Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: 1. Organic farming is inherently unsafe for both farmers and consumers. 2. Farmers and consumers need to be educated about eco-friendly food. Which of the assumptions given above is/are correct?

CSAT 2023 paper

UPSC CSE CSAT 2023 · Question 33 · Reading comprehension

Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

Passage—2

There is a claim that organic farming is inherently safer and healthier. The reality is that because the organic farming industry is still young and not well-regulated in India, farmers and consumers, alike, are not only confused about what products are best for them, but sometimes use products in ways that could harm them as well. For example, since organic fertilizers are difficult to obtain on a large scale in India, farmers often use farmyard manure, which may contain toxic chemicals and heavy metals. Certain plant sprays, such as Datura flower and leaf spray, have an element called atropine. If it is not applied in the right dose, it can act on the nervous system of the consumer. Unfortunately, how much and when to use it are not well-researched or regulated issues.

CSAT 2023 · Q33

Reading comprehension Medium

Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

1.Organic farming is inherently unsafe for both farmers and consumers.
2.Farmers and consumers need to be educated about eco-friendly food.

Which of the assumptions given above is/are correct?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (b) 2 only

The author disputes the claim that organic farming is inherently safer, but traces the dangers to a young, poorly regulated industry and to confusion and misuse by farmers and consumers. So the passage assumes they need to be better informed, not that organic farming is unsafe by nature.

✗ 1. The risks come from poor regulation, substitutes such as contaminated manure and wrong doses of sprays, not from organic farming itself; 'inherently unsafe' goes too far.
✓ 2. Farmers and consumers are 'confused about what products are best for them' and use products in harmful ways, which presumes that educating them would help.

Remember · Rejecting 'inherently safe' does not mean 'inherently unsafe'; watch for options that flip a claim to its extreme opposite.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2023, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·

Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

Passage—2

CSAT 2023 · Q33

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