UPSC Prelims 2009 · General Studies
Question 76: Economy and Social Development
Consider the following statements :
- 1.Infant mortality rate takes into account the death of infants within a month after birth.
- 2.Infant mortality rate is the number of infant deaths in a particular year, per 100 live births during that year.
Which of the above statements is/are correct ?
AnswerThe answer is (d).
Both statements are wrong. The infant mortality rate counts deaths of infants under one year of age, not just the first month; deaths in the first 28 days make up the neonatal mortality rate. It is also expressed per 1,000 live births in a year, not per 100.
- 1. IMR covers deaths in the first year; the first month is the neonatal rate.
- 2. IMR is per 1,000 live births, not 100.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes 1.
What you needed to know: IMR covers deaths in the first year; the first month is the neonatal rate.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) goes: it includes 2.
What you needed to know: IMR is per 1,000 live births, not 100.
Only (d) is left. This one needs every statement.
This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong: IMR covers the whole first year, not only the first month.
- (b) Wrong: IMR is per 1,000 live births, not 100.
- (c) Wrong: both statements are false.
- (d) Right: both statements are wrong.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2009, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.