Critical analysis is a Aptitude concept from the MPSC syllabus, tested in 6 past MPSC questions across 4 exam years between 2013 and 2025. Below are those real questions with their correct answers and explanations, plus the concepts worth being comfortable with first.
Reading proficiencyBasic history of science (Galileo)
Real questions that test this
माझा मूळ पूर्वपक्ष असा नाही की भारतीय मनाला आकार देण्याचा प्रश्न नसून, भारतीय भूमिकेला आकार देण्याची गरज आहे. आपल्याला मन तसेच मनोभूमिका या दोन्हीच्या प्रश्नांकडे पाहायला सुरुवात केली पाहिजे. आपल्याला फक्त हुशार मने, अधिक बुद्धिवान मने, अधिक निरीक्षणक्षम मने, अधिक विश्लेषक मने, चांगली मने जी अधिक शहाणे विश्लेषण करतील, अशी मने कशी मिळतील एवढेच पाहून चालणार नाही तर त्या बरोबरीने आपल्याला एकविसाव्या शतकातील भारत आकाराला आणणे शक्य करणाऱ्या, सकारात्मक, रचनात्मक, भविष्याकडे पाहणाऱ्या, परस्परांना प्रेरक ठरणाऱ्या मनोभूमिकाही कशा घडवायच्या हे पाहिले पाहिजे.
Question number 13 and 14 :
Many people say that 21st century is a century of knowledge, but the people who think more deeply about it say, it is going to be a century of mind. If this is the case then India has demographic advantage. India has 55% of its population less than 25 years old. This means that there are 6000 lakh odd minds to shape destiny of India.
But there is a fundamental difference between the mind and the mindset. Mind represents intellect, mind allows you to make smart observations, smart analysis, smart synthesis etc. but it is the mindset which determines your attitude and your approach to life. In India, there is this huge battle between the Indian mind and Indian mindset. The Indian mind is taking us into 21st century and there is no doubt about it, but it is the Indian mindset which is drawing us back into 14th, 15th, 16th century.
Centuries ago Indian mind introduced the concept of global village with a slogan, "Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam" (Entire world is a family). We say that we are one family but are we practising what we say ? We know that when two Japanese come together, how many Japanese they make ? They form a great team and become eleven. Someone in a lighter vein has said that when two Indians come together, they become zero as they neutralize each other. They do not make a team and this is the Indian mindset.
My basic premise is not that shaping of Indian minds is not required and only changing of the Indian mindset should be attempted. We should start taking up both. We should not only be contented with clever minds, more intelligent minds, more observant minds, more analytical minds, better minds synthesizing in a more clever way, but also mindsets that are positive, constructive, forward looking, mutually reinforcing, - mindsets that will make it possible for us to shape 21st century India.
पुढील कोणते विधान अयोग्य नाही.
Which of the following statements is not incorrect ?
a)भारतातील सुमारे 55% लोकांची मनोभूमिका अर्वाचीन आहे. / About 55% of the Indians have modern mindset.
b)भारतातील सुमारे 45% लोकांची मने बुरसटलेली आहेत. / About 45% of the Indians have old traditional mind.
c)भारतात वयस्कर लोक बहुसंख्य नाहीत. / The elderly people are not in majority in India.✓ Correct
d)भारतातील सुमारे 55% लोक हुशार विश्लेषणे करतात. / About 55% of the Indians make intelligent analysis.
The question asks for the statement that is 'not incorrect' (meaning correct). Option 3 correctly reflects demographic or mindset findings stated in the text.
Which of the following statements are true in the context of the given passage ?
(a)Great books require thought.
(b)Good books are world literature.
(c)Hard thinking is not painful for man.
(d)Great books do not have universal appeal.
(e)Longlasting interest in books make them great.
1)(a) and (e)✓ Correct
2)(a), (b) and (c)
3)(d) and (e)
4)(b) and (d)
Based on standard reading comprehension and textual analysis, statements (a) and (e) accurately capture the qualities of great books as they require intellectual engagement and enduring interest.
गेलिलिओचं खगोलशास्त्र धोकादायक का ठरू लागलं ?
Why did the astronomy of Galileo become dangerous ?
a)त्याला जन्मकुंडलाच्या मांडता येत नसत / He could not prepare star charts
b)त्याच्या निरीक्षणांमुळे चंद्रवरचा माणूस गायब झाला / His observations were responsible for disappearance of man from the moon
c)त्यानं स्वाभाविक अर्थनिर्णयन केलं / He offered a natural interpretation
d)सत्ताधारी वर्गानं गृहीत धरलेल्या जगाबाबतच्या कल्पनांना त्यात्यामुळे हादरा बसला / He challenged the axioms about the world which the powerful took for granted✓ Correct
Option 4 is correct because Galileo's astronomy challenged the traditional, religiously and politically sanctioned geocentric worldview that the ruling powers took for absolute truth.
Which of the following statements are false in the context of the given passage ?
(a)Aristotle told us that tree trunks add a new ring every year.
(b)All types of trees contain dark and light bands.
(c)Trees contain the record of their age only.
(d)Human beings have unlocked all the secrets contained in trees.
1)a, c, d
2)a, b, c
3)a, b, c, d✓ Correct
4)a and d
All four statements contradict the passage: (a) it was Leonardo da Vinci, not Aristotle, who suggested a ring is added every year; (b) the bands are absent in many tropical trees; (c) trees record precipitation, temperature, fires and more, not only their age; (d) the passage says 'if we only knew how to unlock its secrets', so we have not unlocked them all. Hence a, b, c and d are all false.
खालीलपैकी कोणते कथन खरे नाही? / Which of the following statements is not true ?
1)स्वातंत्र्य संग्रामाने लोकांना राजकीय शिक्षण देण्यास मदत केली / Freedom struggle helped to educate people politically
2)राजकीय पक्षांनी योग्य राजकीय शिक्षण उपलब्ध करून दिले / Political parties provide proper political education✓ Correct
3)सामाजिक परिवर्तनासाठी राजकीय शिक्षण आवश्यक आहे / Political education is necessary for bringing about social change
4)राजकीय शिक्षण हे व्यक्तिचे साध्य आणि साधन आहे / Political education is aim and means of individual
Identifying the false statement requires cross-checking all options with the arguments provided in the political education passage.