Central Idea / Main Theme MCQs for UPSC Prelims

In our country, handlooms are equated with a culture that ensures a continuity of tradition. This idea has become part of the public policy-framing and provides a legitimate basis for the State to support the sector. But the notion of tradition as a single, linear entity is being strongly contested today. The narratives dominant in defining culture/tradition in a particular way are seen to have emerged as the identities and histories of large sections. The discounted and, at times, forcibly stifled identities are fighting for their rightful place in history. Against this backdrop, when we promote handloom as a traditional industry, it is not surprising that large sections of our population choose to ignore it. Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical and rational message conveyed by the author of the passage?

1. A We need to free the handloom industry from the limited narrative linked to preserving cultural heritage.
2. B Continued State support to the handloom industry ensures the preservation of some of our glorious art forms and old traditions.
3. C Household units of the handloom sector should be modernized and made an economically viable organized industry.
4. D Handloom products need to be converted to machine-made designer products so as to make them more popular.

Passage - 5 Although most of the Genetically Modified (GM) crops cultivated now are genetically engineered for a single trait, in future, crops genetically engineered for more than one trait will be the norm. Thus, biotechnology's role in agriculture and the regulation of the same cannot be understood solely in the context of the current generation of GM crops. Instead, there is a need to take a comprehensive look, taking into account various aspects, including socio-economic impacts, so that the potential of the technology can be harnessed while minimizing negative impacts. Given the importance of biotechnology in developing varieties that can help in climate change mitigation and adaptation, not using biotechnology as a part of the climate change action plan cannot be an option. Domestic regulation of biotechnology cannot be viewed in isolation of trade policy and obligations under various international treaties and conventions. Which one of the following statements best implies the crux of the passage?

1. A Precautionary principle is not given importance in current debate on developing GM crops.
2. B Biotechnology is not currently used in climate change mitigation and adaptation mechanisms.
3. C Biotechnology's role is not confined to the current priorities of developing GM crops.
4. D The negative impacts of biotechnology are not properly understood.

Passage: We generally talk about democracy but when it comes to any particular thing, we prefer a person belonging to our caste or community or religion. So long as we have this kind of temptation, our democracy will remain a phoney kind of democracy. We must be in a position to respect a man as a man and to extend opportunities for development to those who deserve them and not to those who happen to belong to our community or race. This fact of favouritism has been responsible for much discontent and ill-will in our country. Which one of the following statements best sums up the above passage?

1. A Our country has a lot of diversity with its many castes, communities and religions.
2. B True democracy could be established by providing equal opportunities to all.
3. C So far none of us have actually understood the meaning of democracy.
4. D It will never be possible for us to establish truly democratic governance in our country.

Sourcing food from non-agricultural lands (uncultivated systems such as forests, wetlands, pastures, etc) in addition to agricultural lands enables a systemic approach to food consumption. It allows rural and tribal communities to sustain themselves for the whole year and steer clear of natural disasters and season-induced shortfalls of agricultural food. Since the productivity of trees is often more resilient to adverse weather conditions than annual crops, forest foods often provide a safety net during periods of food shortages caused by crop failure; forest foods also make important contributions during seasonal crop production gaps. Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical and rational message conveyed by the author of the passage?

1. A Food yielding trees should replace other trees in rural and tribal areas and community owned lands.
2. B Food security cannot be ensured in India with the present practice of conventional agriculture.
3. C Wastelands and degraded areas in India should be converted into agroforestry systems to help the poor.
4. D Agroecosystems should be developed in addition to or along with conventional agriculture.

Passage: A study conducted on the impacts of climate change over the Cauvery basin of Tamil Nadu using regional climate models showed an increasing trend for maximum and minimum temperatures, and a decrease in the number of rainy days. These climatic shifts will have an impact on the hydrological cycles in the region, lead to more run-off and less recharge, and affect the groundwater tables. Further, there has been an increase in the frequency of droughts in the State. This has driven farmers to increase dependency on groundwater resources to secure their crops. Question: Which one of the following statements best reflects the crux of the passage given above?

1. A Development of regional climate models helps in choosing climate-smart agricultural practices.
2. B Heavy dependence on groundwater resources can be reduced by adopting dry-land cropping systems.
3. C Climate changes increase the criticality of water resources while simultaneously threatening it.
4. D Climate changes cause the farmers to adopt unsustainable livelihoods and risky coping strategies.

Directions: This item is based on the passage about the Right to Education given above. Your answer should be based on that passage only. What is the essential message in this passage?

1. A The Right to Education now is a Fundamental Right.
2. B The Right to Education enables the children of poor and weaker sections of the society to attend schools.
3. C The Right to Free and Compulsory Education should include quality education for all.
4. D The Government as well as parents should ensure that all children attend schools.

Passage: Disruption of traditional institutions, identifications and loyalties is likely to lead to ambivalent situations. It is possible that some people may renew their identification with traditional groups whereas others align themselves with new groups and symbols emergent from processes of political development. In addition, political development tends to foster group awareness of a variety of class, tribe, region, clan, language, religion, occupation and others. Question: Which one of the following is the best explanation of the above passage?

1. A Political development is not a unilinear process for it involves both growth and decay.
2. B Traditional societies succeed in resisting positive aspects of political development.
3. C It is impossible for traditional societies to break away from lingering loyalties.
4. D Sustenance of traditional loyalties is conducive to political development.

If the social inequality is the most acutely felt social problem in India, insecurity, more than poverty, is the most acutely felt economic problem. Besides those below the official poverty line, even those just over the poverty line are subject to multiple economic insecurities of various kinds (due to wealth and/or health risks, market fluctuations, job-related uncertainties). Many Government policies are actually intended towards mitigating these insecurities. Which one of the following statements best reflects the critical message conveyed by the passage?

1. A India's political executive should be aware that poverty and social inequality and the consequent sense of insecurity is the main social problem.
2. B In India, poverty is the primary reason for social inequality and insecurity.
3. C Poverty and social inequality are so intricately linked that they pose an unmanageable crisis for India.
4. D Insecurity, more than poverty, is the main economic issue that Government policies must address.