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Q67 (IAS/2021) Polity & Governance › Constitutional Basics & Evolution › Definition of State Official Key

Which one of the following best defines the term 'State'?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 1 because it aligns with the classic sociological and political definition of a 'State', specifically the four essential elements formulated by scholars like J.W. Garner.

According to political theory, a State must possess four indispensable components:

  • Population: A community of persons.
  • Territory: A definite geographical area.
  • Government: An organized political agency to exercise control.
  • Sovereignty: The most crucial element, implying independence from external control and supreme internal authority.

Option 1 is the most comprehensive as it explicitly includes "independence of external control" (Sovereignty), which distinguishes a 'State' from a 'Nation' or a 'Government'. Option 2 focuses on functions rather than essential attributes. Option 3 describes an ethnic or cultural 'Nation'. Option 4 describes a specific constitutional structure (separation of powers) rather than the universal definition of a State.

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PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Which one of the following best defines the term 'State'? [A] A community of persons permanently occupying a definite territory independ…
At a glance
Origin: Mixed / unclear origin Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 7.5/10 · 0/10
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This is a classic Political Theory question derived directly from the conceptual foundations laid in NCERT Class XI (Political Theory). It tests the 'Max Weber' or 'Montevideo' definition of a State. The strategy is simple: Master the definitions of core terms (State, Nation, Liberty, Rights) from NCERTs, as UPSC now prioritizes conceptual clarity over rote article memorization.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Is the term "State" in political science defined as "a community of persons permanently occupying a definite territory independent of external control and possessing an organized government"?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: WORKING OF INSTITUTIONS > 4.4 THE JUDICIARY > p. 71
Presence: 5/5
“State: Political association occupying a definite territory, having an organised government and possessing power to make domestic and foreign policies. Governments may change, but the state continues. In common speech, the terms country, nation and state are used as synonyms.”
Why this source?
  • Gives a concise definition: political association occupying a definite territory and having an organised government.
  • Specifies continuity of the state despite changes in government and mentions power over domestic and foreign policies (implying sovereignty).
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > State Reorganisation > p. 12
Presence: 3/5
“Independence in 1947. Thus during its long history of over 5000 years, India was never identified as a single state in the modern sense of the term. Interestingly enough, "neither the Mauryas, nor the Guptas, nor the Mughals, nor the British at the height of their power, exercised sovereignty over the whole of India's territory" (Pannikar, 1964). The British, after extending the political limits of their possession of 'India' to the traditional limits of the subcontinent, tried to bring about political stability in the area, and thus brought a 'definiteness about the idea of India' (Spate and Learmonth—1967). The boundaries, except for parts of the Greater Himalayas in the north were fixed.”
Why this source?
  • Discusses the fixing of boundaries and the idea of definiteness about a territory, supporting the 'definite territory' element.
  • Places territorial definiteness in historical and political context relevant to state identity.
Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Globalisation > The Concept of Globalisation > p. 104
Presence: 3/5
“continues to be the unchallenged basis of political community. The old jealousies and rivalries between countries have not ceased to matter in world politics. The state continues to discharge its essential functions (law and order, national security) and consciously withdraws from certain domains from which it wishes to. States continue to be important. Indeed, in some respects state capacity has received a boost as a consequence of globalisation, with enhanced technologies available at the disposal of the state to collect information about its citizens. With this information, the state is better able to rule, not less able. Thus, states become more powerful than they were earlier as an outcome of the new technology.”
Why this source?
  • Emphasises the state's continued role in essential functions such as law and order and national security, supporting the organised government aspect.
  • Notes state capacity and ability to act through policy and technology, aligning with functional sovereignty.
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