UPSC Indian Society – Chapter 15: Communalism (20 MCQs)

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UPSC Indian Society – Chapter 15: Communalism (20 MCQs) – 20 questions, subject: Indian Society. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

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1.  

In Ashutosh Varshney's study of Hindu-Muslim violence, which one of the following pairs is correctly matched as (riot-prone city : relatively peaceful city)?

Correct Answer: B [Ahmedabad : Surat]

Explanation:

Ahmedabad was riot-prone while Surat was relatively peaceful in the period Varshney studied (1950–1995).

2.  

According to Bipan Chandra, the belief that the interests of different religious communities are mutually hostile marks:

Correct Answer: C [extreme communalism]

Explanation:

stage 3.

3.  

Ethnic Conflict and Civic Life (2002), which linked communal peace to inter-communal civic engagement, was written by:

Correct Answer: A [Ashutosh Varshney]

Explanation:

Ashutosh Varshney's 2002 study compared riot-prone and peaceful cities and credited inter-communal civic engagement with keeping the peace.

4.  

The Srikrishna Commission inquired into:

Correct Answer: A [the Mumbai riots of 1992–93]

Explanation:

The Srikrishna Commission investigated the Bombay riots of December 1992 and January 1993 and submitted its report in 1998.

5.  

The concept of an "institutionalised riot system" was developed by:

Correct Answer: D [Paul Brass]

Explanation:

Paul Brass described known local actors who keep towns tense and can produce riots when politically useful, calling it an institutionalised riot system.

6.  

In Varshney's study, which city was relatively peaceful compared with Aligarh?

Correct Answer: C [Calicut]

Explanation:

Varshney paired riot-prone Aligarh with Calicut, where dense Hindu-Muslim civic and business networks kept the city relatively peaceful.

7.  

Which scholar documented communal riots in India in detail and argued that their causes were mainly political and economic rather than religious?

Correct Answer: C [Asghar Ali Engineer]

Explanation:

Asghar Ali Engineer documented riots and stressed their political and economic, not religious, causes.

8.  

The Liberhan Commission submitted its report on the demolition of the Babri Masjid in:

Correct Answer: D [2009]

Explanation:

The Liberhan Commission, appointed in December 1992, submitted its report on the Babri Masjid demolition in June 2009.

9.  

Which of the following best distinguishes religiosity from communalism?

Correct Answer: A [Religiosity is personal faith; communalism is a political ideology based on religious identity]

Explanation:

Religiosity is personal faith and practice, whereas communalism is a political ideology that mobilises religious identity against other communities.

10.  

Consider the following statements:

1. The Communal Award was announced in 1932.
2. Varshney stressed inter-communal civic networks in preventing riots.
3. The National Integration Council is a constitutional body.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

The Communal Award came in 1932 and Varshney stressed civic networks; the NIC is an executive forum, so statement 3 fails.

11.  

Assertion (A): Cities with strong Hindu–Muslim business and civic associations have tended to see fewer riots.

Reason (R): Such associations create channels to stop rumours and manage tension.

Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]

Explanation:

Varshney found that mixed civic and business associations kill rumours and manage tension, which explains why such cities saw fewer riots.

12.  

In Bipan Chandra's scheme, the first stage of communalism is:

Correct Answer: C [communal nationalism]

Explanation:

Communal nationalism, the belief that followers of one religion share common secular interests, is the first and root stage.

13.  

The Kabir Puraskar is given for:

Correct Answer: D [communal harmony]

Explanation:

The Kabir Puraskar, instituted in 1990, honours citizens who show courage in protecting members of other communities during communal violence.

14.  

Which of the following is an "administrative" cause of communal violence?

Correct Answer: A [Biased or delayed policing]

Explanation:

Biased or slow policing and delayed justice are failures of administration that create a sense of impunity for rioters.

15.  

The anti-Sikh riots of 1984 were inquired into by the:

Correct Answer: A [Nanavati Commission]

Explanation:

report 2005.

16.  

The argument that secularism imposed from above may not win acceptance in a deeply religious society is associated with:

Correct Answer: B [T. N. Madan]

Explanation:

T. N. Madan, in 'Secularism in Its Place' (1987), argued that secularism imposed from above may not take root in India.

17.  

Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. Separate electorates under the Morley–Minto Reforms
2. Communal Award
3. Liberhan Commission report
4. National Integration Council

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [1-2-4-3]

Explanation:

1909, 1932, 1961, 2009.

18.  

"Ghettoisation" in the context of communalism means:

Correct Answer: C [concentration of a community in segregated areas because of fear]

Explanation:

Ghettoisation is the crowding of a community into segregated localities out of fear, a common aftermath of communal violence.

19.  

Which of the following does the Model Code of Conduct bar during elections?

Correct Answer: B [Appeals to caste or communal feelings to secure votes]

Explanation:

The Model Code of Conduct states that there shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes.

20.  

Which of the following is an "economic" cause of communalism?

Correct Answer: D [competition for jobs, land and business]

Explanation:

Competition for jobs, land and business is an economic cause; unemployed youth become easy recruits for communal groups.

➤ Full notes, maps, tables, a reason for every option and Mains PYQs – U07 · Indian Society (UPSC book, ₹249): www.shanmugamiasacademy.in/study-materials/upsc-indian-society

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