UPSC Prelims 2019 CSAT Paper II · Q27 of 79 Comprehension medium

Passage

Passage - 5 Access to schooling for those coming of school age is close to universal, but access to quality exhibits a sharp gradient with socio-economic status. Quotas for the weaker sections in private schools is a provision introduced by the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. The quotas have imposed a debate on issues of social integration and equity in education that private actors had escaped by and large. The idea of egalitarian education system with equality of opportunity as its primary goal appears to be outside the space that private school principals inhabit. Therefore, the imposition of the quotas has led to resistance, sometimes justified.

With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made : 1. Making equality of opportunity a reality is the fundamental goal of the Indian education system. 2. The present Indian school system is unable to provide egalitarian education. 3. Abolition of private schools and establishment of more government schools is the only way to ensure egalitarian education. Which of the above assumptions is/are valid ?

  1. (a) 1 and 2 only
  2. (b) 2 only ✓ UPSC's answer
  3. (c) 2 and 3 only
  4. (d) 3 only

Why the answer is (b)

• Assumption 1 is invalid because the passage states that the idea of an egalitarian system with equality of opportunity is 'outside the space that private school principals inhabit,' implying it is not currently the fundamental goal or reality of the system, but rather an ideal being imposed.

• Assumption 2 is valid because the passage explicitly notes that access to quality education exhibits a 'sharp gradient with socio-economic status' and that private actors had largely escaped issues of social integration and equity, indicating the current system fails to provide egalitarian education.

• Assumption 3 is invalid because the passage discusses the 'imposition of quotas' in private schools as a mechanism to address equity, not the abolition of private schools; it mentions resistance to quotas, not a call for their removal.

• Therefore, only Assumption 2 is supported by the text, making option (b) the correct answer.

Why the other options are wrong

(a) 1 and 2 only
Assumption 1 is incorrect because the passage suggests equality of opportunity is an external imposition on private schools, not their inherent fundamental goal.
(c) 2 and 3 only
Assumption 3 is incorrect because the passage advocates for quotas within private schools, not their abolition in favor of government schools.
(d) 3 only
Assumption 3 is incorrect as the text does not suggest abolishing private schools, and Assumption 2 is also valid, making this option incomplete.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2019, held on 2 June 2019. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

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