UPSC Prelims 2020 GS Paper I · Q14 of 99 Polity & Governance medium

One common agreement between Gandhism and Marxism is

  1. (a) the final goal of a stateless society ✓ UPSC's answer
  2. (b) class struggle
  3. (c) abolition of private property
  4. (d) economic determinism

Why the answer is (a)

• Both Gandhism and Marxism regard the State as an instrument of coercion and look to its eventual disappearance: Marx foresaw the State 'withering away' after the proletarian revolution, and Gandhi's ideal of Ram Rajya / enlightened anarchy was a stateless society of self-governing villages — option (a).

• They differ sharply on means: Marxism relies on class struggle (b) and abolition of private property (c), whereas Gandhi advocated trusteeship, non-violence and class harmony.

• Economic determinism (d) is Marxist; Gandhi placed morality and spirit above economics.

• Hence option (a).

Why the other options are wrong

(b) class struggle
Gandhi rejected class struggle in favour of class harmony.
(c) abolition of private property
Gandhi proposed trusteeship, not abolition of private property.
(d) economic determinism
Economic determinism is Marxist alone; Gandhi stressed moral forces.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2020, held on 4 October 2020. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

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