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CSAT 2019 paper

UPSC CSE CSAT 2019 · Question 41 · Reading comprehension

Which one of the following is the most logical, rational and crucial message conveyed by the above…

Directions for the following 7 (seven) items: Read the following six passages and answer the items that follow each passage. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only.

Passage—1

What stands in the way of the widespread and careful adoption of ‘Genetic Modification (GM)’ technology is an ‘Intellectual Property Rights’ regime that seeks to create private monopolies for such technologies. If GM technology is largely corporate driven, it seeks to maximize profits and that too in the short run. That is why corporations make major investments for herbicide-tolerant and pest-resistant crops. Such properties have only a short window, as soon enough, pests and weeds will evolve to overcome such resistance. This suits the corporations. The National Farmers Commission pointed out that priority must be given in genetic modification to the incorporation of genes that can help impart resistance to drought, salinity and other stresses.

CSAT 2019 · Q41

Reading comprehension Medium

Which one of the following is the most logical, rational and crucial message conveyed by the above passage?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (a) Public research institutions should take the lead in GM technology and prioritise the technology agenda.

Corporate-driven GM research chases short-run profit through herbicide-tolerant and pest-resistant traits, while the National Farmers Commission wants priority for resistance to drought, salinity and other stresses. The message is that GM needs a public agenda — public institutions should lead and set the priorities.

  • ✓ (a) The passage sets profit-driven corporate priorities against the public priorities named by the Commission; public research is the natural way to pursue the latter.
  • ✗ (b) The passage faults an IPR regime that creates private monopolies, but it mentions neither the WTO nor abolishing IPR altogether.
  • ✗ (c) Barring private firms from agribusiness is an extreme step the passage never proposes.
  • ✗ (d) The passage wants 'widespread and careful adoption' of GM technology with better priorities — not rejection of GM crops.

Remember · When a passage faults who sets an agenda, the crucial message is usually a change of agenda-setter, not a ban or total rejection.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2019, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·

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