UPSC Prelims 2016 · CSAT

Question 41: Reading Comprehension

Passage beginning “By killing transparency and competition,…” — Passage-1 · as printed by UPSC

Which among the following is the most logical corollary to the above passage ?

aLaunching more welfare schemes and allocating more finances for the current schemes are urgently needed

bEfforts should be made to push up economic growth by other means and provide licences to the poor

cGreater transparency in the functioning of the government and promoting the financial inclusion are needed at present

dWe should concentrate more on developing manufacturing sector than service sector

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).

The passage says crony capitalism, with favours such as land, resources and licences handed out for payoffs, kills transparency and competition and slows growth. The logical corollary is the remedy that targets those two gaps: more transparency in how government works, and wider financial inclusion so that access to money and opportunity is not limited to the influential. Options on more welfare spending, favouring manufacturing over services, or licences for the poor do not follow from the problem described.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Spending on schemes is not tied to the problem of lost transparency and competition.
(b) Licences were part of the favours problem, so giving more is not a remedy.
(c) Right: it answers the loss of transparency and widens access beyond the influential few.
(d) The choice of sector is not the passage's concern.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2016, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.