Read the following two passages and answer the items that follow. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only. Our cities are extremely vulnerable to climate change because of large concentrations of populations and poor infrastructure. Moreover, population densities are increasing in them but we have not yet developed the systems to address climate change impacts. Our cities contribute to 65 per cent of the GDP, but there are not enough facilities to cater to the needs of the people. It is important to address the issues of air quality, transport, etc., that are vital to identifying sustainable solutions. We need to involve citizens in city planning and create an ecosystem that meets the needs of the people. Which among the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the passage given above?

The passage highlights that cities are vulnerable due to poor infrastructure and lack of systems to address climate change impacts. It explicitly states, "It is important to address the issues of air quality, transport, etc., that are vital to identifying sustainable solutions" and "We need to involve citizens in city planning and create an ecosystem that meets the needs of the people." These statements directly advocate for adopting "sustainability related interventions" to maintain and develop cities. Analysis of options: A) Our cities need to have well-defined administrative set-up with sufficient autonomy - The passage mentions a lack of "systems" and the need for citizen involvement, but it does not specifically discuss administrative set-ups or autonomy. This is an external idea. B) Ever increasing population densities is a hindrance in our efforts to achieve sustainable development - The passage states that increasing population densities exist "but we have not yet developed the systems to address climate change impacts." This implies the *lack of systems* to manage density sustainably is the problem, not necessarily the density itself as an inherent hindrance to sustainable development. The passage focuses on the need for solutions despite density. C) To maintain and develop our cities we need to adopt sustainability related interventions - This aligns directly with the passage's call to address issues like air quality and transport for "sustainable solutions" and to "create an ecosystem that meets the needs of the people." This is a clear and logical inference. D) Public-Private Partnership mode of development is the viable long-term solution for the infrastructure and sustainability problems of India - The passage does not mention Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) at all. This is an unsupported external idea. Therefore, C is the most logical and rational inference.