Directions for the following 8 (eight) items:
Read the following passage and answer the items that follow. Your answers to these items should be based on the passage only.
Passage - 1
The richer States have a responsibility to cut down carbon emissions and promote clean energy investments. These are the States that got electricity, grew faster and now have high per capita income, making them capable of sharing India's burden of becoming eco-friendly. Delhi, for example, can help by generating its own clean electricity using solar rooftop panels or even help poor States finance their clean energy projects. It is no secret that State Electricity Boards, which control 95% of the distribution network, are neck-deep in losses. These losses further discourage state utilities from adopting renewable energy as it is more expensive than fossil fuels.
Which among the following is the most logical and rational assumption that can be made from the above passage?
The richer States must lead in the production and adoption of renewable energy.
The poor states always have to depend on rich states for electricity.
The State Electricity Boards can improve their finances by undertaking clean energy projects.
The high economic disparity between the rich and poor states is the major cause of high carbon emissions in India.
Passage - 2
Set against a rural backdrop, 'Stench of kerosene' is the story of a couple, Guleri and Manak, who have been happily married for several years but do not have a child. Manak's mother is desperate to have a grandchild to carry on the family name. Hence, she gets manak remarried in Guleri's absence. Manak, who acts as a reluctant but passive spectator, is meanwhile, informed by a friend that Guleri, on hearing about her husband's second marriage, poured kerosene on her clothes and set fire to them. Manak is heartbroken and beings to live as if he were a dead man. When his second wife delivers a son, Manak stares at the child for a long time and blurts out, "Take him away! He stinks of kerosene."
This is a sensitive issue-based story which tries to sensitize the readers about
Male chauvinism and infidelity
Love and betrayal
Lack of legal safeguards for women
Influence of patriarchal mindset
Passage - 3
The ultimate aim of government is not to rule or control by fear, nor to demand obedience, but conversely, to free every man from fear, that he may live in all possible security. In other words, to strengthen his natural right to exist and work without injury to himself or others. The object of government is not to change men from rational beings into beasts or puppets. It should enable them to develop their minds and bodies in security, and to employ their reason unshackled.
Which among the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?
The true aim of government is to secure the citizens their social and political freedom.
The primary concern of government is to provide absolute social security to all its citizens.
The best government is the one that allows the citizens to enjoy absolute liberty in all matters of life.
The best government is the one that provides absolute physical security to the people of the country.
Passage - 4
Our municipal corporations are understaffed. The issue of skills and competencies of the staff poses an even greater challenge. Urban services delivery and infrastructure are complex to plan and execute. They require a high degree of specialization and professionalism. The current framework within which municipal employees, including senior management, are recruited does not adequately factor in the technical and managerial competencies required. Cadre and recruitment rules only specify the bare minimum in academic qualification. There is no mention of managerial or technical competencies, or of relevant work experience. This is the case with most municipal corporation. They also suffer from weak organisation design and structure.
Which among the following is the most logical and rational assumption that can be made from the above passage?
The task of providing urban services is a complex issue which requires the organisational expansion of municipal bodies all over the country.
Our cities can provide better quality of life if our local government bodies have adequate staff with required skills and competencies.
Lack of skilled staff is due to the absence of institutions which offer the requisite skills in city management.
Our country is not taking advantage of the demographic divided to manage the problems associated with rapid urbanization.
Passage - 5
Flamingos in large flocks in the wild are social and extremely loyal. They perform group mating dances. Parents are very fond of their chicks, gathering them into creches for protection while both males and females fly off to search for food.
Which among the following is the most logical corollary to the above passage?
Mass nesting in all species of birds is essential to ensure complete survival of their offspring.
Only birds have the capacity to develop social behaviour and thus can do mass nesting to raise their chicks in safety.
Social behaviour in some species of birds increases the odds of survival in an unsafe world.
All species of birds set up creches for their chicks to teach them social behaviour and loyalty.
Passage - 6
Vast numbers of Indian citizens without bank accounts live in rural areas, are financially and functionally illiterate, and have little experience with technology. A research study was conducted in a particular area in which electronic wage payments in Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) are meant to go directly to the poor. It was observed that recipients often assume that the village leader needs to mediate the process, as was the case under the previous paper-based system. Among households under this research study area who claimed to have at least one bank account, over a third reported still receiving MGNREGS wages in cash directly from a village leader.
What is the most logical, rational and crucial message that is implied in the above passage?
MGNREGS should be extended only to those who have a bank account.
The paper-based system of payments is efficient than electronic payment in the present scenario.
The goal of electronic wage payments was not to eliminate mediation by village leaders.
It is essential to provide financial literacy to the rural poor.
Passage - 7
Individuals, groups and leaders who promote human development operate under strong institutional, structural and political constraints that affect policy options. But experience suggests broad principles for shaping an appropirate agenda for human development. One important finding from several decades of human development experience is that focusing exclusively on economic growth is problematic. While we have good edcuation, the causes of growth are much less certain and growth is often elusive. Further, an unbalanced emphasis on growth is often associated with negative environmental consequences and adverse distributional effects. The experience of China, with its impressive growth record, reflects these broader concerns and underlines the importance of balanced approaches that emphasize investments in the non-income aspects of human development.
With reference to the above passage, consider the following statements:
1. In developing countries, a strong institutional framework is the only requirement for human development and policy options.
2. Human development and economic growth are not always positively inter-related.
3. Focusing only on human development should be the goal of economic growth. Which of the above statements is/are correct?
With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
1. Higher economic growth is essential to ensure a reduction in economic disparity.
2. Environmental degradation is sometimes a consequence of economic growth.
Which of the above is/are valid assumption/assumptions?
