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UPSC Prelims 2025 CSAT, question 14

Topic: Reading comprehension

Directions · Q11 to Q14

Directions for the following 4 (four) items :
Read the following two passages and answer the items that follow the passages. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only.

Passage · Q13 to Q14

If the social inequality is the most acutely felt social problem in India, insecurity, more than poverty, is the most acutely felt economic problem. Besides those below the official poverty line, even those just over the poverty line are subject to multiple economic insecurities of various kinds (due to wealth and/or health risks, market fluctuations, job-related uncertainties). Many Government policies are actually intended towards mitigating these insecurities.

Q14

With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made :

I. People above the poverty line also are prone to suffer from anxiety about economic insecurity.

II. Eradication of poverty can result in peace and social equality in the country.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid ?

  1. (a) I onlyCorrect answer
  2. (b) II only
  3. (c) Both I and II
  4. (d) Neither I nor II

Solution.

Answer: (a) I only

  1. Statement I is correct: the passage explicitly states that even those just over the official poverty line are subject to multiple economic insecurities due to wealth, health, market, and job uncertainties.
  2. Statement II is incorrect: the passage distinguishes social inequality from economic insecurity and makes no claim that eradicating poverty alone produces peace and social equality.