GATE EC 2016 Set 2 — Question 7

Let's analyze each statement based on the provided text: The text states: "conventional ways of knowledge production have become obsolete." This refers to the ways of knowledge production, not the social science disciplines themselves. Therefore, this statement cannot be directly inferred. The text says: "Social science disciplines were in existence in an amorphous form until the colonial period when they were institutionalized." The phrase "until the colonial period" implies that they existed before the colonial period, even if not in an institutionalized form. Therefore, this statement can be logically inferred. The text states: "In varying degrees, they were intended to further the colonial interest." This indicates that during the colonial period, they served colonial interests to some extent. However, it does not imply that they always promote colonialism, especially considering the context of "economic rise of postcolonial countries" and "conventional ways of knowledge production have become obsolete." Therefore, this statement cannot be logically inferred. The text discusses the historical development and current obsolescence of certain knowledge production methods but does not provide any information or argument about the necessity for social science to maintain disciplinary boundaries. Therefore, this statement cannot be logically inferred.Based on the analysis, only statement (ii) can be logically inferred from the given text.The final answer is $\boxed{\text{A}}$