Q. Inequality violates a basic democratic norm: the equal standing of citizens.
Equality is a relation that obtains between persons in respect of some fundamental characteristic that they share in common. Equality is, morally speaking, a default principle. Therefore, persons should not be discriminated on grounds such as race, caste, gender, ethnicity, disability, or class. These features of human condition are morally irrelevant. The idea that one should treat persons with respect not only because some of these persons some special features or talent, for example skilled cricketers, gifted musicians, or literary giants, but because persons are human being, is by now part of commonsense morality.
Q 1. With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
1. Equality is a prerequisite for people to participate in the multiple transactions of society from a position of confidence.
2. Occurrence of inequality is detrimental to the survival of democracy.
3. Equal standing of all citizens is an idea that cannot actually be realized even in a democracy.
4. Right to equality should be incorporated into our values and day-to-day political vocabulary.
Which of the above assumptions are valid?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 3 and 4 only
Question from UPSC Prelims 2021 CSAT Paper
Explanation :
Q1: Correct Answer – (c) 1 and 4 only
Explanation – According to the passage, assumptions 1 and 4 are valid. The passage states that “Inequality violates a basic democratic norm: the equal standing of citizens” and that “Right to equality should be incorporated into our values and day-to-day political vocabulary.” This supports assumption 1 that equality is a prerequisite for people to participate in society from a position of confidence and assumption 4 that right to equality should be incorporated into our values and day-to-day political vocabulary. So the correct answer would be c) 1 and 4 only.
Assumption 2 states that “Occurrence of inequality is detrimental to the survival of democracy.” While the passage does mention that “Inequality violates a basic democratic norm: the equal standing of citizens,” it does not explicitly state that inequality is detrimental to the survival of democracy. Therefore, assumption 2 may or may not be valid based on the information given in the passage.
Assumption 3 states that “Equal standing of all citizens is an idea that cannot actually be realized even in a democracy.” The passage does not provide any information to support this assumption. In fact, it suggests that equality should be incorporated into our values and day-to-day political vocabulary, implying that it is an achievable goal.
So based on the information given in the passage, assumptions 1 and 4 are valid while assumptions 2 and 3 are not explicitly supported by the text.
