UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Academic inbreeding refers to the tendency of institutions to hire their own graduates for academic positions, sometimes repeatedly across generations. While this can preserve institutional traditions, it may also reduce intellectual diversity and innovation. The stem describes exactly this practice of appointing one’s own graduates and limiting diversity, which is known as academic inbreeding. Hence, Option B is the correct answer.

Option A:
Inbreeding can lead to a closed intellectual environment resistant to new ideas and external influences. Many higher education reform discussions recommend balanced recruitment policies to avoid its negative effects. These points are consistent with the problem described in the question.

Option B:
Expansion refers to increasing the number of institutions or enrolments and is not specifically tied to appointing one’s own graduates. Therefore, Option A is not appropriate.

Option C:
Diffusion suggests spreading ideas or innovations, which is almost the opposite of the closure associated with inbreeding. It does not capture the problem highlighted, so Option C is incorrect.

Option D:
Outsourcing relates to contracting external agencies to perform services and has no direct connection to the internal faculty recruitment pattern described here. Thus, Option D is not suitable.

Ritual communication emphasises the role of symbolic actions in maintaining social order and shared values. Convocations and oaths express continuity,belonging and institutional identity. The primary aim is not information transfer but participation in a shared ceremony. Thus the function is ritual.

Option A:
Instrumental communication is directed at achieving practical tasks,rather than reaffirming values.

Option B:
Ritual actions mark transitions and collective identity,making this option appropriate.

Option C:
Phatic communication involves everyday small talk,which differs from formal ceremonies.

Option D:
Entertainment focuses on enjoyment,while rituals emphasise meaning and solidarity.

Statements A, C and D are correct, whereas B is incorrect. A is true because classroom communication emerges from the dynamic interplay of teacher, learners, subject matter and physical setting. C is true since students’ facial expressions, posture and eye contact provide continuous non-verbal feedback to the teacher. D is true as rules, norms and institutional culture shape what can be said, how it is said and who speaks. B is false because student talk, peer interaction and even silence or non-verbal responses are all part of classroom communication, not only teacher talk.

Option A:
Option A includes A and C only and omits D, overlooking the impact of institutional policies and culture on classroom interaction. While A and C are accurate, this option does not fully capture the systemic nature of classroom communication. Therefore A and C only is incomplete and cannot be accepted.

Option B:
Option B correctly groups A, C and D, recognising the interactive system among participants and the influence of feedback and institutional context. It excludes B, which narrowly restricts communication to teacher talk. Since it contains all and only the true statements, A, C and D only is the correct answer.

Option C:
Option C brings together C and D only and leaves out A, ignoring the explicit statement that classroom communication arises from interaction among teacher, students, content and environment. Because A is also correct, C and D only does not represent the full set of accurate statements. Hence this option is not valid.

Option D:
Option D treats all four statements as correct, including B, which wrongly excludes student contributions from communication. The presence of this false statement alongside correct ones makes the combination logically inconsistent. Consequently A, B, C and D cannot be chosen.