Q. 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.
Q1. Which one of the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?
(a) India’s commitment to reduce emissions by 33% is unlikely to be achieved.
(b) India should import gas rather than invest in renewable resources.
(c) Getting renewable resources to market too soon may be costly.
(d) India should put in more efforts in the exploration of natural gas.
Correct Answer: (c) Getting renewable resources to market too soon may be costly.
Q2. With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
1. Governments often provide inefficient and costly subsidies for technologies that may not be ready in the near future.
2. 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?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: (a) 1 only
Question from UPSC Prelims 2020 CSAT Paper
Explanation :
Answer 1 – The most logical and rational inference that can be made from the passage is that getting renewable resources to market too soon may be costly, as mentioned in the passage: “However, business houses are wary of investing too heavily in renewable energy at a time when the technology is not yet ready.” Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. The passage does not provide evidence to support options (a), (b), or (d). The passage mentions that India has initiated a strong push towards a gas-based economy and has invested heavily in renewable energy, which suggests that option (d) is not the correct answer.
Answer 2 – Statement 1 can be assumed from the last sentence that subsidies provided are not enough and technology is not mature enough.
Statement 2 is not correct because we cannot conclude/assume that reduction in emission shall be achieved on the basis of a gas-based economy.
