With reference to the above passage, consider the following statements:
- 1.Urban sanitation problems can be fully solved by the abolition of manual scavenging only
- 2.There is a need to promote greater awareness on safe sanitation practices in urban areas
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) 2 only
The passage calls for a sustained, large-scale campaign for the right to sanitation, which points to building awareness of safe sanitation. But abolition of manual scavenging is the primary focus, not the only answer — the neglect of women in schemes and dry latrines are problems too — so statement 1 overstates it.
- ✗ 1. 'Fully solved' and 'only' overstate it; the campaign should 'primarily' focus on abolition, alongside women's needs and pour-flush toilets.
- ✓ 2. 'A more sustained and rigorous campaign needs to be launched towards the right to sanitation on a very large scale'.
Remember · 'Primarily' is not 'only'. A statement that turns the main focus into the sole solution fails.
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2016, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·