Comprehension : Comprehension

Q 1 / 466

UPSC CSE Prelims 2026

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the items that follow. Your answers should be based solely on the passage.
Passage: India is starting to deploy AI for critical use cases such as weather forecasting, pest detection and control, and crop yield optimisation. However, penetration is limited to a small subset of tech-savvy farmers. In the US and in Europe, generative AI tools have started offering precision farming at scale, integrating large datasets to provide real-time agronomic insights. For at-scale integration and accessibility of AI tools in India, it would be helpful to develop Indian languages-based AI tools for smallholder farmers, partner with AgTechs to create affordable AI solutions, and disseminate AI-based advisory services through government programmes.
Which of the following statements is/are not correct?
  1. Tech-savvy farmers will drive the AgTech companies of the future.
  2. The development of advisory services by the government programmes for the use of AI tools in agriculture would be helpful.
  3. In the US and Europe, AI tools have replaced traditional agricultural practices.
  4. The integration of large datasets for use in real-time agronomic analysis is already a reality.
Select the answer using the code given below.

EXPLANATION

The correct option is (a) - 1 and 3 only.

[as per provisional answerkey]

Why this is correct

The question asks to identify which statements are not correct based on the passage.
Statement 1: The passage mentions that AI penetration is currently limited to tech-savvy farmers, but it nowhere suggests or implies that these farmers will "drive the AgTech companies of the future." This is an unsubstantiated projection.
Statement 3: The passage states that AI tools offer "precision farming at scale" in the US and Europe. However, it does not state that these tools have "replaced" traditional agricultural practices. "Offering precision farming" and "replacing traditional practices" are logically distinct concepts; the latter is an overstatement not supported by the text.
Since both 1 and 3 are unsupported/incorrect based on the text, they form the correct answer set.

Why the other options are incorrect

  • Statement 2 - Development of advisory services: This statement is correct according to the passage. The text explicitly suggests that it would be helpful to "disseminate AI-based advisory services through government programmes." Since the question asks for not correct statements, any option containing 2 (like option c) must be eliminated.
  • Statement 4 - Integration of large datasets: This statement is correct according to the passage. The text confirms that in the US and Europe, tools are already "integrating large datasets to provide real-time agronomic insights." Since this is a factual reality mentioned in the text, it cannot be part of the "not correct" list. This eliminates options (b) and (c).
  • Option (d) - 3 only: While statement 3 is indeed incorrect, this option is incomplete because statement 1 is also incorrect based on the passage's scope.

Key Concept

Critical reasoning in reading comprehension requires distinguishing between explicit suggestions made in the text and external assumptions or hyperbolic claims not supported by the author's specific wording.