UPSC Prelims 2020·CSAT·Reading Comprehension·Passage Comprehension

India has tremendous potential for solar energy. We all realize that we have to stop burning fossil fuels to meet our energy needs. But certain renewable resources are still going through their cost Curves and learning curves to get the required amount of output. The Indian Government has strongly committed to its targets of reducing emissions by 33 percent by 2030, and towards this it has initiated a strong push towards a gas-based economy and has also invested heavily in renewable energy. However, business houses are wary of investing too heavily in renewable energy at a time when the technology is not yet ready. With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: Governments often provide inefficient and costly subsidies for technologies that may not be ready in the near future. India's commitment of reducing emissions by 33% by 2030 shall be on the basis of gas-based economy. Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

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Last updated 23 May 2026, 3:31 pm IST
  1. A1 only
  2. B2 only
  3. Cboth 1 and 2
  4. Dneither 1 and 2Correct

Explanation

Neither statement can be assumed from the passage. Statement 1: The passage states the government has "invested heavily in renewable energy" and that "business houses are wary of investing too heavily in renewable energy at a time when the technology is not yet ready." However, the passage does not provide information to assume that these investments are "inefficient and costly subsidies" or that governments "often" provide them. It only describes the government's action and the business sector's hesitation, without making a judgment on the efficiency or cost of the government's investment. Statement 2: The passage states that the government's commitment to reducing emissions is met by *both* "a strong push towards a gas-based economy and has also invested heavily in renewable energy." It presents a dual strategy, not solely a gas-based economy. Therefore, assuming the commitment "shall be on the basis of gas-based economy" alone is incorrect, as it overlooks the equally important role of renewable energy investment mentioned in the text. Since neither assumption is supported by the passage, option D is correct.
Reading Comprehension: India has tremendous potential for solar energy. We all realize that we have to stop burning fossil fuels to meet our en
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