UPSC Prelims 2023 · CSAT

Question 13: Reading Comprehension

Passage beginning “Many people are not eating the right…” — Passage – 3 · as printed by UPSC

Which one of the following statements best reflects the crux of the passage ?

aThe scheme of Universal Basic Income should be implemented worldwide as a way of poverty alleviation.

bWe must place food-based nutrition at the centre of our policy debate.

cNutritional status of food should be improved by creating appropriate genetically modified crops.

dUsing modern food processing technologies, we must fortify food items with required nutrient elements.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

The passage says people eat poorly, through choice or through lack of access and affordability, causing rising non-communicable diseases that burden health systems and threaten economic progress. It blames food systems that fail to meet nutritional needs somewhere between farm and plate. Its crux is therefore that food-based nutrition should be central to policy. Universal basic income, genetically modified crops and fortification through processing are never raised.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Wrong: income support for the poor is not discussed.
(b) Right: food-based nutrition should be at the centre of policy debate.
(c) Wrong: genetically modified crops are never mentioned.
(d) Wrong: fortification and food processing are not mentioned.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2023, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.