Which one of the following statements best reflects the critical message conveyed by the passage ?
- (a) India's political executive should be aware that poverty and social inequality and the consequent sense of insecurity is the main social problem.
- (b) In India, poverty is the primary reason for social inequality and insecurity.
- (c) Poverty and social inequality are so intricately linked that they pose an unmanageable crisis for India.
- (d) Insecurity, more than poverty, is the main economic issue that Government policies must address. ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• The passage explicitly states that while social inequality is the most acutely felt social problem, insecurity is the most acutely felt economic problem in India.
• It clarifies that this insecurity affects not only those below the poverty line but also those just above it, due to factors like health risks, market fluctuations, and job uncertainties.
• The text concludes by noting that many Government policies are specifically intended to mitigate these economic insecurities.
• Therefore, the critical message is that insecurity, rather than poverty alone, is the primary economic issue requiring policy attention.
• Option (d) accurately captures this distinction by identifying insecurity as the main economic issue that Government policies must address.
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) India's political executive should be aware that poverty and social inequality and the…
- The passage identifies social inequality as a social problem, not an economic one, and does not specifically address the political executive's awareness.
- (b) In India, poverty is the primary reason for social inequality and insecurity.
- The passage does not claim that poverty is the primary reason for social inequality; it treats them as distinct issues with insecurity being the key economic concern.
- (c) Poverty and social inequality are so intricately linked that they pose an unmanageable…
- The passage does not describe the situation as an 'unmanageable crisis' nor does it focus on the intricate link between poverty and social inequality as the main point.
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.