UPSC Prelims 2020 CSAT Paper II · Q22 of 80 Comprehension medium

Passage

Passage—2 Many opportunities to harness the highly skewed, seasonal and spatial distribution of monsoon flows, which occur in a four-month period from June to September annually, have been lost. Since these few months account for most of the rainfall and consequent freshwater availability, the need for holding rainwater in reservoirs, for subsequently releasing it for use over the year, is a necessity nobody can afford to overlook. Climate change will continue to affect weather conditions and create water shortages and excesses. While millions suffer

With reference to the above passage, which of the following could be the most rational and practical implications for India? 1. Inter-linking of rivers should be undertaken. 2. A network of dams and canals should be built across the country for proper distribution of water. 3. Farmers should be provided easy loans for digging borewells. 4. Usage of water for agriculture should be regulated by law. 5. Distribution of river water among regions should be regulated by the Union Government. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. (a) 1 and 2 ✓ UPSC's answer
  2. (b) 2, 4 and 5
  3. (c) 1, 3 and 4
  4. (d) 2, 3 and 5

Why the answer is (a)

• The passage states that monsoon flows are highly skewed, seasonal and spatial, occurring in a four-month period from June to September annually.

• Because most rainfall and freshwater availability occur in these few months, the passage says rainwater must be held in reservoirs and released for use over the year.

• Statement 1, inter-linking of rivers, addresses the spatial skewness by moving water from surplus regions to deficit regions.

• Statement 2, a network of dams and canals, addresses the seasonal skewness by storing monsoon water and distributing it over the year.

• Statements 3, 4 and 5 are not directly implied by the passage’s central point about storing and distributing monsoon water through infrastructure.

• Therefore, only statements 1 and 2 are the most rational and practical implications, so option (a) is correct.

Why the other options are wrong

(b) 2, 4 and 5
Option (b) is wrong because it includes statements 4 and 5, which are regulatory measures not directly implied by the passage’s emphasis on storing and distributing monsoon water.
(c) 1, 3 and 4
Option (c) is wrong because it includes statement 3, which promotes borewell digging and groundwater extraction rather than the passage’s required storage and distribution of surface monsoon water.
(d) 2, 3 and 5
Option (d) is wrong because it includes statements 3 and 5, neither of which follows from the passage’s focus on reservoirs, dams, canals and river inter-linking.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2020, held on 4 October 2020. 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.

Practise this paper free