UPSC Prelims 2024 CSAT Paper II · Q63 of 79 Comprehension medium

Passage

Passage—3 Green growth involves rethinking growth strategies with regard to the impacts on environmental sustainability and the environmental resources available to poor and vulnerable groups. In rethinking growth, we need to focus on the current reality of a resource-constrained world. Resource intensive and, in particular energy intensive processes will need to make way for more efficient and resource frugal development strategies if we are to avoid an economic dead

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

  1. (a) Environmental sustainability is inimical to our objective of achieving a high rate of GDP growth.
  2. (b) Poverty eradication is not possible without a rapid economic growth and the consequent environmental degradation.
  3. (c) Maintaining high environmental standards is now a prerequisite for achieving a steady, sufficient and inclusive growth. ✓ UPSC's answer
  4. (d) With large populations, rampant poverty and limited resources of today's world, environmental degradation cannot be prevented and inequalities are inevitable.

Why the answer is (c)

• The passage defines green growth as rethinking strategies to balance environmental sustainability with the needs of poor and vulnerable groups.

• It emphasizes that the current reality is a 'resource-constrained world,' meaning traditional resource-intensive and energy-intensive processes are no longer viable.

• The text argues that to avoid an 'economic dead end,' development must shift toward 'efficient and resource frugal' strategies.

• This implies that environmental efficiency is not an obstacle but a necessary condition for sustainable economic progress.

• Therefore, maintaining high environmental standards is a prerequisite for achieving growth that is steady, sufficient, and inclusive, which aligns with option (c).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) Environmental sustainability is inimical to our objective of achieving a high rate of GDP…
The passage advocates for green growth, which integrates environmental sustainability with economic development, rather than stating they are mutually exclusive or inimical.
(b) Poverty eradication is not possible without a rapid economic growth and the consequent…
The passage does not claim that poverty eradication requires environmental degradation; instead, it suggests resource-frugal strategies are needed to avoid economic failure.
(d) With large populations, rampant poverty and limited resources of today's world…
The passage presents a solution (resource-frugal development) to avoid an economic dead end, rather than asserting that environmental degradation and inequality are inevitable.

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.

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