Comprehension : Comprehension

Q 57 / 466

UPSC CSE Prelims 2024

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally. Food is lost or wasted throughout the supply chain, from initial agricultural production to final household consumption. The increasing wastage also results in land degradation by about 45%, mainly due to deforestation, in sustainable agricultural practices, and excessive groundwater extraction. The energy spent over wasted food results in about 3.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide production every year. Decay also leads to harmful missions of other gases in the atmosphere. Addressing the loss and wastage of food in forms is critical to complete the cycle of food deficiency and food sustainability.

Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

  1. India needs a new generation of urban professionals with knowledge relevant to modern urban practice.
  2. Indian universities at present have no capacity or potential to impart training in systems approach.

Which of the assumptions given above is/are correct?

EXPLANATION

Correct Option (4)

The passage exclusively addresses the global issue of food loss and waste, detailing its environmental consequences such as land degradation, deforestation, excessive groundwater extraction, and carbon dioxide emissions. It emphasizes the importance of addressing this issue for food sustainability.

Neither Assumption 1 nor Assumption 2 can be logically inferred from the provided text. The passage contains no information pertaining to India, urban professionals, modern urban practice, Indian universities, or their capacity to impart training in a systems approach. Therefore, both assumptions are extraneous to the information presented in the passage.

Incorrect Options:

Options 1, 2, and 3 are incorrect because both Assumption 1 and Assumption 2 are not supported by the information presented in the given passage. The passage does not provide any basis to conclude the necessity for new urban professionals in India or the current capacity of Indian universities regarding a systems approach.