Upadhyay’s Principles - GS questions based on daily current affairs

1)   Which of the following is/are true?

1) Dattopant Thengadi founded the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh.
2) Nanaji Deshmukh founded the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh.


a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:

  • Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay’s (Panditji) theories were put in practice by two of his colleagues. Panditji’s vision was guiding beacon for them
  • Dattopant Thengadi founded the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh and Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, which went on to become the biggest trade union in the country.
  • He also launched the Swadeshi Jagran Manch and famously turned down a Padma Bhushan from the Vajpayee government because he disapproved of its policies.
  • Nanaji Deshmukh set up the Deen Dayal Research Institute, which created a model of rural development based on self-reliance.
  • The fact that it boosted economic prosperity in the several hundred villages in Chitrakoot where it was applied attracts a great deal of attention from development agencies worldwide and drew fulsome praise from former President APJ Abdul Kalam.


2)   Which of the following can be associated with Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay?

1) Opposition to cooperatives
2) Decentralization of the economy
3) Criticism of the 5 year plan strategy


a. 1, 2
b. 2, 3
c. 1, 3
d. All of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:

  • Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay certainly favoured economic freedom and opportunities for entrepreneurship, and criticized the government of the day for stifling avenues of investment.
  • He emphasized decentralization of the economy, so as to empower local communities to make economic and developmental choices.
  • He did not favour big business; he preferred the Gandhian ideal of large production from small units, “manufacture by the masses for the masses”.
  • In agriculture, he favoured land ownership and strongly opposed Soviet-style cooperatives.
  • He was no admirer of the planning process and strongly critiqued all the Five-Year Plans for failing to focus on employment, infrastructure, agricultural production, education and public health.