Comprehension
In Manu Joseph’s debut novel Serious Men, the protagonist, Ayyan Mani, is a sly scheming Dalit-Buddhist who almost gets away with passing off his partially deaf son, Adi, as a prodigy, a genius who can recite the first 1,000 prime numbers. The garb of satire where almost every character cuts a sorry figure gives the author the licence to offer one of the most bleak and pessimistic portrayals of urban Dalits. Despite his savage portrayal of Dalit (and female) character — or perhaps because of it? — Serious Men has won critical appreciation from a cross section of readers and critics.
At a time when a formidable body of Dalit literature — writing by Dalits about Dalit lives — has created a distinct space for itself, how and why is it that a novel such as Serious Men, with its gleefully skewed portrayal of an angry Dalit man, manages to win such accolades? In American literature and particularly in the case of African–American authors and characters these issues of representation have been debated for decades. But in India, the sustained refusal to address issues related to caste in everyday life and the continued and unquestioned predominance of a Brahminical stranglehold over cultural production have led us to a place where non-Dalit portrayal of Dalits in literature, cinema and art remains the norm.
The journey of modern Dalit literature has been a difficult one. But even though it has not necessarily enjoyed the support of numbers, we must engage with what Dalits are writing not simply for reasons of authenticity, or as a concession to identity politics, but simply because of the aesthetic value of this body of writing, and for the insights it offers into the human condition. In a society that is still largely unwilling to recognize Dalits as equal, rights-bearing human beings, in a society that is inherently indifferent to the everyday violence against Dalits, in a society unwilling to share social and cultural resources equitably with Dalits unless mandated by law (as seen in the anti-reservation discourse), Dalit literature has the potential to humanize non-Dalits and sensitize them to a world into which they have no insight. But before we can understand what Dalit literature in seeking to accomplish, we need first to come to terms with the stranglehold of non-Dalit representations of Dalits. Rohinton Mistry’s A Fine Balance published 15 years ago, chronicles the travails of two Dalit characters — uncle Ishvar and nephew Omprakash — who migrate to Bombay and yet cannot escape brutality. While the present of the novel is set at the time of the Emergency, Ishvar’s father Dukhi belongs to the era of the anti-colonial nationalist movement. During one of Dukhi’s visits to the town, he chances upon a meeting of the Indian National Congress, where speakers spread the “Mahatma’s message regarding the freedom struggle, the struggle for justice,” and wiping out “the disease of untouchability: ravaging us for centuries, denying dignity to our fellow human beings.”
Neither in the 1940s, where the novel’s past is set, nor in the Emergency period of the 1970s when the minds and bodies Ishvar and Omprakash, are savaged by the state do we find any mention of a figure like BR Ambedkar or of Dalit movements. In his nationalist understanding of modern Indian history, Mistry seems to have not veered too far from the road charted by predecessors like Mulk Raj Anand and Premchand. Sixty years after Premchand, Mistry’s literary imagination seems stuck in the empathy realism mode, trapping Dalits in abjection. Mistry happily continues the broad stereotype of the Dalit as a passive sufferer, without consciousness of caste politics.
Question: 1
Which of the following is the closest description of the central argument of this passage?
Which of the following is the closest description of the central argument of this passage?
Show Hint
For central argument questions, look for the author’s most emphasized and repeated criticism.
Updated On: Aug 11, 2025
- Manu Joseph’s novel presents a scathing portrayal of Dalits.
- Contemporary American literature is very cautious on politically correct representation of minorities.
- The last two decades have witnessed the rise of a very vibrant Dalit literature.
- Portrayal of Dalits by non-Dalits merely as passive victims has been the dominant norm in Indian literature, cinema and art.
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The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Identify the recurring theme in the passage
The author repeatedly emphasizes how non-Dalits have represented Dalits — as victims, without agency, and lacking caste-consciousness.
Step 2: Evaluate all options
(a) Too narrow – While Manu Joseph’s portrayal is discussed, it is not the central argument.
(b) Only briefly mentioned as a contrast — not the main point.
(c) Mentioned, but not the passage’s focus.
(d) Correct – This is the thread running throughout the passage. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(d)} \]
The author repeatedly emphasizes how non-Dalits have represented Dalits — as victims, without agency, and lacking caste-consciousness.
Step 2: Evaluate all options
(a) Too narrow – While Manu Joseph’s portrayal is discussed, it is not the central argument.
(b) Only briefly mentioned as a contrast — not the main point.
(c) Mentioned, but not the passage’s focus.
(d) Correct – This is the thread running throughout the passage. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(d)} \]
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Question: 2
According to this passage, Premchand and Mulk Raj Anand:
According to this passage, Premchand and Mulk Raj Anand:
Show Hint
Always match the tone and portrayal described in the passage with the answer choice — don’t assume beyond the text.
Updated On: Aug 11, 2025
- Presented a stereotyped version of Dalit characters in their writings.
- Excelled in writing satires on social inequality.
- Were politically opposed to the views of B.R. Ambedkar.
- Were closely involved with the leadership of the nationalist movement.
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Find references to Premchand and Anand
In the last paragraph, Mistry is said to have followed the path of Premchand and Anand — portraying Dalits as passive sufferers lacking political awareness.
Step 2: Evaluate the options
(a) Correct – Their portrayals were stereotypical.
(b) Incorrect – Satire is not mentioned in reference to them.
(c) Not discussed.
(d) Nationalist movement is mentioned, but not as their leadership role. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(a)} \]
In the last paragraph, Mistry is said to have followed the path of Premchand and Anand — portraying Dalits as passive sufferers lacking political awareness.
Step 2: Evaluate the options
(a) Correct – Their portrayals were stereotypical.
(b) Incorrect – Satire is not mentioned in reference to them.
(c) Not discussed.
(d) Nationalist movement is mentioned, but not as their leadership role. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(a)} \]
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Question: 3
The writer refers to the ‘anti-reservation discourse’ in order to argue that:
The writer refers to the ‘anti-reservation discourse’ in order to argue that:
Show Hint
Use exact phrases from the passage when selecting inference-based answers.
Updated On: Aug 11, 2025
- Dalit literature has had a very difficult journey since its origins.
- Manu Joseph is viscerally opposed to Dalits.
- Persons belonging to the upper castes are inherently indifferent to routine violence against Dalits.
- Indian society is not yet ready to equitably share, on its own, social, cultural and political space with Dalits.
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The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Focus on the context of 'anti-reservation discourse'
The passage says: "society is unwilling to share social and cultural resources... unless mandated by law (as seen in the anti-reservation discourse)."
Step 2: Evaluate each option
(a) Only partly related.
(b) Irrelevant to anti-reservation discourse.
(c) Partially true but not the key conclusion.
(d) Correct – matches the passage’s statement directly. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(d)} \]
The passage says: "society is unwilling to share social and cultural resources... unless mandated by law (as seen in the anti-reservation discourse)."
Step 2: Evaluate each option
(a) Only partly related.
(b) Irrelevant to anti-reservation discourse.
(c) Partially true but not the key conclusion.
(d) Correct – matches the passage’s statement directly. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(d)} \]
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Question: 4
Which of the following statements is least likely to be inferred from this passage?
Which of the following statements is least likely to be inferred from this passage?
Show Hint
"Least likely to be inferred" means the one that contradicts or misrepresents the author’s clear position.
Updated On: Aug 11, 2025
- The author of Serious Men has used the literary device of satire to present an unflattering picture of women characters.
- Issues of representation of minorities have been debated extensively in American literature.
- The writer of this passage believes that engagement with Dalits is necessary only because such engagement affirms the importance of identity politics.
- The writer believes that Rohinton Mistry presented a stereotypical representation of Dalits character in his book.
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The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Identify what is emphasized in the passage
The author explicitly says: "we must engage with what Dalits are writing not simply for reasons of authenticity, or identity politics... but because of the aesthetic value..."
Step 2: Evaluate all options
(a) Supported – the novel is satirical and unflattering.
(b) Directly mentioned as contrast with Indian literature.
(c) Incorrect – the passage says engagement must go beyond identity politics.
(d) Supported – Mistry continues the stereotypical portrayal. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(c)} \]
The author explicitly says: "we must engage with what Dalits are writing not simply for reasons of authenticity, or identity politics... but because of the aesthetic value..."
Step 2: Evaluate all options
(a) Supported – the novel is satirical and unflattering.
(b) Directly mentioned as contrast with Indian literature.
(c) Incorrect – the passage says engagement must go beyond identity politics.
(d) Supported – Mistry continues the stereotypical portrayal. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(c)} \]
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Question: 5
According to the information available in the passage, the writer attributes the prevalence of representation of Dalits by non-Dalits in literature, art and media to:
According to the information available in the passage, the writer attributes the prevalence of representation of Dalits by non-Dalits in literature, art and media to:
Show Hint
Match direct phrases like “stranglehold over cultural production” with answer choices for high accuracy.
Updated On: Aug 11, 2025
- The nationalist understanding of Indian history.
- Marginalization of B.R. Ambedkar from nationalist movement.
- The anti-reservation discourse.
- Brahminical control over cultural production.
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The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Locate key phrase in the passage
The author states: “...continued and unquestioned predominance of a Brahminical stranglehold over cultural production...”
This is used to explain why non-Dalits dominate representation of Dalits. Step 2: Evaluate options
(a) Mentioned in context of Mistry’s nationalism, not main cause.
(b) Not the central reason for dominance of non-Dalits.
(c) Related but not causal.
(d) Correct – explicitly cited as the main cause. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(d)} \]
The author states: “...continued and unquestioned predominance of a Brahminical stranglehold over cultural production...”
This is used to explain why non-Dalits dominate representation of Dalits. Step 2: Evaluate options
(a) Mentioned in context of Mistry’s nationalism, not main cause.
(b) Not the central reason for dominance of non-Dalits.
(c) Related but not causal.
(d) Correct – explicitly cited as the main cause. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(d)} \]
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Question: 6
Which of the following is not among the reason suggested by the writer for engaging with Dalit writing?
Which of the following is not among the reason suggested by the writer for engaging with Dalit writing?
Show Hint
“Not among the reason” means you must eliminate only what was never promoted by the author — not just what’s factually true.
Updated On: Aug 11, 2025
- Dalit literature has the potential to sensitize non-Dalits about the experiences of the former.
- Dalit writing is more authentic than representation of Dalits by non-Dalits.
- Dalit literature does not have the support of numbers.
- The aesthetic value of Dalit writing.
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The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Refer to the paragraph about engagement with Dalit writing
The author lists reasons such as: authenticity, human insight, aesthetic value, and power to humanize non-Dalits.
The line “not simply for reasons of authenticity... but also for the aesthetic value...” confirms this. Step 2: Evaluate options
(a) Correct – explicitly mentioned.
(b) Correct – passage favors Dalit self-representation.
(c) Incorrect – this is a factual statement about popularity, not a suggested reason for engagement.
(d) Correct – aesthetic value is explicitly listed. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(c)} \]
The author lists reasons such as: authenticity, human insight, aesthetic value, and power to humanize non-Dalits.
The line “not simply for reasons of authenticity... but also for the aesthetic value...” confirms this. Step 2: Evaluate options
(a) Correct – explicitly mentioned.
(b) Correct – passage favors Dalit self-representation.
(c) Incorrect – this is a factual statement about popularity, not a suggested reason for engagement.
(d) Correct – aesthetic value is explicitly listed. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(c)} \]
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Question: 7
Which of the following statement cannot be inferred from the passage?
Which of the following statement cannot be inferred from the passage?
Show Hint
Only infer what is supported by evidence in the passage — do not assume based on external logic.
Updated On: Aug 11, 2025
- Upper-castes have dominated the instruments of cultural production in Indian society.
- Indian society is unwilling to recognize Dalits as equal, rights bearing human beings.
- Dalit writers have carved out a space for writings on Dalit experience and world view.
- The judiciary in India, in its opposition to reservation, has betrayed its unwillingness to acknowledge Dalits are equal beater of rights.
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The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understand inference from facts
The passage criticizes Indian society broadly — not the judiciary specifically. There is no reference to courts or judicial action.
Step 2: Evaluate each statement
(a) Inferred – from the phrase "Brahminical stranglehold over cultural production."
(b) Inferred – the author explicitly says society is unwilling to see Dalits as equal beings.
(c) Inferred – the author mentions “a formidable body of Dalit literature.”
(d) Not inferred – judiciary is never mentioned in the passage. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(d)} \]
The passage criticizes Indian society broadly — not the judiciary specifically. There is no reference to courts or judicial action.
Step 2: Evaluate each statement
(a) Inferred – from the phrase "Brahminical stranglehold over cultural production."
(b) Inferred – the author explicitly says society is unwilling to see Dalits as equal beings.
(c) Inferred – the author mentions “a formidable body of Dalit literature.”
(d) Not inferred – judiciary is never mentioned in the passage. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(d)} \]
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Question: 8
The writer of this passage is critical of Rohinton Mistry’s A Fine Balance} for the reason that:
The writer of this passage is critical of Rohinton Mistry’s A Fine Balance} for the reason that:
Show Hint
Focus on what the author is critiquing — is it the theme, portrayal, or author’s technique? Avoid vague options.
Updated On: Aug 11, 2025
- It is an example of a book on Dalit characters by a Non-Dalits.
- The book suggests that Dalits are nothing more than passive sufferers without any agency.
- The book ignores the everyday violence that Dalits have to confront with.
- It bares the passive literary style of the author, Rohinton Mistry.
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The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Extract criticism from the passage
The author says Mistry’s Dalit characters “remain passive sufferers” and “lack consciousness of caste politics.”
Step 2: Evaluate the options
(a) True, but too general – being written by non-Dalit isn’t the core issue.
(b) Correct – this is the central critique.
(c) Not mentioned – violence is shown in the book.
(d) No comment is made about Mistry’s literary style. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(b)} \]
The author says Mistry’s Dalit characters “remain passive sufferers” and “lack consciousness of caste politics.”
Step 2: Evaluate the options
(a) True, but too general – being written by non-Dalit isn’t the core issue.
(b) Correct – this is the central critique.
(c) Not mentioned – violence is shown in the book.
(d) No comment is made about Mistry’s literary style. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(b)} \]
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Question: 9
Which of the following words would be the best substitute for the word ‘sly’ in this passage?
Which of the following words would be the best substitute for the word ‘sly’ in this passage?
Show Hint
Always check tone and connotation when choosing synonyms — “sly” often implies trickery, not intelligence.
Updated On: Aug 11, 2025
- Bright
- Wise
- Devious
- Dim
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The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Check context from the passage
The passage describes Ayyan Mani as “sly” and scheming — he fools people into believing his son is a genius.
Step 2: Understand tone
“Devious” best matches “sly and scheming.” It implies cleverness with trickery.
Bright and wise are too positive. Dim is the opposite of clever. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(c)} \]
The passage describes Ayyan Mani as “sly” and scheming — he fools people into believing his son is a genius.
Step 2: Understand tone
“Devious” best matches “sly and scheming.” It implies cleverness with trickery.
Bright and wise are too positive. Dim is the opposite of clever. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(c)} \]
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Question: 10
“It is not as if Dalit movements ________ not active during the periods that form A Fine Balance}’s backup.”
Select the most appropriate choice to fill in the blank in the above sentence:
“It is not as if Dalit movements ________ not active during the periods that form A Fine Balance}’s backup.”
Select the most appropriate choice to fill in the blank in the above sentence:
Show Hint
Always match the number (singular/plural) and tense (past/present) of the subject when choosing verbs.
Updated On: Aug 11, 2025
- is
- was
- were
- are
Hide Solution
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The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Check subject-verb agreement
Subject: “Dalit movements” is plural. So singular verbs (is/was) are wrong.
Step 2: Check tense
The sentence refers to periods in the past (1940s and 1970s). So “are” is incorrect.
“Were” is both plural and in past tense – correct match. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(c)} \]
Subject: “Dalit movements” is plural. So singular verbs (is/was) are wrong.
Step 2: Check tense
The sentence refers to periods in the past (1940s and 1970s). So “are” is incorrect.
“Were” is both plural and in past tense – correct match. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(c)} \]
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Top Questions on Reading Comprehension
As of 2009, there are 890 World Heritage Sites that are located in 148 countries (map). 689 of these sites are cultural and include places like the Sydney Opera House in Australia and the Historic Center of Vienna in Austria. 176 are natural and feature such locations as the U.S.’s Yellowstone and Grand Canyon National Parks. 25 of the World Heritage Sites are considered mixed i.e. natural and cultural Peru’s Machu Picchu is one of these. Italy has the highest number of World Heritage Sites with 44. India has 36 (28 cultural, 7 natural and 1 mixed) World Heritage Sites. The World Heritage Committee has divided the world’s countries into five geographic zones which include (1) Africa, (2) Arab States, (3) Asia Pacific (including Australia and Oceania), (4) Europe and North America and (5) Latin America and the Caribbean.
WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN DANGER
Like many natural, historic and cultural sites around the world, many World Heritage Sites are in danger of being destroyed or lost due to war, poaching, natural disasters like earthquakes, uncontrolled urbanization, heavy tourist traffic and environmental factors like air pollution and acid rain.- Maharashtra Class X Board - 2025
- English
- Reading Comprehension
- I give the biggest credit of this honour to my movement’s Kaalu Kumar, Dhoom Das and Adarsh Kishore from India and Iqbal Masih from Pakistan who made the supreme sacrifice for protect ing the freedom and dignity of children. I humbly accept this award on behalf of all such martyrs, my fellow activists across the world and my countrymen. My journey from the great land of Lord Buddha, Guru Nanak and Mahatma Gandhi; India to Norway is a connect between the two centres of global peace and brotherhood, ancient and modern. Friends, the Nobel Committee has generously invited me to present a “lecture.” Respectfully, I am unable to do that. Because, I am representing here — the sound of silence. The cry of innocence. And, the face of invisibility. I represent millions of those children who are left behind and that’s why I have kept an empty chair here as a reminder. I have come here only to share the voices and dreams of our children– because they are all our children– (gesture to everyone in the audience). I have looked into their frightened and exhausted eyes. I have held their injured bodies and felt their broken spirits.
- Maharashtra Class X Board - 2025
- English
- Reading Comprehension
- Read the following extract and do the given activities :
- Maharashtra Class X Board - 2025
- English
- Reading Comprehension
- Read the following passage and do the given activities :
- Maharashtra Class X Board - 2025
- English
- Reading Comprehension
- Complete the concluding sentence of the following paragraph with one of the options given below. In the 1960s, Jane Goodall observed chimpanzees removing termites from hides with stripped twigs. Initially, researchers were unable to determine whether the animals viewed a group of tasks as a single problem requiring a general tool set or used individual tools to solve specific tasks. The question was finally resolved when chimps were observed selecting tools to carry with them in anticipation of particular difficulties. Research, therefore, concluded that not only are chimpanzees capable of using tools in a sophisticated way, but they ________________
- CUET (PG) - 2025
- General Management
- Reading Comprehension
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Questions Asked in CLAT exam
- The "Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam", 2023 Act received near-unanimous support in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The legislation mandates the reservation of one-third of all seats in the Lok Sabha, state legislative assemblies, and Delhi (as a union territory with an elected assembly) for women. This linking of the implementation of the Act to the implementing of two long-term exercises of census and delimitation, makes little sense to many, and sounds quite like empowerment delayed for now.
In a 2012 article 'Holding Up Half the Sky: Reservations for Women in India', Rudolf C Heredia breaks down the common misconceptions that cloud our understanding of women's political participation- "When women do attain a national leadership role it is often because they have inherited the mantle from their fathers ophusbands, rather than as persons in their own right and are then projected as matriarchs, part of the joint family, complementary to the patriarchy rather than a challenge to it."
In 'Equality versus Empowerment: Women in Indian Legislature', 2023, Soumya Bhowmick makes the case for going a step beyond quotas, and to turn our attention to the complexities that shape women's agency in the country. This, he argues, would require a bottoms-up approach, rather than merely handing out reservations in a top-down manner. "In a country like India with a considerably large heterogeneous population, the dissemination of legislative power would be insufficient to protect the interests of minority groups such as women, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes." He concludes that "implementing the idea of reservation for women would bring about descriptive representation, but its transformation into substantive representation would depend on the change in the attitudes of the people."
While the reservation of one-third of seats for women belonging to the scheduled castes and tribes under the amendment to article 330a and 332 of the constitution is a welcome step, it remains to be seen whether it fully acknowledges the complex interplay of hierarchies, socio-political relationships which also affect the extent and nature of complications that surround effective realisation of women's politics for Indian politics to emerge as a truly emancipatory space.- CLAT - 2025
- National Affairs
- In keeping with the slogan for this year's Olympics, "Games Wide Open," the opening ceremony took place outside a stadium setting by the river, for the first time. In many respects, the Paris Games turned out to be one of the most elaborate cultural rituals since Covid swept across the world beginning in late 2019. Health restrictions forced the organizers of Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 to sharply limit the scale of the festivities, with events largely closed to the public. Paris 2024, powered in part by pent-up demand for communal experiences, symbolized an international post-pandemic vibe shift.
The International Olympic Committee and French officials managed strict security measures in place. Yet the recent history of violence in France - including the 2015 terror attack in Paris that left 138 people dead and at least 416 injured - stalked public consciousness prior to the games. The geopolitical backdrop for the Paris Games was no less troubling. The war between Israel and Hamas which had crossed the six-month mark, raised fears of a protracted conflict and wider regional instability. The devastation in the Gaza Strip has provoked international outrage, isolating Israel on the global stage. Meanwhile, Russia continues to gain ground in its military offensive against Ukraine as some Western nations worry about the rise of authoritarianism. These international crises raised serious concerns that could come into play during the Games in the form of protests and other political demonstrations.
Nevertheless, Olympics organizers put up a show that stunned the throngs assembled on the boulevards of Paris, not to mention the millions of people who watched the Games unfold on their televisions and mobile devices. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, India secured a total of six medals; one silver and five bronze which was one down from the highest haul of medals from the previous Olympics. Neeraj Chopra earned a silver in men's javelin with an 89.45 throw, narrowly missing gold to Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem. Shooter Manu Bhaker made history by clinching bronze in the women's 10'm air pistol, becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal in Olympic shooting. The men's hockey team achieved a second consecutive bronze, defeating Spain 2-1, with captain Harmanpreet Singh scoring both goals.
(Extracted, with edits and revision, from "The Olympics are nearly here. For a weary world, they can't come soon enough", NBCNEWS)- CLAT - 2025
- Sports and Physical Education
- During the First World War, Indian merchants and industrialists wanted protection against imports of foreign goods, and a rupee-sterling foreign exchange ratio that would discourage imports. To organise business interests, they formed the Indian Industrial and Commercial Congress in 1920 and the Federation of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) in 1927. The industrialists attacked colonial control over the Indian economy and supported the Civil Disobedience Movement when it was first launched. They gave financial assistance and refused to buy or sell imported goods. After the failure of the Round Table Conference, business groups were no longer uniformly enthusiastic. They were apprehensive of the spread of militant activities, and worried about prolonged disruption of business, as well as of the growing influence of socialism amongst the younger members of the Congress.
The industrial working classes did not participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement in large numbers, except in the Nagpur region. As the industrialists came closer to the Congress, workers stayed aloof. But inspite of that, some workers did participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement, selectively adopting some of the ideas of the Gandhian programme, like boycott of foreign goods, as part of their own movements against low wages and poor working conditions. There were strikes by railway workers in 1930 and dockworkers in 1932. In 1930, thousands of workers in Chotanagpur tin mines wore Gandhi caps and participated in protest rallies and boycott campaigns. But the Congress was reluctant to include workers' demands as part of its programme of struggle. It felt that this would alienate industrialists and divide the anti-imperial forces.
Another important feature of the Civil Disobedience Movement was the large-scale participation of women. During Gandhiji's salt march, thousands of women came out of their homes to listen to him. They participated in protest marches, manufactured salt, and picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops. Many went to jail.
[Excerpt from Chapter II - Nationalism in India, India and the Contemporary World, NCERT]- CLAT - 2025
- Historical Events
- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi used a BRICS summit in Russia recently to showcase ambitions for a more harmonious relationship between the world's two most populous countries after years of animosity.
The meeting between Xi and Modi, who have not held formal talks for five years, was one highlight of a summit. BRICS also gave an opportunity to the Russian President Vladimir Putin for showcasing that the West had failed to isolate Russia over the Ukraine war.
A final communique listed a number of projects aimed at facilitating trade between BRICS nations including an alternative payment system to the dollar but did not include details or timelines.
Just two days after New Delhi announced that it had reached a deal with Beijing to resolve a four-year military stand-off on their disputed Himalayan frontier, Xi told Modi that they should enhance communication and cooperation and effectively manage differences.
BRICS - an idea thought up inside Goldman Sachs two decades ago to describe the growing economic clout of China and other major emerging markets - is now a group that accounts for 45% of the world's population and 35% of the global economy.
Former Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill, who coined the BRIC term in 2001, told Reuters that he had little optimism for the BRICS club as long as China and India remained so divided.
"It seems to me basically to be a symbolie annual gathering where important emerging countries, particularly noisy ones like Russia, but also China, can basically get together and highlight how good it is to be part of something that doesn't involve the U.S. and that global governance isn't good enough,"
The 43-page final communique from the summit ranged from geopolitics and narcoties to artificial intelligence and even the preservation of Big Cats, but lacked detail on some major issues. It mentioned Ukraine just once.
(Excerpts from "Putin scores a BRICS win with rare Xi and Modi show of harmony" By Vladimir Soldatkin and Guy Faulconbridge, Reuters, October 23, 2024)- CLAT - 2025
- International Affairs
- According to the estimates of the World Inequality Report 2022, in India, men earn 82 percent of the labour income, whereas women earn 18 percent of it. A woman agriculture field labourer makes Rs. 88 per day lesser than her male counterpart, according to the Ministry of Agriculture’s data for 2020-21. While a man is paid Rs. 383 a day on an average, a woman makes a mere Rs. 294 a day. The gap in their daily wages is more than the cost of two kilograms of rice. This gap differs from State to State. Field laborers, for instance, make the most money in Kerala. While a man gets Rs. 789 per day, a woman is paid Rs. 537. While this is the highest amount paid to a woman labourer in a State, it is also Rs. 252 lesser than what her male counterpart was paid. As of 2020-21, Tamil Nadu has the highest gender wage gap among agriculture field laborers at 112 percent. It is followed by Goa (61 percent) and Kerala. The wage gap is the lowest in Jharkhand and Gujarat (6 percent each), but the women laborers there get paid just Rs. 239 and Rs. 247 per day, respectively.
Men earn more than women across all forms of work, the gap greatest for the self-employed. In 2023, male self-employed workers earned 2.8 times that of women. In contrast, male regular wage workers earned 24% more than women and male casual workers earned 48% more. The gender gap in earnings is still a persistent phenomenon. However, there are differences in trends. The gender gap has increased for self-employed workers, while falling for regular wage workers. Male regular wage workers earned 34% more than women from 2019 to 2022, with the gap falling to 24% in 2023.- CLAT - 2025
- Statistical Estimation
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