UPSC Prelims 2018 CSAT Paper II · Q7 of 58 Comprehension medium

Passage

Global population was around 1·6 billion in 1990—today it is around 7·2 billion and growing. Recent estimates on population growth predict a global population of 9·6 billion in 2050 and 10·9 billion in 2100. Unlike Europe and North America, where only three to four per cent of population is engaged in agriculture, around 47 per cent of India's population is dependent upon agriculture. Even if India continues to do well in the service sector and the manufacturing sector picks up, it is expected that around 2030 when India overtakes China as the world's most populous country, nearly 42 per cent of India's population will still be predominantly dependent on agriculture.

Which of the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?

  1. (a) Prosperity of agriculture sector is of critical importance to India. ✓ UPSC's answer
  2. (b) Indian economy greatly depends on its agriculture.
  3. (c) India should take strict measures to control its rapid population growth.
  4. (d) India's farming communities should switch over to other occupations to improve their economic conditions.

Why the answer is (a)

• The passage highlights that while global population is growing, a disproportionately large share of India's population (47% currently, projected 42% by 2030) depends on agriculture, unlike Europe and North America where only 3-4% are engaged in it.

• This high dependency implies that the livelihood of a vast majority of Indians is directly tied to the performance of the agricultural sector.

• Therefore, the economic well-being and stability of India are critically linked to the prosperity of this sector, making its success essential for the nation.

• Option (a) is the most logical inference because it connects the high percentage of population dependent on agriculture to the critical importance of the sector's prosperity for the country.

Why the other options are wrong

(b) Indian economy greatly depends on its agriculture.
The passage states that the population depends on agriculture, not that the overall Indian economy (which includes services and manufacturing) greatly depends on it.
(c) India should take strict measures to control its rapid population growth.
The passage mentions population growth statistics but does not suggest that controlling population growth is the solution to the agricultural dependency issue.
(d) India's farming communities should switch over to other occupations to improve their…
The passage does not recommend that farming communities switch occupations; it only notes the high percentage of people dependent on agriculture.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2018, held on 3 June 2018. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

Reading the answer is not the same as getting it right under a clock. Practise this question with UPSC's negative marking, and anything you miss goes into an error notebook until you get it right twice.

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