UPSC Prelims 2017 GS Paper I · Q5 of 100 Polity & Governance easy

One of the implications of equality in society is the absence of

  1. (a) Privileges ✓ UPSC's answer
  2. (b) Restraints
  3. (c) Competition
  4. (d) Ideology

Why the answer is (a)

• Equality in political theory means that no person or group enjoys special privileges by birth, caste, wealth or status, and that all have equal claims to rights and opportunities — so equality implies the absence of privileges, option (a).

• Restraints (b) are compatible with equality if applied equally; competition (c) can be fair under equality; ideology (d) is unrelated.

• Laski: equality means 'the absence of special privilege' and 'adequate opportunities are laid open to all'.

• Hence option (a).

Why the other options are wrong

(b) Restraints
Equal restraints are consistent with equality.
(c) Competition
Fair competition is consistent with equality.
(d) Ideology
Ideology is unrelated to the concept of equality.

Asked in the GS Paper I 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.

Reading the answer is not the same as getting it right under a clock. Practise this question with UPSC's negative marking, and anything you miss goes into an error notebook until you get it right twice.

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