Read the following passage and answer the item that follows. Your answer to this item should be based on the passage only.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally. Food is lost or wasted throughout the supply chain, from initial agricultural production to final household consumption. The increasing wastage also results in land degradation by about 45%, mainly due to deforestation, unsustainable agricultural practices, and excessive groundwater extraction. The energy spent over wasted food results in about 3.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide production every year. Decay also leads to harmful emissions of other gases in the atmosphere. Addressing the loss and wastage of food in all forms is critical to complete the cycle of food sufficiency and food sustainability.
Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
1. The food distribution mechanism needs to be reimagined and made effective to reduce the loss and wastage of food.
2. Ensuring the reduction of wastage and loss of food is a social and moral responsibility of all citizens.
Which of the assumptions given above is/are valid?
A.1 only✓ Correct
B.2 only
C.Both 1 and 2
D.Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation
An assumption is something unstated yet necessary for the passage's argument to hold. Assumption 1 is valid because the passage stresses food is lost throughout the supply chain from production to household consumption and calls addressing this 'critical' — this implicitly assumes the distribution mechanism needs to be reimagined to fix the problem. Assumption 2 introduces a 'social and moral responsibility of all citizens' angle that the passage does not address; the passage frames the issue in environmental and sustainability terms, not as a moral duty of citizens. Hence only assumption 1 is valid.
💡 Practice unlimited UPSC CSE PYQs + AI-tracked progress on each topic. Sign up free →