Which one of the following statements best reflects the crux of the above passage?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (a) Responsible media should not distort the real in an ideal democracy.
The passage insists that in a robust democracy reality, however inconvenient, must be expressed transparently, and that a responsible media must ‘circulate the content of reality without distortion’. That is option (a).
- ✓ (a) ‘A normatively responsible media … has the responsibility to circulate the content of reality without distortion’ in a robust democracy.
- ✗ (b) The passage demands undistorted reality; it never treats fake news as a natural part of democracy.
- ✗ (c) The passage is about truthful expression of reality, not about removing every restriction on free speech; ‘any kind’ is extreme.
- ✗ (d) Controlling media or leaders is not discussed; the passage says what a responsible media ought to do.
Remember · The crux usually sits in the passage’s prescriptive sentence (‘has the responsibility to…’).
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2024, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·