2021 CSAT, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2021 · CSAT

Question 24: Reading Comprehension

Passage – 4 · as printed by UPSC
Passage beginning “A central message of modern development…”

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

  1. 1.Rising GDP is essential for a country to be a developed country.
  2. 2.Rising GDP guarantees a reasonable distribution of income to all households.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid ?

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

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).

The passage says development thinking puts growth in national income, measured by GDP, at its centre, that in theory such growth creates jobs and investment, and that higher incomes let households and governments spend on things that improve life. It does not say rising GDP is essential for being developed, only that it is the usual yardstick. Nor does it say GDP growth ensures fair distribution of income. So neither assumption is valid. Remember: 'important' or 'central' in a passage is not the same as 'essential', and growth does not guarantee fair sharing.

  • 1. The passage calls GDP growth central to development thinking, not essential for development.
  • 2. Distribution of income among households is not discussed.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes 1.

    What you needed to know: The passage calls GDP growth central to development thinking, not essential for development.

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

    What you needed to know: Distribution of income among households is not discussed.

Only (d) 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) 1 turns the importance of GDP into a necessity for being developed, which the passage does not state.
  • (b) 2 claims a guarantee of fair income distribution; the passage says nothing on distribution.
  • (c) Neither assumption is supported, so both cannot be valid.
  • (d) Right: the passage stops short of both claims.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2021, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.