UPSC CSE 2025 · PYQ · Reading Comprehension / Central Message · medium
Which one of the following statements best reflects the critical message conveyed by the author of the passage? [Passage 2: A good statesman, like any other sensible human being, learns more from his opponents than from his fervent supporters. For his supporters will push him to disaster unless his opponents show him where the dangers are. So if he is wise he will often pray to be delivered from his friends, because they will ruin him. But, though it hurts, he ought also to pray never to be left without opponents; for they keep him on the path of reason and good sense. The national unity of free people depends upon a sufficiently even balance of political power to make it impracticable for the administration to be arbitrary and for opposition to be revolutionary and irreconcilable.]
A.Without opposition parties, the administration in a democracy gets to become more responsible.
B.Democracy needs to have revolutionaries in opposition to keep the government alert.
C.Rulers in a democracy need the support of opposition for their political survival.
D.In a democracy, the opposition is indispensable for the balance of political power and good governance.✓ Correct
Explanation
The passage argues that opposition is essential to keep rulers on the path of reason, and that national unity and good governance depend on an even balance of political power between administration and opposition. Option (d) precisely captures this critical message about the indispensability of opposition for balance of political power and good governance. Option (a) contradicts the passage. Option (b) misrepresents — the passage warns AGAINST opposition being 'revolutionary and irreconcilable,' not in favor. Option (c) talks about political survival, which is not the author's point; the author talks about reason and good governance, not survival.
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