UPSC Prelims 2020— Question 33

This question tests mplads. The key concept is: MPLADS is intended for creation of durable community assets. Guidelines include a prescribed share of works benefiting SC/ST communities and inspection of a portion of works by district authorities. Unspent balances are not simply extinguished at the end of each year, so the third statement is incorrect. The verified answer for the uploaded Set-B paper is option D. Option A — 1 and 2 only: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: MPLADS is intended for creation of durable community assets. Guidelines include a prescribed share of works benefiting SC/ST communities and inspection of a portion of works by district authorities. Unspent balances are not simply extinguished at the end of each year, so the third statement is incorrect. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option B — 3 and 4 only: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: MPLADS is intended for creation of durable community assets. Guidelines include a prescribed share of works benefiting SC/ST communities and inspection of a portion of works by district authorities. Unspent balances are not simply extinguished at the end of each year, so the third statement is incorrect. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option C — 1, 2 and 3 only: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: MPLADS is intended for creation of durable community assets. Guidelines include a prescribed share of works benefiting SC/ST communities and inspection of a portion of works by district authorities. Unspent balances are not simply extinguished at the end of each year, so the third statement is incorrect. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option D — 1, 2 and 4 only: This is the correct option. It matches the verified conclusion because MPLADS is intended for creation of durable community assets. Guidelines include a prescribed share of works benefiting SC/ST communities and inspection of a portion of works by district authorities. Unspent balances are not simply extinguished at the end of each year, so the third statement is incorrect. The wording of the option is consistent with the governing concept tested by the question. For UPSC-style elimination, first identify the exact proposition being tested, then evaluate each statement independently before comparing the answer codes. Avoid treating a broad or absolute statement as correct merely because its general theme is familiar. The precise qualifiers in the question—such as 'all', 'only', 'cannot', 'largest', 'always' or a specific institutional role—often determine the answer. On that basis, option D is the verified answer.