Passage

More than half of Indian women and almost a quarter of Indian men of working age suffer from anaemia. According to studies, they are anywhere from 5-15% less productive than they could be, as aresult thereof. India also has the largest tuberculosis burden in the world, costing 170 million workdays to the country annually. But what is just as important as lost productivity now is lost potential in the future. It is becoming increasingly clear that on many measures of cognitive ability, malnourished Indian children perform, two or three times worse than their adequately nourished peers. For an economy that will be more dependent on highly skilled workers, this poses a significant challenge. And it is one that really should be addressed given India's demographic outlook.

QUESTION

CSAT

Easy

Comprehension

Prelims 2023

Which one the following statements best reflects what is implied by the passage?

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Option A is incorrect: While education might be indirectly related to the issue discussed in the passage, the text does not specifically address or imply anything about education or the rural area. It focuses on health and nutrition issues affecting productivity and cognitive abilities.

Option B is incorrect: This option, like (A), does not directly tie into the specific issues addressed in the passage. The primary focus is on health and nutrition problems and their impact on productivity and cognitive abilities, not on skill development.

Option C is incorrect: This is partly correct, as the passage implies that the health and nutrition of workers (skilled or otherwise) affect productivity and cognitive abilities, which are crucial for economic development. However, the passage does not suggest that only skilled workers need special attention in this respect. It mentions malnourished children and people of working age in general.

Option D is correct: For rapid economic growth as envisaged by us, attention should be paid to the health and nutrition of the people: This Option is most aligned with the passage's implications. The text discusses the impact of health issues like anemia and tuberculosis on productivity, the effect of malnutrition on cognitive abilities in children, and the future needs of an economy increasingly reliant on highly skilled workers. The implication is that addressing health and nutrition issues is crucial for India's economic growth.

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