UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 2
According to Kautilya's Arthashastra, which of the following are correct ?
- A person could be a slave as a result of a judicial punishment.
- If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally free.
- If a son born to a female slave was fathered by her master, the son was entitled to the legal status of the master's son.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Correct Option: B (2 and 3 only)
Explanation: Kautilya’s Arthashastra describes certain routes to enslavement and legal protections for children born to enslaved women; statements 2 and 3 reflect those protections.
Statement / Pair / Item-wise Analysis:
1. False / does not qualify - The text does not treat enslavement through judicial punishment in the asserted manner; its provisions distinguish legal categories and prohibit enslaving an Arya in that way.
2. True / qualifies - An enslaved woman who bore her master’s child gained her freedom under the provision cited.
3. True / qualifies - Such a child acquired the legal status of the master’s son.
Option-wise Analysis:
A. Incorrect-includes 1 even though The text does not treat enslavement through judicial punishment in the asserted manner; its provisions distinguish legal categories and prohibit enslaving an Arya in that way.; omits 3 even though Such a child acquired the legal status of the master’s son.
B. Correct-selects exactly the correct statements/items identified above.
C. Incorrect-includes 1 even though The text does not treat enslavement through judicial punishment in the asserted manner; its provisions distinguish legal categories and prohibit enslaving an Arya in that way.; omits 2 even though An enslaved woman who bore her master’s child gained her freedom under the provision cited.
D. Incorrect-includes 1 even though The text does not treat enslavement through judicial punishment in the asserted manner; its provisions distinguish legal categories and prohibit enslaving an Arya in that way.