Q60 · UPSC Prelims 2022 · Set A · Art and Culture

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According to Kautilya's Arthashastra, which of the following are correct?1.A person could be a slave as a result of a judicial punishment.2.If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally free.3.If a son born to a female slave was fathered by her master, the son was entitled to the legal status of the master's son.Which of the statements given above are correct?

Attempt Solution

A 1 and 2 only

B 2 and 3 only

C 1 and 3 only

D 1, 2 and 3

Correct answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

Explanation

A
1 and 2 only
1 and 2 only. The master’s son by a slave woman also takes status in the Arthashastra rule keyed here.
B
2 and 3 only
2 and 3 only. A slave woman who bears her master a son is freed; that son has the status of the master’s son. Judicial-punishment slavery is not the keyed first limb.
C
1 and 3 only
1 and 3 only. Statement 1 is out of this key.
D
1, 2 and 3
All three. The paper stops at two.

Summary. Official key is (b) 2 and 3 only. Kautilya: if a dasi bears her master a son she is legally free, and the son is entitled to the status of the master’s son. Statement 1 is not counted as a correct Arthashastra rule in this item.

Same topic · past papers

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These previous-year questions sit on the same topic. Open one to practise the earlier ask.

2026 · Q53 · General Studies · 2 marks
Ms. X is a mid-level civil service official working in the urban development department of a major city. Recently, she was involved in approving a contract for a public infrastructure project - a new community park. During the approval process, she received a piece of confidential information indicating that one of the shortlisted contractors had a history of poor workmanship and allegations of corruption in other cities, though nothing had been legally proven. The Head of the Department, Mr. Y, advised her not to disclose this information to the project committee or the public because it could delay the project and damage the city's reputation. However, Ms. X believed that withholding such information compromised transparency and public trust. What amongst the following should Ms. X do now? 1. Immediately disclose the information to the project committee and the public 2. Recommend removing the contractor from the shortlist to protect the project's integrity 3. Propose a 'limited disclosure' to an oversight committee, while keeping the information confidential from the public for the time being Select the answer using the code given below:
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