UPSC Prelims 2025 CSAT Paper II · Q2 of 78 Comprehension medium

Passage

In our country, regrettably, teaching and learning for the examination have been our forte but the new demands of society and the future of work require critical and independent thinking, learning through doing, asking questions from multiple disciplinary perspectives on the same issue, using evidence for building arguments, and reflecting and articulation. Higher education should not "either be a mere servant of the government policy or a passive respondent to public mood." Higher learning is all about how to think rather than what to think. Teaching has to be re-invented.

With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made : I. Higher education is a constantly evolving subject that needs to align towards new developments in all spheres of society. II. In our country, sufficient funds are not allocated for promoting higher education. Which of the above assumptions is/are valid ?

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

Why the answer is (a)

• The passage states that 'new demands of society and the future of work require critical and independent thinking,' implying that higher education must adapt to these changing societal needs.

• Assumption I is valid because the text explicitly links the evolution of teaching methods to the 'new demands of society,' supporting the idea that higher education must align with new developments.

• The passage focuses on pedagogical shifts (teaching for examination vs. critical thinking) and the role of higher education relative to government policy and public mood.

• There is no mention of financial constraints, budget allocations, or funding issues in the provided text.

• Therefore, Assumption II is not supported by the passage, making Assumption I the only valid assumption.

Why the other options are wrong

(b) II only
Assumption II regarding insufficient funds is not mentioned or implied in the passage, which focuses on pedagogical methods rather than financial resources.
(c) Both I and II
Assumption II is invalid because the passage does not discuss funding or budget allocation for higher education.
(d) Neither I nor II
Assumption I is valid as the passage explicitly states that higher education must respond to new demands of society and the future of work.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025, held on 25 May 2025. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

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