1
UPSC Civil Service Prelims Paper II 2025 (CSAT)
MCQ (Single Correct Answer)
+2.5
-0.883

If there is inequality in the pattern of population growth, there is greater inequality in food production and utilisation. As societies become wealthier, their consumption of animal products increases. This means that a greater proportion of such basic foodstuff as grains and legumes that could feed humans directly is instead being converted into feed for poultry and large farm animals. Yet this conversion of plant-based food into animal food for humans is far from efficient. Only $16 \%$ of the calories fed to chickens are recovered by us when we eat them. This conversion rate goes down to five to seven per cent in large animals that are fed grain to add fat and some protein before slaughter.

With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

I. The food manufacturing and processing industries in every country should align their objectives and processes in accordance with the changing needs of the societies.

II. Wealthier societies tend to incur great loss of calories of food materials due to indirect utilisation of their agricultural produce.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

A

I only

B

II only

C

Both I and II

D

Neither I nor II

2
UPSC Civil Service Prelims Paper II 2025 (CSAT)
MCQ (Single Correct Answer)
+2.5
-0.883

Over the next 30 years, many countries are promising to move to net-zero carbon, implying that household emissions will have to be cut to close to nothing. A leading climate scientist reckons that, at best, half the reduction might be achieved through demand-side measures, such as behavioural changes by individuals and households. And even that would require companies and governments to provide more incentives to change through supply-side investments to make low-carbon options cheaper and more widely available.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea conveyed by the passage?

A

Moving to net-zero carbon is possible only by the reduction in household emissions.

B

Low-carbon behaviour in people can be brought about by incentivising them.

C

Cheaper goods and services can be made available to people by using low-carbon technologies.

D

Manufacturing industries that use low-carbon technologies should be provided with subsidies.

3
UPSC Civil Service Prelims Paper II 2025 (CSAT)
MCQ (Single Correct Answer)
+2.5
-0.883

Over the next 30 years, many countries are promising to move to net-zero carbon, implying that household emissions will have to be cut to close to nothing. A leading climate scientist reckons that, at best, half the reduction might be achieved through demand-side measures, such as behavioural changes by individuals and households. And even that would require companies and governments to provide more incentives to change through supply-side investments to make low-carbon options cheaper and more widely available.

With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

I. Supply-side investments in companies can result in low-carbon behaviour in people.

II. People are not capable of adapting low-carbon behaviour without the involvement of Government and Companies.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

A

I only

B

II only

C

Both I and II

D

Neither I nor II

4
UPSC Civil Service Prelims Paper II 2025 (CSAT)
MCQ (Single Correct Answer)
+2.5
-0.883

In only 50 years, the world's consumption of raw materials has nearly quadrupled, to more than 100 billion tons. Less than $9 \%$ of this is reused. Batteries of old vehicles contain materials such as lithium, cobalt, manganese and nickel that are pricey and can be hard to obtain. Supply chains are long and complicated. Buyers' risks are being aggravated by their suppliers' poor environmental and labour standards. Reusing materials makes sense. Once batteries reach the ends of their lives, they should go back to a factory where their ingredients can be recovered and put into new batteries.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical, rational and pragmatic message conveyed by the passage?

A

Green economy is not possible without reusing critical minerals.

B

Every sector of economy should adapt the reuse of material resources immediately.

C

Circular economy can be beneficial for sustainable growth.

D

Circular use of material resources is the only option for some industries for their survival.

UPSC Civil Service Subjects

Browse all chapters by subject

Comprehension
Data Interpretation and Sufficiency