Passage-1

‍Today, if we consider cities such as New York, London and Paris as some of the most iconic cities in the world, it is because plans carrying a heavy systems approach were imposed on their precincts. The backbone of the systems theory is the process of translating social, spatial and cultural desirables into mathematical models using computing, statistics, optimization and an algorithmic way of formulating and solving problems. The early universities of the West which began to train professionals in planning, spawned some of the most ingenious planners, who were experts in these domains. This was because these very subjects were absorbed into the planning curriculum that had its roots in the social sciences, geography and architecture. Planning in India, and its education differ from the West.

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Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?

A. Curriculum for urban planning courses should have a diverse and interdisciplinary approach.
B. In India, city administration is under bureaucracy which lacks formal training in urban planning and management.
C. In India, the management of urban areas is a local affair with a chronic problem of insufficient funds.
D. With high density of population and widespread poverty in our urban areas, planned development in them is very difficult.

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Answer: A. Curriculum for urban planning courses should have a diverse and interdisciplinary approach.

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Explanation:

The passage highlights how cities like New York, London, and Paris succeeded in urban planning by using a "systems approach" that integrates various disciplines like mathematics, social sciences, geography, and architecture. It contrasts the planning and education methods in the West with those in India, suggesting that India's approach might not have the same interdisciplinary focus.

  • Option A is correct because the passage emphasizes the need for an interdisciplinary approach in urban planning education, drawing from fields like social sciences, geography, and architecture.
  • Option B is incorrect because while it discusses bureaucracy and training, the passage does not specifically mention India's city administration or bureaucracy.
  • Option C is incorrect as the passage does not mention local management or funding issues related to urban areas.
  • Option D is incorrect because the passage doesn’t discuss issues like population density or poverty as barriers to urban planning.

Thus, the most logical inference is Option A, which suggests a diverse and interdisciplinary approach to urban planning curricula.

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

  1. India needs a new generation of urban professionals with knowledge relevant to modern urban practice.
  2. Indian universities at present have no capacity or potential to impart training in systems approach.

Which of the assumptions given above is/are correct?

A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

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Answer: A. 1 only

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Explanation:

  • Assumption 1 is valid: The passage indicates that India's approach to urban planning and education differs from the West, which utilizes advanced systems approaches, mathematical models, and interdisciplinary techniques. This suggests a gap, implying that India requires a new generation of urban professionals who are equipped with knowledge relevant to modern urban practices.
  • Assumption 2 is invalid: While the passage contrasts urban planning education in India with the West, it does not claim that Indian universities completely lack the capacity to teach a systems approach. It only suggests that India's urban planning education differs from that in the West, without asserting an absolute lack of potential.

Therefore, Assumption 1 is correct, while Assumption 2 is not. The correct answer is A. 1 only.

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