With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: I. Automobile factories are examples of the circular economy. II. Economic growth is compatible with circular use of mineral resources. Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

CSAT 2025 paper

UPSC CSE CSAT 2025 · Question 44 · Reading comprehension

With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

Passage—2

In only 50 years, the world’s consumption of raw materials has nearly quadrupled, to more than 100 billion tons. Less than 9% of this is reused. Batteries of old vehicles contain materials such as lithium, cobalt, manganese and nickel that are pricey and can be hard to obtain. Supply chains are long and complicated. Buyers’ risks are being aggravated by their suppliers’ poor environmental and labour standards. Reusing materials makes sense. Once batteries reach the ends of their lives, they should go back to a factory where their ingredients can be recovered and put into new batteries.

CSAT 2025 · Q44

Reading comprehension Medium

With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

I.Automobile factories are examples of the circular economy.
II.Economic growth is compatible with circular use of mineral resources.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (b) II only

The author recommends recycling battery materials so that fast-growing demand can be met, which assumes that growth and circular use of minerals can go together. The passage does not say automobile factories are already circular; it says batteries should be sent back to a factory.

✗ I The passage says old batteries 'should go back to a factory' where their ingredients can be recovered — a recommendation. It never says automobile factories already work this way.
✓ II Raw-material use has nearly quadrupled, and the author's answer is to reuse materials rather than cut production. This takes for granted that economic activity can keep growing on recycled minerals.

Remember · A recommendation ('should go back to a factory') is not a description of current practice; do not read 'should' as 'is'.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2025, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·

With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

Passage—2

CSAT 2025 · Q44

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