Q. One common agreement between Gandhism and Marxism is (UPSC Prelims 2020)
Answer: the final goal of a stateless society
Notes: The correct answer is [A] the final goal of a stateless society. While Gandhi and Marx had fundamentally different methods and underlying philosophies, they converged on the ultimate vision of an ideal social order.

• Stateless Society (Statement A – Correct): Both Mahatma Gandhi and Karl Marx envisioned an ultimate stage of human evolution where the state would no longer be necessary. For Marx, this was the "communist society" where the state withers away after the elimination of classes. For Gandhi, it was "Ramrajya" or "Enlightened Anarchy," where individuals are so self-regulated and morally upright that state coercion becomes redundant.
• Class Struggle (Statement B – Incorrect): This is a core pillar of Marxism, which views history as a series of conflicts between the oppressor and the oppressed. Gandhi, however, believed in Class Collaboration and "Satyagraha," aiming to resolve conflicts through non-violence and the change of heart of the oppressor.
• Abolition of Private Property (Statement C – Incorrect): Marxism calls for the complete abolition of private property and the social ownership of the means of production. Gandhi did not advocate for the legal abolition of private property; instead, he proposed the Doctrine of Trusteeship, where the wealthy would hold their property as "trustees" for the benefit of society.
• Economic Determinism (Statement D – Incorrect): This is a purely Marxist concept (Historical Materialism), suggesting that the economic structure of society determines its social and political consciousness. Gandhi gave primacy to moral and spiritual values over material and economic forces.

Historically, the two ideologies differ most sharply on the "means"—Marxism accepts the necessity of violent revolution to overthrow the state, while Gandhism remains rooted in absolute non-violence (Ahimsa).