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CSAT 2021 paper

UPSC CSE CSAT 2021 · Question 62 · Reading comprehension

Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea of the passage given above?

Passage—2

In our schools; we teach our children all that is there to know about physics, maths and history and what-have-you. But do we teach them about the bitter caste divide that plagues the country, about the spectre of famine that stalks large parts of our land, about gender sensitivity, about the possibility of atheism as a choice, etc.? Equally important, do we teach them to ask questions, or do we teach them only to passively receive our wisdom? From the cocooned world of school, suddenly, the adolescent finds himself/herself in the unfettered world of university. Here he/she is swept up in a turmoil of ideas, influences and ideologies. For someone who has been discouraged from asking questions and forming an opinion, this transition can be painful.

CSAT 2021 · Q62

Reading comprehension Medium

Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea of the passage given above?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (d) To be a better citizen, the present world order demands societal and life-coping skills in addition to academic content.

Schools teach physics, maths and history but not caste, famine, gender sensitivity or the habit of asking questions, so the move into the open world of university can be painful. The central idea is that academic content must be complemented by societal and life-coping skills.

  • ✗ (a) The expectations of children and parents are not discussed.
  • ✗ (b) The passage suggests the opposite — schools neglect social awareness and questioning.
  • ✗ (c) The passage does not frame the issue as the education system's responsibility for citizenship; its concern is the specific skills and awareness that are missing alongside academics.
  • ✓ (d) Awareness of social realities and the ability 'to ask questions' and form opinions are needed in addition to 'physics, maths and history' — without them the transition 'can be painful'.

Remember · A central idea often has an 'in addition to' shape: the passage accepts what exists and asks for what is missing.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2021, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·

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