UPSC Exam  >  UPSC Questions  >   Pa... Start Learning for Free
                                                                                      Passage 2
How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.
Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.
The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.
This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.
 
Q. Consider the following assumptions:
1. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha overpowered communities in India
2. Indian middle class is fluent in English
With reference to the above passage, which of the following assumption is/are valid?  
  • a)
    1 only                                    
  • b)
    2 only
  • c)
    Both of them                       
  • d)
    Neither of them         
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
Passage 2How is India's...
The sentences ‘Three small castes, all......... of these three communities' tell us two separate things. One that they dominated the middle class and second that what generally is known as middle class culture is the culture of these castes. This in no way means that the three castes overpowered other cultures in India. The author clearly mentions that India is ‘a nation whose middle class............ they have not mastered'. Hence assumption 2 is also negated and option d is the correct answer.
View all questions of this test
Explore Courses for UPSC exam

Similar UPSC Doubts

Passage 2How is Indias middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the communitys power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. Indias elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that Indias middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of Indias high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. Which of the following options would help one understand the authors argument that the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of Indias culture?

Passage 2How is Indias middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the communitys power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. Indias elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that Indias middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of Indias high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. The author makes a reference to regular reading of literature in the mother tongue. What does he imply by this?

Top Courses for UPSC

Passage 2How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. Consider the following assumptions:1. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha overpowered communities in India2. Indian middle class is fluent in EnglishWith reference to the above passage, which of the following assumption is/are valid? a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both of themd)Neither of them Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
Question Description
Passage 2How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. Consider the following assumptions:1. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha overpowered communities in India2. Indian middle class is fluent in EnglishWith reference to the above passage, which of the following assumption is/are valid? a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both of themd)Neither of them Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2024 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about Passage 2How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. Consider the following assumptions:1. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha overpowered communities in India2. Indian middle class is fluent in EnglishWith reference to the above passage, which of the following assumption is/are valid? a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both of themd)Neither of them Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Passage 2How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. Consider the following assumptions:1. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha overpowered communities in India2. Indian middle class is fluent in EnglishWith reference to the above passage, which of the following assumption is/are valid? a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both of themd)Neither of them Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for Passage 2How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. Consider the following assumptions:1. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha overpowered communities in India2. Indian middle class is fluent in EnglishWith reference to the above passage, which of the following assumption is/are valid? a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both of themd)Neither of them Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for UPSC. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for UPSC Exam by signing up for free.
Here you can find the meaning of Passage 2How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. Consider the following assumptions:1. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha overpowered communities in India2. Indian middle class is fluent in EnglishWith reference to the above passage, which of the following assumption is/are valid? a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both of themd)Neither of them Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of Passage 2How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. Consider the following assumptions:1. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha overpowered communities in India2. Indian middle class is fluent in EnglishWith reference to the above passage, which of the following assumption is/are valid? a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both of themd)Neither of them Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for Passage 2How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. Consider the following assumptions:1. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha overpowered communities in India2. Indian middle class is fluent in EnglishWith reference to the above passage, which of the following assumption is/are valid? a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both of themd)Neither of them Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of Passage 2How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. Consider the following assumptions:1. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha overpowered communities in India2. Indian middle class is fluent in EnglishWith reference to the above passage, which of the following assumption is/are valid? a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both of themd)Neither of them Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice Passage 2How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. Consider the following assumptions:1. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha overpowered communities in India2. Indian middle class is fluent in EnglishWith reference to the above passage, which of the following assumption is/are valid? a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both of themd)Neither of them Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice UPSC tests.
Explore Courses for UPSC exam

Top Courses for UPSC

Explore Courses
Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev