2024 CSAT, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2024 · CSAT

Question 12: Reading Comprehension

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

Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made :

  1. 1.India needs a new generation of urban professionals with knowledge relevant to modern urban practice.
  2. 2.Indian universities at present have no capacity or potential to impart training in systems approach.

Which of the assumptions given above is/are correct?

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

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

Assumption 1 is valid: the passage contrasts Indian planning education with the West's, whose professionals were trained in a systems approach, which implies India needs professionals trained in current methods. Assumption 2 is too strong: saying Indian universities have no capacity or potential at all is not supported, since the passage only says Indian planning and its education differ from the West's. In assumption questions, absolute claims (no, none, only) are usually invalid.

  • 1. The contrast with Western training implies India needs professionals with modern, systems-based knowledge.
  • 2. Too absolute; the passage does not say Indian universities lack the capacity or potential.

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: The contrast with Western training implies India needs professionals with modern, systems-based knowledge.

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

    What you needed to know: Too absolute; the passage does not say Indian universities lack the capacity or potential.

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. Only assumption 1 is supported by the passage.
  • (b) Wrong. Assumption 2 claims no capacity or potential at all, which the passage never says.
  • (c) Wrong. Assumption 2 is unsupported.
  • (d) Wrong. Assumption 1 is a fair implication of the contrast with Western planning education.

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.