UPSC Prelims 2017 CSAT Paper II · Q41 of 79 Comprehension medium

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.

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. ✓ UPSC's answer
  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.

Why the answer is (a)

• The passage states that political development disrupts traditional institutions, leading to a mix of renewed traditional identifications and new alignments.

• It highlights that this process involves both the decay of old loyalties and the growth of new group awarenesses (class, tribe, region, etc.).

• This simultaneous occurrence of decay (traditional disruption) and growth (new symbols/awareness) indicates the process is not unilinear.

• Therefore, the best explanation is that political development involves both growth and decay, making it a complex, non-unilinear process.

Why the other options are wrong

(b) Traditional societies succeed in resisting positive aspects of political development.
The passage describes a disruption and ambivalent situation, not a successful resistance by traditional societies against positive aspects of development.
(c) It is impossible for traditional societies to break away from lingering loyalties.
The passage explicitly states that some people align with new groups, proving it is not impossible for traditional societies to break away from lingering loyalties.
(d) Sustenance of traditional loyalties is conducive to political development.
The passage describes the disruption of traditional loyalties as a consequence of development, not as a factor conducive to it.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2017, held on 18 June 2017. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

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