UPSC Prelims 2021— Question 30

This question is retained from the uploaded 2021 Set-C paper, but it is marked as dropped in the final UPSC evaluation. Because a dropped question does not contribute to the evaluated score, no option is treated as a final correct answer for database scoring. The question is nevertheless preserved in its original position so that the workbook remains faithful to the source paper. Option A is not assigned as correct, Option B is not assigned as correct, Option C is not assigned as correct, and Option D is not assigned as correct because the Commission removed the question from evaluation. The important database distinction is between the original printed question and the final evaluation status: the former is part of the paper, while the latter determines whether it carries marks. Accordingly, the Correct Answer field is recorded as 'Dropped', and the verification note documents the final-key treatment. This avoids silently substituting a coaching answer for the Commission's final evaluation decision and preserves the audit trail for the PYQ database.