2024 CSAT, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2024 · CSAT

Question 11: Reading Comprehension

Passage—1 · as printed by UPSC
Passage beginning “Today, if we consider cities such…”

Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?

aCurriculum for urban planning courses should have diverse and interdisciplinary approach.
bIn India, city administration is under bureaucracy which lacks formal training in urban planning and management.
cIn India, the management of urban areas is a local affair with a chronic problem of insufficient funds.
dWith high density of population and widespread poverty in our urban areas, planned development in them is very difficult.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

The passage notes that the famous Western cities were planned with a systems approach, and that the West's planning education grew out of the social sciences, geography and architecture and absorbed mathematics, computing and statistics. The point it builds towards is that planning education needs a broad, many-discipline curriculum, which is option (a). The other options bring in bureaucracy, funding, or poverty and density, none of which the passage discusses.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Right. The passage credits Western planning education's success to a curriculum drawing on many disciplines.
  • (b) Wrong. The passage says nothing about bureaucrats or their lack of training.
  • (c) Wrong. Local management and shortage of funds are not discussed.
  • (d) Wrong. Population density and poverty are not mentioned, and the passage does not call planning difficult.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2024, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.