UPSC Prelims 2025 CSAT Paper II · Q3 of 78 Comprehension medium

Passage

If there is inequality in the pattern of population growth, there is greater inequality in food production and utilization. As societies become wealthier, their consumption of animal products increases. This means that a greater proportion of such basic foodstuff as grains and legumes that could feed humans directly is instead being converted into feed for poultry and large farm animals. Yet this conversion of plant-based food into animal food for humans is far from efficient. Only 16% of the calories fed to chickens are recovered by us when we eat them. This conversion rate goes down to five to seven per cent in large animals that are fed grain to add fat and some protein before slaughter.

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

  1. (a) There is an urgent need for a public policy to promote the consumption of cereal-based foods in wealthier societies.
  2. (b) Animal-based food is far less efficient than grain/plant-based food in terms of production and utilization. ✓ UPSC's answer
  3. (c) Plant-based protein should replace the animal-based protein in our daily diets.
  4. (d) Inequality in food production and consumption is inevitable in any fast changing society.

Why the answer is (b)

• The passage begins by stating that inequality in population growth is accompanied by greater inequality in food production and utilization.

• It explains that as societies become wealthier, they consume more animal products, which requires converting grains and legumes into animal feed.

• The text explicitly states that this conversion of plant-based food into animal food is 'far from efficient.'

• It provides specific data: only 16% of calories fed to chickens are recovered, and the rate drops to 5-7% for large animals.

• Therefore, the central argument is that animal-based food production is significantly less efficient than direct consumption of plant-based foods.

Why the other options are wrong

(a) There is an urgent need for a public policy to promote the consumption of cereal-based…
The passage describes the inefficiency of the current system but does not explicitly call for a specific public policy to promote cereal-based foods.
(c) Plant-based protein should replace the animal-based protein in our daily diets.
The passage highlights the inefficiency of conversion but does not make a normative recommendation that plant-based protein should replace animal-based protein in daily diets.
(d) Inequality in food production and consumption is inevitable in any fast changing society.
The passage attributes the inequality to the inefficiency of converting plant-based food to animal feed, not to the inevitability of inequality in any fast-changing society.

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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