offered later can be adequate or relevant. This is so because childhood does not last. If a legal battle fought on behalf of a child is eventually won, it may be of little use to the boy or girl because the opportunity missed at school during childhood cannot serve the same purpose later in life.

This may be painfully true for girls because our society permits them only a short childhood, if at all. The Right to Education (RTE) has become law at a point in India's history when the ghastly practice of female infanticide has resurfaced in the form of foeticide. This is "symptomatic of a deeper turmoil" in society which is compounding the traditional obstacles to the education of girls. Tenacious prejudice against the intellectual potential of girls runs across our cultural diversity and the system of education has not been able to address it.

Correct Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution:The passage mentions that it is a constitutional right in these lines - "One hardly needs a reminder that this right is different from the others enshrined in the Constitution". But we can not be sure whether it is a legal right as per the passage or fundamental right. At the same time to totally deny that is a legal right and not a fundamental right would be wrong. So since we can not draw any inference, this statement should be marked wrong.

4. Which one of the following statements conveys the key message of the passage? [2011-11]

Now India's children have a right-to receive at least eight years of education, the gnawing question is whether it will remain on paper or become a reality. One hardly needs a reminder that this right is different from the others enshrined in the Constitution, that the beneficiary a six year old child cannot demand it, nor can she or he fight a legal battle when the right is denied or violated.

In all cases, it is the adult society which must act on behalf of the child. In another peculiarity, where a child's right to education is denied, no compensation offered later can be adequate or relevant. This is so because childhood does not last. If a legal battle fought on behalf of a child is eventually won, it may be of little use to the boy or girl because the opportunity missed at school during childhood cannot serve the same purpose later in life.

This may be painfully true for girls because our society permits them only a short childhood, if at all. The Right to Education (RTE) has become law at a point in India's history when the ghastly practice of female infanticide has resurfaced in the form of foeticide. This is "symptomatic of a deeper turmoil" in society which is compounding the traditional obstacles to the education of girls. Tenacious prejudice against the intellectual potential of girls runs across our cultural diversity and the system of education has not been able to address it.

Correct Answer: (c) The Right to Education, particularly of a girl child, needs to be safeguarded.
Solution:Statement (c) is correct as the passage clearly states that " This may be painfully...if at all."

5. Which one of the following statements conveys the inference of the passage? [2011-11]

Now India's children have a right-to receive at least eight years of education, the gnawing question is whether it will remain on paper or become a reality. One hardly needs a reminder that this right is different from the others enshrined in the Constitution, that the beneficiary a six year old child cannot demand it, nor can she or he fight a legal battle when the right is denied or violated.

In all cases, it is the adult society which must act on behalf of the child. In another peculiarity, where a child's right to education is denied, no compensation offered later can be adequate or relevant. This is so because childhood does not last. If a legal battle fought on behalf of a child is eventually won, it may be of little use to the boy or girl because the opportunity missed at school during childhood cannot serve the same purpose later in life.

This may be painfully true for girls because our society permits them only a short childhood, if at all. The Right to Education (RTE) has become law at a point in India's history when the ghastly practice of female infanticide has resurfaced in the form of foeticide. This is "symptomatic of a deeper turmoil" in society which is compounding the traditional obstacles to the education of girls. Tenacious prejudice against the intellectual potential of girls runs across our cultural diversity and the system of education has not been able to address it.

Correct Answer: (d) There is no sufficient substitute for education received in childhood.
Solution:According to the passage, where a child's right to education is denied, no compensation offered later can be adequate or relevant. Hence, there is no sufficient substitute for education received in childhood.

6. According to the passage: [2011-11]

1. The objective of inclusive growth was laid down by the founding fathers of the nation.

2. Need of the hour is to have an enabling Government.

3. The Government should engage in maximum interference in market processes.

4. There is a need to change the size of the Government.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

For achieving inclusive growth there is a critical need to rethink the role of the State. The early debate among economists about the size of the Government can be misleading. The need of the hour is to have an enabling Government. India is too large and complex a nation for the State to be able to deliver all that is needed. Asking the Government to produce all the essential goods, create all the necessary jobs, and keep a curb on the prices of all goods is to lead to a large cumbersome bureaucracy and widespread corruption.

The aim must be to stay with the objective of inclusive growth that was laid down by the founding fathers of the nation and also to take a more modern view of what the State can realistically deliver. This is what leads to the idea of an enabling State, that is, a Government that does not try to directly deliver to the citizens everything that they need.

Instead, it (1) creates an enabling ethos for the market so that individual enterprise can flourish and citizens can, for the most part, provide for the needs of one another, and (2) steps in to help those who do not manage to do well for themselves, for there will always be individuals, no matter what the system, who need support and help.

Hence we need a Government that, when it comes to the market, sets effective, incentive-compatible rules and remains on the sidelines with minimal interference, and at the same time, plays an important role in directly helping the poor by ensuring that they get basic education and health services and receive adequate nutrition and food.

Correct Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
Solution:Statement 3 is eliminated as the government should sideline with minimal interference.

Statement 4 is eliminated as change in size of government.

7. According to the passage, the strategy of inclusive growth can be effected by focusing on : [2011-11]

For achieving inclusive growth there is a critical need to rethink the role of the State. The early debate among economists about the size of the Government can be misleading. The need of the hour is to have an enabling Government. India is too large and complex a nation for the State to be able to deliver all that is needed. Asking the Government to produce all the essential goods, create all the necessary jobs, and keep a curb on the prices of all goods is to lead to a large cumbersome bureaucracy and widespread corruption.

The aim must be to stay with the objective of inclusive growth that was laid down by the founding fathers of the nation and also to take a more modern view of what the State can realistically deliver. This is what leads to the idea of an enabling State, that is, a Government that does not try to directly deliver to the citizens everything that they need.

Instead, it (1) creates an enabling ethos for the market so that individual enterprise can flourish and citizens can, for the most part, provide for the needs of one another, and (2) steps in to help those who do not manage to do well for themselves, for there will always be individuals, no matter what the system, who need support and help.

Hence we need a Government that, when it comes to the market, sets effective, incentive-compatible rules and remains on the sidelines with minimal interference, and at the same time, plays an important role in directly helping the poor by ensuring that they get basic education and health services and receive adequate nutrition and food.

Correct Answer: (d) Delivery of the basic services to the deprived sections of the society.
Solution:Strategy of inclusive growth can be effected by focusing on delivery of the basic services to the deprived section of the society. It is clearly stated in the passage "The aim must be state can realistically deliver."

8. What constitutes an enabling Government? [2011-11]

1. A large bureaucracy.

2. Implementation of welfare programmes through representatives.

3. Creating an ethos that helps individual enterprise.

4. Providing resources to those who are underprivileged.

5. Offering direct help to the poor regarding basic services.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

For achieving inclusive growth there is a critical need to rethink the role of the State. The early debate among economists about the size of the Government can be misleading. The need of the hour is to have an enabling Government. India is too large and complex a nation for the State to be able to deliver all that is needed. Asking the Government to produce all the essential goods, create all the necessary jobs, and keep a curb on the prices of all goods is to lead to a large cumbersome bureaucracy and widespread corruption.

The aim must be to stay with the objective of inclusive growth that was laid down by the founding fathers of the nation and also to take a more modern view of what the State can realistically deliver. This is what leads to the idea of an enabling State, that is, a Government that does not try to directly deliver to the citizens everything that they need.

Instead, it (1) creates an enabling ethos for the market so that individual enterprise can flourish and citizens can, for the most part, provide for the needs of one another, and (2) steps in to help those who do not manage to do well for themselves, for there will always be individuals, no matter what the system, who need support and help.

Hence we need a Government that, when it comes to the market, sets effective, incentive-compatible rules and remains on the sidelines with minimal interference, and at the same time, plays an important role in directly helping the poor by ensuring that they get basic education and health services and receive adequate nutrition and food.

Correct Answer: (c) 3, 4 and 5 only
Solution:Statements 3, 4 and 5 have been stated in the passage. Statement 2 is not mentioned in the passage and statement 1 is not supported by the passage. In fact, it states that asking the government to produce all the necessary goods and jobs would lead to a large bureaucracy.

9. Why is the State unable to deliver "all that is needed"? [2011-11]

1. It does not have sufficient bureaucracy.

2. It does not promote inclusive growth.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

For achieving inclusive growth there is a critical need to rethink the role of the State. The early debate among economists about the size of the Government can be misleading. The need of the hour is to have an enabling Government. India is too large and complex a nation for the State to be able to deliver all that is needed. Asking the Government to produce all the essential goods, create all the necessary jobs, and keep a curb on the prices of all goods is to lead to a large cumbersome bureaucracy and widespread corruption.

The aim must be to stay with the objective of inclusive growth that was laid down by the founding fathers of the nation and also to take a more modern view of what the State can realistically deliver. This is what leads to the idea of an enabling State, that is, a Government that does not try to directly deliver to the citizens everything that they need.

Instead, it (1) creates an enabling ethos for the market so that individual enterprise can flourish and citizens can, for the most part, provide for the needs of one another, and (2) steps in to help those who do not manage to do well for themselves, for there will always be individuals, no matter what the system, who need support and help.

Hence we need a Government that, when it comes to the market, sets effective, incentive-compatible rules and remains on the sidelines with minimal interference, and at the same time, plays an important role in directly helping the poor by ensuring that they get basic education and health services and receive adequate nutrition and food.

Correct Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution:The passage clearly mentions that large bureaucracy for delivering inclusive growth is a problem (it is not state can't have large bureaucracy). For the second statement, the passage mentions that "India is too large and complex a nation for the State to be able to deliver all that is needed. Asking the Government to produce all the essential goods, create all the necessary jobs, and keep a curb on the prices of all goods is to lead to a large cumbersome bureaucracy and widespread corruption." So promotion of inclusive growth can happen but will be very cumbersome and ineffective.

10. What is the essential message being conveyed by the author of the passage? [2011-11]

For achieving inclusive growth there is a critical need to rethink the role of the State. The early debate among economists about the size of the Government can be misleading. The need of the hour is to have an enabling Government. India is too large and complex a nation for the State to be able to deliver all that is needed. Asking the Government to produce all the essential goods, create all the necessary jobs, and keep a curb on the prices of all goods is to lead to a large cumbersome bureaucracy and widespread corruption.

The aim must be to stay with the objective of inclusive growth that was laid down by the founding fathers of the nation and also to take a more modern view of what the State can realistically deliver. This is what leads to the idea of an enabling State, that is, a Government that does not try to directly deliver to the citizens everything that they need.

Instead, it (1) creates an enabling ethos for the market so that individual enterprise can flourish and citizens can, for the most part, provide for the needs of one another, and (2) steps in to help those who do not manage to do well for themselves, for there will always be individuals, no matter what the system, who need support and help.

Hence we need a Government that, when it comes to the market, sets effective, incentive-compatible rules and remains on the sidelines with minimal interference, and at the same time, plays an important role in directly helping the poor by ensuring that they get basic education and health services and receive adequate nutrition and food.

Correct Answer: (d) There is a need to rethink the role of the State in achieving inclusive growth.
Solution:Options (a), (b) and (c) cannot be the message. The only sentence that talks of a message is option (d) which is the main idea of the passage.