Comprehension : Comprehension

Q 29 / 466

UPSC CSE Prelims 2025

Passage - Each State in India faces a distinctive set of challenges regarding the impact of warming but also offers its own set of opportunities for reducing emissions depending on its natural resources. For example, coastal States need to take action to protect their shores from sea level rise, districts that are drier need to prepare for variable monsoon precipitation. Himalayan regions have their own unique challenges, and selected parts of peninsular India and offshore areas offer great opportunities for harnessing wind power. These various aspects need to be considered for developing clear and sustainable goals for the future.

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

EXPLANATION

Correct Option (4)

The passage explicitly details the varied climate change challenges and opportunities across different regions and states within India. It cites examples such as coastal protection needs, preparations for variable monsoon precipitation, and the potential for wind power in specific areas. The concluding statement underscores the importance of considering these diverse aspects for developing clear and sustainable goals. Therefore, the most logical and pragmatic message conveyed is the necessity of formulating effective climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies specifically tailored at the State or regional level, acknowledging India's geographical and environmental diversity.

Incorrect Options:

Option (1) suggests that climate change mitigation and adaptation are essentially the sole responsibility of each State. While states are critical stakeholders, the passage emphasizes the need for region-specific strategies due to varied impacts and opportunities, rather than assigning exclusive and complete responsibility to individual states without reference to a broader framework.

Option (2) implies that India's diversity makes it impossible to implement any effective climate change strategy. The passage, conversely, highlights this diversity as a reason for tailoring strategies to specific regional contexts and leveraging unique opportunities, rather than presenting it as an insurmountable barrier to effective action.

Option (3) asserts that it is primarily the responsibility of the Union Government to implement climate action plans and ensure net-zero emissions. The passage's core focus is on the significance of regional and state-level considerations due to distinct vulnerabilities and opportunities, thereby de-emphasizing a purely centralized approach as the singular solution.