Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical and practical message conveyed by the passage ?
- (a) It is necessary to put proper effluent treatment protocols in place. ✓ UPSC's answer
- (b) It is necessary to promote environmental awareness among people.
- (c) Spread of drug-resistant bacteria cannot be done away with, as it is inherent in modern medical care.
- (d) Pharma-manufacturing companies should be set up in remote rural areas, away from crowded towns and cities.
Why the answer is (a)
• The passage explicitly identifies the 'environmental impact of antibiotics-manufacturing companies not treating their waste' as the primary, under-discussed issue.
• It establishes a direct causal link between this untreated waste and the rise of drug-resistant infections around pharma plants.
• Therefore, the most logical and practical solution is to address the root cause by implementing proper waste management.
• Option (a) directly addresses this by calling for 'proper effluent treatment protocols' to mitigate the pollution.
• This aligns with the passage's focus on the specific industrial failure rather than general awareness or relocation.
Why the other options are wrong
- (b) It is necessary to promote environmental awareness among people.
- The passage states that awareness of antibiotic misuse is already 'common knowledge,' so promoting general environmental awareness is not the specific message regarding factory waste.
- (c) Spread of drug-resistant bacteria cannot be done away with, as it is inherent in modern…
- The passage attributes the rise of drug-resistant bacteria to factory pollution, not to the inherent nature of modern medical care, making this statement factually incorrect based on the text.
- (d) Pharma-manufacturing companies should be set up in remote rural areas, away from crowded…
- The passage does not suggest relocating factories to remote areas; it focuses on the failure to treat waste, implying that treatment is the necessary solution regardless of location.
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.