UPSC Prelims 2021— Question 5

Halbi, Ho and Kui are tribal languages spoken by communities in India. They are not dance forms, musical instruments or prehistoric painting traditions. The question tests recognition of tribal linguistic diversity and the distinction between language, performing arts and archaeological heritage. The final answer-key position for Set C identifies option D as the correct option. Option A — dance forms of Northwest India — is not correct because it does not satisfy the specific condition tested in the question; it represents an alternative that is contradicted, incomplete, or less precise than the accepted answer. Option B — musical instruments — is not correct because it does not satisfy the specific condition tested in the question; it represents an alternative that is contradicted, incomplete, or less precise than the accepted answer. Option C — pre-historic cave paintings — is not correct because it does not satisfy the specific condition tested in the question; it represents an alternative that is contradicted, incomplete, or less precise than the accepted answer. Option D — tribal languages — is correct because it is the alternative that matches the constitutional, historical, geographical, scientific or economic principle established above. For PYQ interpretation, the distinction between the correct alternative and merely related facts is important. UPSC often places plausible distractors beside the precise statement that matches the underlying rule, chronology, definition or empirical relationship. The answer should therefore be read against the exact wording of the question rather than against a broadly related fact.