UPSC Prelims 2024 CSAT Paper II · Q12 of 79 Comprehension medium

Passage

Directions for the following 4 (four) items : Read the following two passages and answer the items that follow the passages. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only. Passage—1 Today, if we consider cities such as New York, London and Paris as some of the most iconic cities in the world, it is because plans carrying a heavy systems approach were imposed on their precincts. The backbone of the systems theory is the process of translating social, spatial and cultural desirables into mathematical models using computing, statistics, optimization and an algorithmic way of formulating and solving problems. The early universities of the West which began to train professionals in planning, spawned some of the most ingenious planners, who were experts in these domains. This was because these very subjects were absorbed into the planning curriculum that had its roots in the social sciences, geography and architecture. Planning in India, and its education differ from the West.

Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made : 1. India needs a new generation of urban professionals with knowledge relevant to modern urban practice. 2. Indian universities at present have no capacity or potential to impart training in systems approach. Which of the assumptions given above is/are correct?

  1. (a) 1 only ✓ UPSC's answer
  2. (b) 2 only
  3. (c) Both 1 and 2
  4. (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Why the answer is (a)

• The passage states that iconic cities like New York, London, and Paris succeeded because plans with a heavy systems approach were imposed on them.

• It highlights that Western universities trained ingenious planners by integrating social sciences, geography, and architecture into a curriculum focused on mathematical models and optimization.

• The passage explicitly contrasts this by stating, 'Planning in India, and its education differ from the West,' implying that the current Indian system lacks the specific systems-theory integration described.

• Assumption 1 is valid because the passage implies that to achieve similar iconic status or modern urban practice, India requires professionals trained in these specific systems approaches.

• Assumption 2 is invalid because stating that Indian education 'differs' does not mean it has 'no capacity or potential'; it only indicates a difference in current curriculum or approach, not a total absence of capability.

• Therefore, only Assumption 1 is logically supported by the text, making option (a) the correct answer.

Why the other options are wrong

(b) 2 only
Assumption 2 is incorrect because the passage only states that Indian planning education differs from the West, not that it lacks the capacity or potential to impart such training.
(c) Both 1 and 2
This option is incorrect because Assumption 2 is not supported by the passage, which does not claim Indian universities have no capacity or potential.
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
This option is incorrect because Assumption 1 is supported by the passage's implication that India needs professionals trained in the systems approach to match modern urban practices.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2024, held on 16 June 2024. 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.

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