Minimalist IAS
CSAT 2017 paper

UPSC CSE CSAT 2017 · Question 42 · Reading comprehension

Which among the following is the most logical, rational and critical inference that can be made…

Passage—2

There has been a significant trend worldwide towards regionalism in government, resulting in a widespread transfer of powers downwards towards regions and communities since 1990s. This process, which involves the creation of new political entities and bodies at a sub-national level and an increase in their content and powers, is known as devolution. Devolution has been characterized as being made up of three factors—political legitimacy, decentralization of authority and decentralization of resources. Political legitimacy here means a mass demand from below for the decentralization process, which is able to create a political force for it to take place. In many cases, decentralization is initiated by the upper tier of government without sufficient political mobilization for it at the grassroots level, and in such cases the decentralization process often does not fulfil its objectives.

CSAT 2017 · Q42

Reading comprehension Medium

Which among the following is the most logical, rational and critical inference that can be made from the above passage?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (c) Devolution, to be successful, requires a democracy in which there is free expression of the will of the people at lower level and their active participation at the grassroots level.

The passage defines political legitimacy as a mass demand from below and says decentralization started from the top, without grassroots mobilization, often fails. So successful devolution needs people at the lower level to express their will and take an active part.

  • ✗ (a) Powerful mass leaders are not mentioned; the passage stresses a demand arising from the masses themselves.
  • ✗ (b) The opposite of the passage: decentralization initiated by the upper tier without grassroots support 'often does not fulfil its objectives'.
  • ✓ (c) A 'mass demand from below' and political mobilization at the grassroots are what the passage makes necessary for success.
  • ✗ (d) The passage wants a popular demand for decentralization, not a strong feeling of regionalism; regionalism is only the worldwide trend it describes.

Remember · If a passage says top-down action fails without X, the critical inference is that success requires X — not that the top should push harder.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2017, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·

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