Which one of the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?
- (a) Rivers and other wetlands should be protected under Ramsar Convention.
- (b) Engineering water systems should be modernized and further augmented.
- (c) Wetlands need to be reinforced as more than just open sources of water. ✓ UPSC's answer
- (d) Water supply should not be free of cost so as to prevent its misuse or overuse.
Why the answer is (c)
• The passage highlights the irony that water is viewed as divorced from its natural sources, such as rivers and wetlands, despite originating from them.
• It argues that current public policy treats water merely as a resource, failing to recognize it as an integral part of the natural ecosystem.
• Consequently, engineering efforts focus on augmenting supply rather than strengthening the ecological capacities of these systems.
• Therefore, the logical inference is that wetlands must be recognized and reinforced as ecological entities, not just as open sources of water.
• This aligns with option (c), which calls for reinforcing wetlands beyond their function as water sources.
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) Rivers and other wetlands should be protected under Ramsar Convention.
- The passage does not mention the Ramsar Convention or specific legal protection frameworks.
- (b) Engineering water systems should be modernized and further augmented.
- The passage criticizes the focus on augmenting water supply through engineering, rather than supporting further augmentation.
- (d) Water supply should not be free of cost so as to prevent its misuse or overuse.
- The passage does not discuss pricing mechanisms or cost-based strategies to prevent water misuse.
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.