Which one of the following views corroborates the above statement?
- (a) A strong Centre and strong States make the federation strong.
- (b) A strong Centre is a binding force for national integrity. ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) A strong Centre is a hindrance to State autonomy.
- (d) State autonomy is a prerequisite for a federation.
Why the answer is (b)
• The metaphor compares the Centre to a thread and States to pearls, implying the Centre holds the States together.
• The phrase 'if the thread snaps, the pearls are scattered' indicates that without the Centre, the States would disintegrate or lose unity.
• This directly supports the idea that the Centre acts as a binding force necessary for maintaining national integrity.
• Therefore, the statement corroborates the view that a strong Centre is essential for holding the federation together.
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) A strong Centre and strong States make the federation strong.
- The metaphor emphasizes the Centre's role as the binding agent, not the equal strength of both Centre and States.
- (c) A strong Centre is a hindrance to State autonomy.
- The statement presents the Centre as a unifying element, not as a hindrance to State autonomy.
- (d) State autonomy is a prerequisite for a federation.
- The passage focuses on the Centre's role in binding the States, not on State autonomy as a prerequisite.
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.