UPSC prelims MCQs CAPF NDA PSC

(B) c, a, b, d. • Atmiya Sabha (1814/1815): Established first in Calcutta to propagate monotheistic ideas and fight against social evils. • Unitarian Committee (1821): Formed in 1821 (specifically the Calcutta Unitarian Committee) in collaboration with William Adam to promote Unitarian Christianity and social reform. • Vedanta College (1825): Established to combine the teachings of Western science and Indian philosophy, focusing on monotheistic Vedanta. • Brahmo Samaj (1828): Originally founded as the 'Brahmo Sabha' in August 1828, it was the culmination of his religious reform efforts.

Option 1 - M.G. Ranade Incorrect. Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade was one of the most prominent social reformers of 19th-century Maharashtra. He supported widow remarriage, women's education, opposition to child marriage and social reform and was associated with the Prarthana Samaj. However, the clue about being a Sanskrit scholar who resigned from government service in 1864 does not refer to Ranade. Ranade entered the judicial service and continued his professional career while simultaneously working for social reform. Option 2 - Vishnushastri Pandit Correct. Vishnushastri Pandit was a Sanskrit scholar and a prominent social reformer of Maharashtra. He strongly advocated widow remarriage, women's education and the removal of social restrictions imposed on Hindu widows. He resigned from government service in 1864 to dedicate himself to social reform. He subsequently became an important figure in the movement for widow remarriage in Maharashtra, making him the person described in the question. Option 3 - Balshastri Jambhekar Incorrect. Balshastri Jambhekar was an important pioneer of modern education, journalism and social reform in Maharashtra and is often called the Father of Marathi Journalism. He founded Darpan in 1832 and Digdarshan in 1840 and promoted scientific and rational thinking. However, he died in 1846, well before the year 1864 mentioned in the question. Therefore, he cannot be the person described. Option 4 - K.T. Telang Incorrect. Kashinath Trimbak Telang was a distinguished Sanskrit scholar, lawyer, educationist and social reformer. He was associated with the Prarthana Samaj and supported social and educational reform. However, he was born in 1850, so he was only about 14 years old in 1864 and could not have resigned from government service in that year.

(A) Only 1, 2 and 3 Statement 1: Correct. The Swaminarayan Sampradaya focused heavily on moral purity, non-violence, sobriety, and ending social vices like addiction and animal sacrifice. Statement 2: Correct. Swami Dayanand Saraswati was born in Gujarat (Tankara); Arya Samaj promoted Vedic purity, Shuddhi movement, and anti-caste principles across the region. Statement 3: Correct. Branches of Prarthana Samaj in Western India/Gujarat advocated actively for women's emancipation, widow remarriage, and religious reforms. Statement 4: Incorrect. The Swaminarayan Movement was established in the early 19th century by Sahajanand Swami (Lord Swaminarayan), not Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.