UPSC Prelims 2017 · CSAT

Question 6: Reading Comprehension

Passage beginning “By 2020, when the global economy is…” — Passage—6 · as printed by UPSC

Which of the following is the most rational inference from the above passage?

aIndia must control its population growth so as to reduce its unemployment rate.

bLabour reforms are required in India to make optimum use of its vast labour force productively.

cIndia is poised to achieve the double-digit growth very soon.

dIndia is capable of supplying the skilled young people to other countries.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

The passage sets a large youth surplus against weak job creation: employment growth has slowed to 0.5 per cent a year, about 14 million jobs were added when the labour force grew by about 15 million, and 93 per cent of workers are in the unorganised sector. Labour reforms are cited as the route to faster growth. The rational inference is that reforms are needed to use this workforce productively. Population control and imminent double-digit growth are not argued.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) The youth surplus is treated as an opportunity; the passage never calls for population control.
(b) Correct: weak job creation and a mostly unorganised workforce point to labour reforms to use the workforce productively.
(c) Reforms are said to be cited as a way to unlock such growth; nothing says India is about to achieve it.
(d) The shortage of young people abroad is context, not the conclusion; the passage is about using India's own workforce.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2017, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.