“If political leadership fails to emerge, there is likelihood of military taking over power in developing countries. Radical student groups or labour may try to raise revolution but they are not likely to compete with the military. Military intervention, rule, and withdrawal from politics is closely related to a society’s level of political development.” In the context of political development, the assumption in the above passage is that
- (a) political leadership is not an effective instrument.
- (b) military fills in political vacuum. ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) military intervention is inevitable for development.
- (d) None of the above
Why the answer is (b)
['- The passage states that if political leadership fails to emerge, there is a likelihood of the military taking over power.', '- This implies that the absence of effective political leadership creates a void or vacuum in governance.', '- The text suggests that the military steps in to fill this specific gap when political structures are weak or non-existent.', '- Therefore, the underlying assumption is that the military acts as a substitute for missing political authority.', '- This aligns with option (b), which states that the military fills in the political vacuum.']
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) political leadership is not an effective instrument.
- The passage does not claim that political leadership is inherently ineffective, but rather that its failure to emerge leads to military intervention.
- (c) military intervention is inevitable for development.
- The passage links military intervention to the lack of political development, not to the inevitability of development itself.
- (d) None of the above
- Option (b) correctly identifies the assumption that the military fills the vacuum created by the absence of political leadership.
Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2014, held on 24 August 2014. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.