GATE CS 2014 Set 2 Q.1 (GA Q.1): Verbal Ability and Grammar

Choose the most appropriate phrase from the options given below to complete the following sentence.

India is a post-colonial country because

it was a former British colony

Indian Information Technology professionals have colonized the world

India does not follow any colonial practices

India has helped other countries gain freedom

Official answer and solution

Solution

Recall the historical and political meaning of the term 'post-colonial'.

The prefix 'post-' indicates 'after', and 'colonial' refers to rule by a foreign imperial power.
In political science and historical usage, a post-colonial country is a nation that was once colonized by a foreign power (in India's case, the British Empire) and later achieved sovereign independence.
None of the other options define the geopolitical classification 'post-colonial'.

Therefore, India is a post-colonial country because it was a former British colony (option A).

Final answer

Common trap

Interpreting 'colonized' metaphorically as business or IT dominance rather than historical sovereignty.

The answer is the one in the official GATE answer key. The solution is this site's own explanation.

GATE questions are the work of the organising institutes. This site is independent and is not affiliated with them.