UPSC Prelims 2023 CSAT Paper II · Q32 of 77 Comprehension medium

Passage

Passage - 1 In India, the segregation of municipal waste at source is rare. Recycling is mostly with the informal sector. More than three-fourths of the municipal budget goes into collection and transportation, which leaves very little for processing/resource recovery and disposal. Where does waste-to-energy fit into all this ? Ideally it fits in the chain after segregation (between wet waste and the rest), collection, recycling, and before getting to the landfill. Which technology is most appropriate in converting waste to energy depends on what is in the waste (that is biodegradable versus non-biodegradable component) and its calorific value. The biodegradable component of India's municipal solid waste is a little over 50 per cent, and biomethanation offers a major solution for processing this.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the crux of the passage ?

  1. (a) Generation of energy from municipal solid waste is inexpensive.
  2. (b) Biomethanation is the most ideal way of generating energy from municipal solid waste.
  3. (c) Segregation of municipal solid waste is the first step in ensuring the success of waste-to-energy plants. ✓ UPSC's answer
  4. (d) The biodegradable component of India's municipal solid waste is not adequate to provide energy from waste efficiently/effectively.

Why the answer is (c)

• The passage explicitly states that waste-to-energy ideally fits in the chain 'after segregation' and 'before getting to the landfill'.

• It highlights that segregation at source is currently rare in India, implying it is a critical missing link.

• The text positions segregation as the prerequisite step that determines the appropriate technology (biomethanation vs. others) based on waste composition.

• Therefore, the central argument is that without proper segregation, the waste-to-energy process cannot function as intended.

• This makes segregation the foundational step for the success of waste-to-energy initiatives, aligning with option (c).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) Generation of energy from municipal solid waste is inexpensive.
The passage does not mention the cost of energy generation, only that most of the municipal budget is spent on collection and transportation.
(b) Biomethanation is the most ideal way of generating energy from municipal solid waste.
While biomethanation is mentioned as a solution for the biodegradable component, the passage does not claim it is the 'most ideal' way for all municipal solid waste, only that it fits a specific part of the chain.
(d) The biodegradable component of India's municipal solid waste is not adequate to provide…
The passage states the biodegradable component is 'a little over 50 per cent' and that biomethanation offers a 'major solution', not that the component is inadequate for efficient energy generation.

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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