Question

On the first day of January 2025, the Indian Meteorological Department [IMD] announced that 2024 was the hottest year on record. A study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water shows that nearly eight out of ten Indians live in districts that are at risk of either a flood, a cyclone, or a drought. Nearly twenty three States in India are heatwave-prone. In the summer of 2024, India recorded more than 44,000 cases of heatstroke and over 300 heat-related mortalities, as per the bulletin of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Water reservoirs and the energy demand that keeps India powered are impacted too. During a ten-day long heatwave in Delhi, peak power demand was 16% higher than the previous year.

• A. According to the Council, more than 20% of the population is not affected by climate change
• B. The increasing heat stress remains a major challenge, affecting public health and economic productivity
• C. However, the people of these districts are given sufficient compensation for loss of life and property
• D. The record-breaking heat of the summer of 2024 resulted in an unpredictable and delayed monsoon

Hint:

For inference questions, choose the statement that synthesizes multiple points from the text. A good inference often acts as a summary of the main idea, rather than just re-stating a single detail or making an unsupported leap.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question asks for the most accurate inference or summary that can be drawn from the provided passage. We need to evaluate each option against the information given in the text.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The passage details the widespread impact of climate change in India in 2024. It mentions that 2024 was the hottest year, most of the population is at risk, states are heatwave-prone, and there were significant health impacts (heatstroke, mortalities). It also mentions economic impacts (water reservoirs, energy demand).

Option (1) is a possible inference but is not the main point. The passage says "nearly eight out of ten" are at risk, which means "more than two out of ten" (or 20%) might not live in districts at risk of those specific events, but the passage doesn't say they are "not affected by climate change" in general. This is a weak inference.
Option (2) accurately summarizes the core message of the passage. The "increasing heat stress" (hottest year, heatwaves) is presented as a "major challenge" with clear effects on "public health" (mortalities, heatstroke) and "economic productivity" (impact on water and energy).
Option (3) is not supported by the passage. There is no mention of compensation being given.
Option (4) is not supported by the passage. There is no mention of the monsoon being delayed or unpredictable.
Option (2) provides the best and most comprehensive summary of the information presented in the paragraph.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The most accurate inference is that the increasing heat stress remains a major challenge, affecting public health and economic productivity.