UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Stratification denotes the creation of hierarchical layers in which some institutions enjoy much greater prestige and resources than others. The stem notes that rankings concentrate prestige and funding at the top, which is a classic example of stratification, so “stratification” is the correct completion.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because egalitarianism implies greater equality, the opposite of the unequal concentration described.

Option B:
Option B is correct as it captures the structured inequality that critics say rankings intensify by repeatedly rewarding already advantaged institutions.

Option C:
Option C is wrong since randomness would mean there is no stable pattern, whereas rankings explicitly order institutions in a hierarchy.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect as uniformity suggests that institutions become similar, not that a few accumulate disproportionate advantage.

Sex ratio measures the balance between females and males in a population,often expressed as females per thousand males. It helps reveal gender related patterns such as discrimination or selective survival. The stem reproduces this definition almost exactly,so sex ratio is the correct term. Therefore Option B is appropriate.

Option A:
Age ratio compares different age groups and relates to age structure,not female-to-male composition.

Option B:
Sex ratio is the standard demographic indicator for females per thousand males and is widely used to assess gender balance in populations.

Option C:
Dependency ratio compares dependants to working age people,not females to males.

Option D:
Literacy ratio is not the standard term for female-to-male counts and does not match the stem’s definition.

The concern expressed by critics is that global rankings create and deepen hierarchies in which a few institutions gain most of the prestige and resources. This hierarchical layering of advantage is known as stratification, so “stratification” correctly completes the statement.

Option A:
Option A is correct because stratification captures the systematic differentiation of institutions into high-status and low-status tiers, which rankings can intensify by channeling attention and funding to those already at the top.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect since “egalitarianism” implies equality and equal sharing of resources, the opposite of what critics attribute to rankings.

Option C:
Option C is wrong because “randomness” suggests the absence of pattern, whereas stratification refers to a structured and persistent hierarchy.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect as “uniformity” would mean that institutions become more alike, while the critique is that rankings accentuate differences and inequalities.

The digital divide highlights unequal access to devices, connectivity and digital skills, which can lead to broader social and economic inequalities. It is a major concern for policy makers seeking inclusive development. The phrase captures both physical access and the ability to use ICT effectively. Therefore, the gap described is known as the digital divide.

Option A:
Option A, digital bridge, would imply a mechanism to connect groups rather than the gap itself.

Option B:
Option B is correct because digital divide is the widely used term in ICT and development studies for describing disparities in access to technology.

Option C:
Option C, digital inclusion, refers to efforts and policies aimed at closing the divide rather than the inequality itself.

Option D:
Option D, digital surplus, would indicate an excess of digital resources, which is unrelated to inequitable access.

Stratification refers to the layering of institutions into hierarchies of prestige and resources, often resulting in unequal opportunities. Critics of global rankings argue that they intensify such stratification by favouring already well-resourced universities and influencing student choices and funding patterns. The stem points to concentration of prestige and resources, which is precisely the effect of stratification. Therefore, Option B is correct.

Option A:
Egalitarianism implies equality and reduction of hierarchies, which is the opposite of what critics claim rankings do. Therefore, Option A is incorrect.

Option B:
Option B is correct because the described concentration of prestige/resources creates hierarchical tiers—i.e., stratification.

Option C:
Randomness would imply prestige and resources are distributed without pattern, which contradicts the systematic hierarchies associated with rankings. Thus, Option C is incorrect.

Option D:
Uniformity would mean institutions become more alike, but the criticism is that rankings widen gaps between tiers. Rankings promote differentiation, not uniformity. Therefore, Option D is incorrect.

Statements A, B and D are correct because they show that disasters affect people differently based on social conditions and that community-based approaches can build resilience. Statement C is incorrect; it treats disasters as purely natural when in fact social and economic factors shape who is most affected. Thus, the combination including A, B and D only, and excluding C, is the correct set of statements.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because although A and B are true, it leaves out D, which correctly emphasises the importance of community-based disaster risk reduction. Without D, the option does not fully reflect approaches to reducing vulnerability.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as it includes B and D but omits A. While B and D are true, A is also correct in recognising that marginalised groups are often more vulnerable. Leaving out A makes the combination incomplete.

Option C:
Option C is correct because it brings together A, B and D, all of which align with the social science understanding of disasters as interacting with inequalities. It also properly excludes C, which wrongly denies the role of social and economic conditions.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect since it groups A, C and D and treats C as true. The presence of C, which mischaracterises disasters as purely natural, makes the whole combination unacceptable despite including two correct statements.

The digital divide highlights disparities in access to devices, connectivity and digital skills across social groups or regions. These differences can reinforce existing inequalities in education, employment and civic participation. Policymakers emphasise closing the digital divide as part of inclusive development strategies. Therefore, the inequality described in the stem is termed the digital divide.

Option A:
Option A is correct because the phrase digital divide is widely used in ICT and social policy discourse to describe unequal access and use, distinguishing information-rich and information-poor groups.

Option B:
Option B, euphoria gap, is not a recognised concept in ICT studies and does not capture structural disparities in access.

Option C:
Option C, software loop, suggests a programming construct rather than a social phenomenon.

Option D:
Option D, bandwidth ring, could refer to a network topology or capacity but does not describe the broader socio-economic gap mentioned in the question.

The Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesises an inverted U-shaped relationship between certain pollutants and per capita income. At low income levels,environmental degradation rises with growth but beyond a turning point it begins to fall. The stem describes exactly this pattern,worsening then improving with income,which defines the Kuznets curve. Therefore Option A is correct.

Option A:
Kuznets originally proposed a similar inverted U for income inequality,which inspired the application to environmental issues. The environmental version retains his name,matching the term requested in the question.

Option B:
The Laffer curve relates tax rates to tax revenue and does not directly address environment-income relationships. So Option B is not relevant here.

Option C:
The Gini coefficient is an inequality measure,not a curve describing environment versus income. It plays a different role in development analysis,so Option C is incorrect.

Option D:
The Engel curve describes how household expenditure on a good varies with income. It is unrelated to the environmental degradation pattern mentioned in the stem,so Option D does not fit.

Stratification refers to the layering of institutions into hierarchies of status and resources. Global rankings often elevate a small group of universities to “world-class” status, attracting more funding and talent to them. The stem describes this concentration effect, which is precisely the concern about stratification. Therefore, Option B is correct.

Option A:
Egalitarianism stands for equality and a reduction of hierarchies, which is the opposite of what critics fear rankings may cause. Thus, this option does not match the argument in the stem.

Option B:
Stratification captures the creation or deepening of unequal tiers among institutions. Rankings can legitimise and intensify these tiers, making this concept the best fit for the question.

Option C:
Randomness would imply that prestige and resources are distributed without pattern, which contradicts the systematic ordering created by rankings. Hence, this option is incorrect.

Option D:
Uniformity suggests that institutions become similar, whereas the critique focuses on widening gaps between a privileged few and the rest. Therefore, this option cannot complete the statement properly.

The digital divide describes disparities in access to devices, connectivity and digital skills across social and geographic groups. This gap can reinforce existing economic and educational inequalities. Policy efforts often focus on reducing the digital divide through infrastructure and training programmes. Thus, the missing word in the phrase is divide.

Option A:
Option A is correct because the widely used term digital divide precisely captures the inequality in ICT access highlighted in the stem. It is a key concept in ICT and development discussions.

Option B:
Option B, literacy, refers to the ability to read, write or use digital tools, and while related, it does not complete the standard phrase used in the literature.

Option C:
Option C, footprint, is associated with the data trail left by users online and not with inequality in access.

Option D:
Option D, piracy, concerns unauthorised copying of software or digital media and does not describe gaps in access to ICT.