Inference MCQs for UPSC Prelims

In our country, handlooms are equated with a culture that ensures a continuity of tradition. This idea has become part of the public policy-framing and provides a legitimate basis for the State to support the sector. But the notion of tradition as a single, linear entity is being strongly contested today. The narratives dominant in defining culture/tradition in a particular way are seen to have emerged as the identities and histories of large sections. The discounted and, at times, forcibly stifled identities are fighting for their rightful place in history. Against this backdrop, when we promote handloom as a traditional industry, it is not surprising that large sections of our population choose to ignore it. Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical and rational message conveyed by the author of the passage?

1. A We need to free the handloom industry from the limited narrative linked to preserving cultural heritage.
2. B Continued State support to the handloom industry ensures the preservation of some of our glorious art forms and old traditions.
3. C Household units of the handloom sector should be modernized and made an economically viable organized industry.
4. D Handloom products need to be converted to machine-made designer products so as to make them more popular.

Passage: Disruption of traditional institutions, identifications and loyalties is likely to lead to ambivalent situations. It is possible that some people may renew their identification with traditional groups whereas others align themselves with new groups and symbols emergent from processes of political development. In addition, political development tends to foster group awareness of a variety of class, tribe, region, clan, language, religion, occupation and others. Question: Which one of the following is the best explanation of the above passage?

1. A Political development is not a unilinear process for it involves both growth and decay.
2. B Traditional societies succeed in resisting positive aspects of political development.
3. C It is impossible for traditional societies to break away from lingering loyalties.
4. D Sustenance of traditional loyalties is conducive to political development.

Passage: It is often forgotten that globalization is not only about policies on international economic relationships and transactions, but has equally to do with domestic policies of a nation. Policy changes necessitated by meeting the internationally set conditions (by WTO etc.) of free trade and investment flows obviously affect domestic producers and investors. But the basic philosophy underlying globalization emphasizes absolute freedom to markets to determine prices and production and distribution patterns, and views government interventions as processes that create distortions and bring in inefficiency. Thus, public enterprises have to be privatized through disinvestments and sales; sectors and activities hitherto reserved for the public sector have to be opened to the private sector. This logic extends to the social services like education and health. Any restrictions on the adjustments in workforce by way of retrenchment of workers should also be removed and exit should be made easier by removing any restrictions on closures. Employment and wages should be governed by free play of market forces, as any measure to regulate them can discourage investment and also create inefficiency in production. Above all, in line with the overall philosophy of reduction in the role of the State, fiscal reforms should be undertaken to have generally low levels of taxation and government expenditure should be kept to the minimum to abide by the principle of fiscal prudence. All these are policy actions on the domestic front and are not directly related to the core items of the globalization agenda, namely free international flow of goods and finance. According to the passage, which of the following is/are necessary for ensuring globalization? 1. Privatization of public enterprises 2. Expansionary policy of public expenditure 3. Free play of market forces to determine wages and employment 4. Privatization of social services like education and health Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. A 1 only
2. B 2 and 3 only
3. C 1, 3 and 4
4. D 2, 3 and 4

Passage: In the last two decades, the world's gross domestic product (GDP) has increased by 50 percent, whereas inclusive wealth has increased by a mere 6 percent. In recent decades, GDP-driven economic performance has only harmed inclusive wealth like human capital; and natural capital like forests, land and water. While the world's human capital which stands at 57 percent of total inclusive wealth grew by only 8 percent, the natural capital which is 23 percent of total inclusive wealth declined by 30 percent worldwide in the last two decades. Q. Which of the following is the most crucial inference from the above passage?

1. A More emphasis should be laid on the development of natural capital.
2. B The growth driven by GDP only is neither desirable nor sustainable.
3. C The economic performance of the countries of the world is not satisfactory.
4. D The world needs more human capital under the present circumstances.

In India, a majority of farmers are marginal and small, less educated and possess low adaptive capabilities to climate change, perhaps because of credit and other constraints. So, one cannot expect autonomous adaptation to climate change. Even if it was possible, it would not be sufficient to offset losses from climate change. To deal with this, adaptation to climate change is paramount, alongside a fast mitigation response. Another solution is to have a planned or policy-driven adaptation, which would require the government to come up with policy recommendations. Perception is a necessary pre-requisite for adaptation. Whether farmers are adapting agricultural practices to climate change depends on whether they perceive it or not. However, this is not always enough for adaptation. It is important how a farmer perceives the risks associated with climate change. Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical and rational message conveyed by the author of the passage?

1. A Adaptation to climate change and mitigation response are basically the responsibilities of the government.
2. B Climate change causes a change in government policies regarding land use patterns in the country.
3. C Risk perceptions of farmers are important for motivating them for taking adaptation decisions.
4. D Since mitigation is not possible, governments should come up with policies for quick response to climate change.

Read the following passage and answer the item that follows. Your answer should be based on the passage only. The ultimate aim of government is not to rule or control by fear, nor to demand obedience, but conversely, to free every man from fear, that he may live in all possible security. In other words, to strengthen his natural right to exist and work without injury to himself or others. The object of government is not to change men from rational beings into beasts or puppets. It should enable them to develop their minds and bodies in security, and to employ their reason unshackled. Which among the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?

1. A The true aim of government is to secure the citizens their social and political freedom.
2. B The primary concern of government is to provide absolute social security to all its citizens.
3. C The best government is the one that allows the citizens to enjoy absolute liberty in all matters of life.
4. D The best government is the one that provides absolute physical security to the people of the country.

Passage-3 "The conceptual difficulties in National Income comparisons between underdeveloped and industrialised countries are particularly serious because a part of the national output in various underdeveloped countries is produced without passing through the commercial channels." In the above statement, the author implies that:

1. A the entire national output produced and consumed in industrialized countries passes through commercial channels
2. B the existence of a non-commercialized sector in different underdeveloped countries renders the national income comparisons over countries difficult
3. C no part of national output should be produced and consumed without passing through commercial channels
4. D a part of the national output being produced and consumed without passing through commercial channels is a sign of underdevelopment

Read the following passage and answer the item that follows. Your answer should be based on the passage only. Many nations now place their faith in capitalism and governments choose it as the strategy to create wealth for their people. The spectacular economic growth seen in Brazil, China and India after the liberalisation of their economies is proof of its enormous potential and success. However, the global banking crisis and the economic recession have left many bewildered. The debates tend to focus on free market operations and forces, their efficiency and their ability for self correction. Issues of justice, integrity and honesty are rarely elaborated to highlight the failure of the global banking system. The apologists of the system continue to justify the success of capitalism and argue that the recent crisis was a blip. Their arguments betray an ideological bias with the assumptions that an unregulated market is fair and competent, and that the exercise of private greed will be in the larger public interest. Few recognize the bidirectional relationship between capitalism and greed; that each reinforces the other. Surely, a more honest conceptualisation of the conflicts of interest among the rich and powerful players who have benefited from the system, their biases and ideology is needed; the focus on the wealth creation should also highlight the resultant gross inequity. With reference to "ideological bias", the passage implies that (a) free market is fair but not competent. (b) free market is not fair but competent. (c) free market is fair and competent. (d) free market is neither fair nor biased.

1. A free market is fair but not competent.
2. B free market is not fair but competent.
3. C free market is fair and competent.
4. D free market is neither fair nor biased.