Minimalist IAS
CSAT 2022 paper

UPSC CSE CSAT 2022 · Question 44 · Reading comprehension

With reference to the passage, which of the following inferences can be drawn?

Passage—2

The demographic dividend, which has begun in India and is expected to last another few decades, is a great window of opportunity. The demographic dividend is basically a swelling in the working age population, which conversely means that the relative ratio of very young and very old will, for a while, be on the decline. From the experience of Ireland and China, we know that this can be a source of energy and an engine of economic growth. The demographic dividend tends to raise a nation’s savings rate since in any nation, it is the working age population that is the main saver. And since the savings rate is an important driver of growth, this should help elevate our growth rate. However, the benefits of demographic dividend depend on the quality of the working age population. And this implies bringing back the importance of education, acquisition of skills and human capital.

CSAT 2022 · Q44

Reading comprehension Medium

With reference to the passage, which of the following inferences can be drawn?

  1. 1.Demographic dividend is an essential condition for a country to rapidly increase its economic growth rate.
  2. 2.Promotion of higher education is an essential condition for a country for its rapid economic growth.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Answer & explanation

Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

The passage says the demographic dividend can drive growth and that its benefits depend on education and skills. It never calls either an essential condition for rapid growth, and it does not single out higher education.

  • ✗ 1. The dividend “can be a source of energy and an engine of economic growth” — a help, not a precondition; nothing says growth is impossible without it.
  • ✗ 2. The passage names education, skills and human capital as what makes the dividend pay off; making higher education an essential condition for all rapid growth goes beyond it.

Remember · ‘Can help’ is not ‘essential condition’; reject inferences that turn a contributing factor into a necessity.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2022, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·

More on Reading comprehension

All Reading comprehension questions →