UPSC Prelims 2023 · CSAT
Question 31: Reading Comprehension
Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made :
- 1.Collection, processing and segregation of municipal waste should be with government agencies.
- 2.Resource recovery and recycling require technological inputs that can be best handled by private sector enterprises.
Which of the assumptions given above is/are correct ?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).
The passage says households rarely segregate waste, informal workers do most of the recycling, and most of the municipal budget goes on collection and transport, leaving little for processing and recovery. Waste-to-energy comes after segregation, collection and recycling. It never says government agencies should handle collection, processing and segregation, nor that private firms are best placed for recovery and recycling. Neither assumption is supported, so neither is valid.
- 1. The passage gives no view on who should collect, process or segregate waste.
- 2. It never says recovery technology is best handled by private firms.
How you could have got this
- 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 gives no view on who should collect, process or segregate waste.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) goes: it includes 2.
What you needed to know: It never says recovery technology is best handled by private firms.
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) Wrong: assumption 1 is not stated or implied.
- (b) Wrong: assumption 2 is not stated or implied.
- (c) Wrong: neither assumption is supported.
- (d) Right: the passage takes no view on who should do these tasks.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2023, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.