What is the most logical and crucial message conveyed by the passage?
aUrban local bodies must recover costs through user charges.
bUrban local bodies are not efficient enough to meet the water requirements of our cities.
cWater shortage in our cities is a perennial problem that cannot be solved.
dIn view of the water crisis in our cities, there is an urgent need to limit the population of cities by adopting an upper limit of population size.
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).
The passage lists the costs of delivering urban water: drawing it from a source, treating it, piping it, and building sewers and treatment plants. Cities are not rich enough to meet this whole cost, so water cannot be free. The crux is that sustainable delivery needs financing, which points to recovering costs from users. The passage says nothing on efficiency, population limits, or the problem being unsolvable.
Why each option is right or wrong
(a) Right: costs are heavy and cities cannot bear them all, so financing through cost recovery is the message.
(b) Efficiency of local bodies is not the issue raised; their funding is.
(c) The passage says financing is needed, not that the problem cannot be solved.
(d) Population limits are never mentioned.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
