UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

When universities undertake outreach programmes to address local needs in education, health and environment, they are exercising their social responsibility. These actions show concern for societal well-being and development beyond campus boundaries, so “social” is the correct term.

Option A:
Option A is correct because social responsibility emphasises the obligation of institutions to use their knowledge and resources for the public good, which is exactly what such community-oriented activities represent.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect since “purely commercial” responsibility would focus on profit-making transactions rather than service and community welfare.

Option C:
Option C is wrong because “military” responsibility relates to defence activities, which are not what literacy drives or health camps are about.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect as “electoral” responsibility would involve managing or influencing elections, not running educational or health campaigns for nearby communities.

A knowledge society is characterised by the central role of knowledge production, distribution and utilisation in economic and social life. Higher education, research institutions and innovation systems become key engines of development. The stem mentions creation, dissemination and application of knowledge as primary drivers of growth and social transformation, which corresponds exactly to the idea of a knowledge society. Therefore, Option D is the correct answer.

Option A:
In a knowledge society, investment in education, research and information technologies is crucial, and lifelong learning becomes a norm. This setting elevates the importance of universities and research centres, linking directly to themes in the Higher Education System unit.

Option B:
A service sector economy is defined by dominance of services in GDP but may or may not be driven by advanced knowledge and innovation. Thus, this option is too narrow and does not fully capture the concept described.

Option C:
A capital-intensive system highlights the use of large amounts of physical capital in production processes, which is a structural economic characteristic rather than a focus on knowledge creation and use. Hence, this option is not the best fit.

Option D:
A primary producing society relies mainly on agriculture and extraction of natural resources. While knowledge matters everywhere, such economies are not defined primarily by knowledge-driven growth, so this option does not match the description in the stem.

When universities undertake outreach activities to improve literacy, health or environmental conditions in surrounding communities, they are fulfilling their social responsibility. These actions reflect a commitment to public welfare beyond teaching and research, so “social” responsibility completes the stem correctly.

Option A:
Option A is correct because social responsibility refers to institutions using their knowledge and resources to help society, which is precisely what such community-oriented projects demonstrate.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as “profit-making” highlights revenue generation, whereas the focus here is service to the community rather than financial gain.

Option C:
Option C is wrong because “military” responsibility would relate to defence and security functions, not community literacy or health camps.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect since “electoral” responsibility concerns election conduct or political campaigning, which is not what the listed university projects are about.

Statements B, C and D correctly describe how higher education supports a knowledge society. B is true because universities and colleges produce research, generate skilled graduates and disseminate advanced knowledge. C is correct as ICT and digital platforms accelerate the production and spread of information. D is also true since knowledge societies depend on continuous upskilling and lifelong learning. A is false because higher education is central, not marginal, to innovation and development in a knowledge-based order. Thus the right combination is B, C and D only.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it includes only B and C and omits D, which highlights lifelong learning as a core characteristic of knowledge societies. Without D, the description remains partial.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it collects all three valid statements and excludes A, which wrongly minimises higher education’s role. The option therefore captures research, technology and lifelong learning as interlinked dimensions of a knowledge society.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it selects only C and D and leaves out B. Neglecting the institutional role of higher education in producing research and skilled manpower weakens the explanation of how a knowledge society functions.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it treats all four statements as correct and would thereby accept A’s claim that higher education is marginal. Since this contradicts the centrality of higher education in a knowledge economy, the option is invalid.

Statements A and C correctly highlight how higher education supports social cohesion. Statement A is true because campuses bring together learners from different regions, cultures and communities, creating opportunities for interaction and integration. Statement C is also true since extension and outreach activities connect institutions with communities and strengthen social bonds. Statements B and D are false; institutions explicitly promote constitutional values and engage with social issues through teaching, research and outreach. Therefore, the combination that includes A and C only is correct.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it selects the two statements that genuinely reflect the integrative and community-oriented role of higher education. It correctly excludes B and D, which wrongly suggest that institutions have no role in values or societal engagement. This option matches the accepted functions of higher education in building social cohesion.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because, although it includes the correct statements A and C, it also includes B, which claims that institutions play no role in promoting constitutional values. That claim is clearly wrong, as many courses, activities and codes explicitly support such values. Including a false statement makes the combination invalid.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it includes B, which is false, and omits A, which is true. By ignoring the integrative role of diverse student populations while accepting that institutions play no role in constitutional values, this option contradicts the broader educational mandate.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it treats all four statements as correct. This would imply that higher education both supports and disconnects from social issues at the same time, which is logically inconsistent and factually wrong.