UPSC Prelims 2020 · CSAT

Question 27: Reading Comprehension

Passage beginning “In India, agriculture still engages about half…” — Passage—5 · as printed by UPSC

Which one of the following statements best reflects the critical message of the passage?

aIndia should create large-scale off-farm rural employment to reduce poverty in the near future.

bIndia should create a large number of farmer producer companies.

cPrivate investment in agriculture should be given priority over public investment.

dInclusive agricultural growth is key to reduce poverty in the near future.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).

The passage contrasts India's slow farm and rural transformation with that of China and Vietnam, ties the faster fall in poverty after 2005 to farm prices, investment, farm growth and wages, and ends with the unprecedented drop in poverty. Its critical message is that growth in agriculture, which employs about half the workforce and is dominated by small farms, is the route to cutting poverty quickly. Off-farm jobs, producer companies and private-over-public priority are not what it argues.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Off-farm employment is not discussed; the evidence is about agriculture.
(b) Farmer producer companies are not mentioned.
(c) The passage reports private investment rising but never ranks it above public investment.
(d) Right: farm growth reaching a workforce of mostly small farmers is what cut poverty.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2020, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.