2017 CSAT, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2017 · CSAT

Question 64: Reading Comprehension

Passage—4 · as printed by UPSC
Passage beginning “The medium term challenge for Indian…”

Which among the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?

aIndia’s GDP displays high value-added and high productivity levels in medium tech and resource processing industries.
bPromotion of capital and technology intensive manufacturing is not possible in India.
cIndia should push up the public investments and encourage the private investments in research and development, technology upgradation and skill development.
dIndia has already gained a great share in global markets in sectors showing a rising trend in demand.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).

The passage says the medium-term task is to move manufacturing up: to higher technology, higher value added and higher productivity, and to capture world demand in rising sectors that are high-tech and capital-intensive. The logical corollary is that India must invest, publicly and privately, in research, technology upgrading and skills. Options claiming India already has high value-added medium-tech output, cannot promote such manufacturing, or already holds a large global share reverse the passage.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) The passage calls for moving up the value-added ladder, so India does not yet show high levels.
  • (b) Nothing says capital and technology intensive manufacturing is impossible; it is the goal.
  • (c) Correct: reaching high-tech, high-productivity manufacturing needs investment in R&D, technology and skills.
  • (d) The passage says India needs to capture those markets, not that it already has.

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.