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Question No. 17Interactive Test Mode
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Q17. Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): The word minority is not defined in the Constitution of India. Reason (R): The Minorities Commission is not a constitutional body. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?

Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): The word minority is not defined in the Constitution of India. Reason (R): The Minorities Commission is not a constitutional body. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?

Select the correct option below (or cross out options to eliminate)

Official Answer Key & Detailed Solution

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Official UPSC Answer KeyUPSC Prelims 1996 • Polity

Correct Answer: Option (B) — Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation

Concept & Option Breakdown

Standard Reference Verified
  • Assertion (A) is true: The Constitution of India uses the term 'minorities' in Articles 29 and 30, but does not explicitly define the term.
  • Reason (R) is true: The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) is a statutory body established under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, not a constitutional body. However, Reason (R) is not the causal explanation for why the term 'minority' was left undefined in the text of the Constitution.
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Question Specifications & Syllabus Mapping

Examination & YearUPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 1996 (Q17)
Paper & Marking SchemeGS Paper I • 2 Marks (-0.66 Negative for incorrect response)
Syllabus Subject & TopicPolity → Elections & Electoral System
Official Answer KeyOption (B) — Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation

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Frequently Asked Questions — UPSC Prelims 1996 Q17

What is the official answer for UPSC Prelims 1996 GS Paper I Question 17 (Polity)?

The official UPSC answer key for this 1996 Polity (Elections & Electoral System) question is Option (B): "Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation". Correct attempts carry 2 Marks with -0.66 Negative penalty for wrong answers.

Which UPSC Prelims syllabus topic does this 1996 question belong to?

This question belongs to GS Paper I under the subject "Polity" and micro-topic "Elections & Electoral System". You can explore all repeated questions from Elections & Electoral System in Acme AI's 3D Prelims PYQ Realm or practice 50 full-length and sectional tests in the APT Prelims Test Series.

How can I solve this Elections & Electoral System UPSC Prelims question using option elimination?

To solve Elections & Electoral System questions in UPSC Prelims, identify extreme modifiers, verify core NCERT conceptual definitions, and eliminate mutually contradictory statement pairs before locking your final option.

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