UPSC Prelims 2023 CSAT Paper II · Q21 of 77 Comprehension medium

Passage

To tackle the problem of pollution in cities, policy makers think that drastic actions like temporary use of odd-even number scheme for vehicles, closing schools, factories, construction activities, and banning the use of certain type of vehicles are a way forward. Even then the air is not clean. Vehicles more than 15 years old comprise one percent of the total; and taking them off the road will not make any difference. Banning certain fuels and car types arbitrarily is not proper. Diesel engines produce more PM 2·5 and less CO2 than petrol or CNG engines. On the other hand, both diesel and CNG engines produce more NOx than petrol engines. No one has measured the amount of NOx that CNG engines are emitting. Arbitrary bans on vehicles that have passed mandated fitness tests and periodic pollution tests are unfair. What is needed is the scientific and reliable information about the source of pollutants on a continuing basis and the technologies that will work to reduce pollution from them.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical and rational implication conveyed by the passage ?

  1. (a) Arbitrary curbs on vehicles to reduce pollution are difficult to implement.
  2. (b) Knee-jerk reactions cannot solve the problem of pollution but an evidence-based approach will be more effective. ✓ UPSC's answer
  3. (c) A heavy penalty should be enforced on those driving without periodic pollution tests.
  4. (d) In the absence of laws to deal with the problems of pollution, the administration tends to make arbitrary decisions.

Why the answer is (b)

• The passage argues that drastic, arbitrary measures like odd-even schemes or banning specific vehicle types are ineffective because they do not address the root causes of pollution.

• It highlights that removing old vehicles (only 1% of the total) or banning fuels without scientific data (e.g., unmeasured NOx from CNG) is illogical and unfair.

• The text explicitly states that 'scientific and reliable information about the source of pollutants' and effective technologies are needed to reduce pollution.

• This implies that reactive, non-scientific policies ('knee-jerk reactions') fail, while a data-driven, evidence-based strategy is the rational solution.

• Therefore, option (b) best captures the core argument that evidence-based approaches are superior to arbitrary curbs.

Why the other options are wrong

(a) Arbitrary curbs on vehicles to reduce pollution are difficult to implement.
The passage focuses on the ineffectiveness and lack of scientific basis for arbitrary curbs, not on the logistical difficulty of their implementation.
(c) A heavy penalty should be enforced on those driving without periodic pollution tests.
The passage criticizes arbitrary bans on vehicles that have already passed mandated tests, rather than advocating for penalties against those who skip tests.
(d) In the absence of laws to deal with the problems of pollution, the administration tends…
The passage does not attribute the arbitrary decisions to a lack of laws, but rather to a lack of scientific information and reliance on drastic, unproven actions.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2023, held on 28 May 2023. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

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