Passage-1 What stands in the way of the widespread and careful adoption of 'Genetic Modification (GM)' technology is an 'Intellectual Property Rights' regime that seeks to create private monopolies for such technologies. If GM technology is largely corporate driven, it seeks to maximize profits and that too in the short run. That is why corporations make major investments for herbicide- tolerant and pest- resistant crops. Such properties have only a short window, as soon enough, pests and weeds will evolve to overcome such resistance. This suits the corporations. The National Farmers Commission pointed out that priority must be given in genetic modification to the incorporation of genes that can help impart resistance to drought, salinity and other stresses. On the basis of the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: 1. The issue of effects of natural calamities on agriculture is not given due consideration by GM technology companies. 2. In the long run, GM technology will not be able to solve agricultural problems arising due to global warming. Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

The passage highlights that the current corporate-driven Genetic Modification (GM) technology primarily focuses on short-term profits, leading to investments in herbicide-tolerant and pest-resistant crops. It explicitly contrasts this with the National Farmers Commission's recommendation to prioritize genes that impart resistance to drought, salinity, and other stresses (which are effects of natural calamities). Let's analyze each assumption: 1. The issue of effects of natural calamities on agriculture is not given due consideration by GM technology companies. * The passage states that corporations make major investments for herbicide-tolerant and pest-resistant crops. * It then immediately follows by saying the National Farmers Commission pointed out that priority *must be given* in genetic modification to genes that can help impart resistance to drought, salinity, and other stresses. * The contrast implies that these issues (effects of natural calamities like drought and salinity) are *not* currently the priority or are not given due consideration by the corporate-driven GM technology, which is focused on other areas for short-term profit. * Therefore, this assumption is valid. 2. In the long run, GM technology will not be able to solve agricultural problems arising due to global warming. * The passage criticizes the *current corporate-driven approach* to GM technology, which focuses on short-term profits and crops with limited effectiveness due to evolving pests/weeds. * However, it does not state that GM technology *itself* (as a scientific tool) is inherently incapable of solving long-term agricultural problems, including those arising from global warming (like drought and salinity resistance). In fact, the National Farmers Commission's suggestion implies that GM technology *could* be used for these purposes if priorities were shifted. * The passage points to issues with the *application and motivation* of GM technology under a specific regime, not its fundamental inability to solve problems in the long run. * Therefore, this assumption is not valid. Based on the analysis, only assumption 1 is valid. The final answer is A