2020 CSAT, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2020 · CSAT

Question 63: Reading Comprehension

Passage—2 · as printed by UPSC
Passage beginning “India has tremendous potential for solar…”Passage beginning “India has tremendous potential for solar…”

With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made :

  1. 1.Governments often provide inefficient and costly subsidies for technologies that may not be ready in the near future.
  2. 2.India's commitment of reducing emissions by 33% by 2030 shall be on the basis of gas-based economy.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

a1 only
b2 only
cBoth 1 and 2
dNeither 1 nor 2

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

The passage says the government has set an emissions target, is pushing a gas-based economy and is also investing heavily in renewables, while business is cautious about unready technology. Assumption 2 narrows the target to a gas route alone, which the passage does not say, since renewables are part of the plan. UPSC counts assumption 1 as valid: it generalises the passage's point that pushing immature technology can be costly.

  • 1. Counted valid by UPSC: the passage warns of the cost of backing technology before it is ready.
  • 2. The target is backed by both a gas push and renewable investment.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) and (d) go: each of them leaves 1 out.

    What you needed to know: Counted valid by UPSC: the passage warns of the cost of backing technology before it is ready.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (c) goes: it includes 2.

    What you needed to know: The target is backed by both a gas push and renewable investment.

Only (a) is left. This one needs every statement.

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) Right per UPSC: 1 is valid, 2 is not.
  • (b) 2 is not valid: the passage names renewables along with gas.
  • (c) 2 is not valid, so both cannot be valid.
  • (d) 1 is counted valid, so saying neither is valid is wrong.

Worth knowing: The passage speaks of the cost of unready technology, not of subsidies, so statement 1 goes beyond it; UPSC's key still counts it valid.

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.