Comprehension : Comprehension

Q 434 / 466

UPSC CSE Prelims 2011

Read the following passage and answer the items that follow. Your answers to these items should-be based on the passage only.

Now India’s children have a right to receive at least eight years of education, the gnawing question is whether’ it will remain ‘on paper’ or ‘become a reality. One hardly needs a reminder that this right is different from the others enshrined in the Constitution, that the beneficiary—a six year old child cannot demand it, nor can she or height a legal battle when the right is denied or violated. In all cases, it is the adult society which must act on behalf of the child. In another peculiarity, where a child’s right to education is denied, no compensation offered later can be adequate or relevant. This is so because childhood does not last. If a legal battle fought on behalf of a child is eventually won, it may be of little use to the boy or girl because the opportunity missed at school during childhood cannot serve the same purpose later in life. This may be painfully true for girls because our society permits them only a short childhood, if at all. The Right to Education (RTE) has become law at a point in India’s history when the ghastly practice of female infanticide has resurfaced in the form of foeticide. This is ‘symptomatic of a deeper turmoil’ in society which compounding the traditional obstacles to the education of girls. ‘Tenacious prejudice against the intellectual potential of girls runs across our cultural diversity and the system of education has not been able to address it.’’

Which one of the following statements conveys the inference of the passage?

EXPLANATION

Correct Option (4)

The passage explicitly states that if a child's right to education is denied, "no compensation offered later can be adequate or relevant" because "childhood does not last." It further elaborates that "the opportunity missed at school during childhood cannot serve the same purpose later in life." This collectively infers that education acquired during childhood is unique and irreplaceable, and there is no sufficient substitute for it if missed during that critical period.

Incorrect Options:

  • Option 1: The statement "The society has a tenacious prejudice against the intellectual potential of girls" is directly mentioned in the passage: "Tenacious prejudice against the intellectual potential of girls runs across our cultural diversity..." An inference must be a conclusion drawn from the text, not a direct quotation or explicit statement.
  • Option 2: The passage clearly states, "In all cases, it is the adult society which must act on behalf of the child." This directly contradicts the assertion that adults cannot be relied upon to fight for children's Right to Education.
  • Option 3: While the passage discusses the potential futility of a legal battle won eventually due to the transient nature of childhood, it does not provide information or imply that such legal fights are generally "prohibitive" in terms of cost. The focus is on the timing and irreplaceable nature of childhood education, not the financial burden of litigation.