UPSC CSE Prelims 2018
Which of the following is the most crucial and logical inference that can be made from the above passage?
The passage explicitly links the use of polluting cooking fuels to over 10 lakh premature deaths annually from household air pollution. It also notes that despite a rise in clean fuel usage, the number of people relying on polluting solid fuels has remained static for 30 years. Therefore, a direct and logical inference is that enhancing access to clean cooking fuels, such as cooking gas, can effectively mitigate the incidence of premature deaths in vulnerable households.
Option (A): The passage states that "the number using polluting solid fuels as their primary cooking fuel has remained static for nearly 30 years." This directly contradicts the assertion that rural people are giving up these fuels due to increased awareness.
Option (B): While subsidizing clean cooking fuels could be a policy measure, the passage does not present it as the sole or complete solution to India's indoor air pollution problem. The primary focus is on the health impacts of polluting fuels and the lack of transition to cleaner alternatives.
Option (C): Increasing the import of natural gas and producing more electricity are potential strategies to enhance the supply of clean cooking fuels. However, the most crucial inference from the passage, which highlights the health crisis caused by polluting fuels and the static usage figures, pertains to the direct impact of clean fuel access on reducing premature deaths, rather than specific supply-side mechanisms.