UPSC Prelims 2019 · CSAT
Question 27: Reading Comprehension
With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made :
- 1.Making equality of opportunity a reality is the fundamental goal of the Indian education system.
- 2.The present Indian school system is unable to provide egalitarian education.
- 3.Abolition of private schools and establishment of more government schools is the only way to ensure egalitarian education.
Which of the above assumptions is/are valid ?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
The passage says access to schooling is nearly universal but access to quality varies sharply with socio-economic status, so the system does not deliver egalitarian education: assumption 2. Assumption 1 fails because the passage says equality of opportunity as the main goal seems alien to private-school heads; it does not call it the system's fundamental goal. Assumption 3, that abolishing private schools is the only way, is never suggested.
- 1. Equality of opportunity is described as an idea private schools resist, not as the system's fundamental goal.
- 2. Quality of schooling varies sharply with socio-economic status.
- 3. No abolition of private schools is suggested, and 'only way' is unsupported.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) goes: it includes 1.
What you needed to know: Equality of opportunity is described as an idea private schools resist, not as the system's fundamental goal.
- Then, if you were sure statement 3 is not correct, (c) and (d) go: each of them includes 3.
What you needed to know: No abolition of private schools is suggested, and 'only way' is unsupported.
Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statement 2.
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: 1 is not stated as the system's goal.
- (b) Right: unequal access to quality shows the system falls short of egalitarian education.
- (c) Wrong: 3 is not proposed, and 'only way' is unsupported.
- (d) Wrong: 3 is not supported.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2019, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.