Directions : Each of the next FIVE (05) items consists of two statements, one labelled as the Assertion (A) and the other as ‘Reason (R)’. You are to examine these two statements carefully and select the answers to these items using the codes given below :
Codes :
Assertion (A) : Import of Chinese toys was recently banned by the Government of India.
Reason (R) : The plastic material used to make the toys are not biodegradable.
Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
A is true but R is false
A is false but R is true
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2009
– Reason (R) states that the plastic material used to make the toys is not biodegradable. This is generally true; many types of plastic commonly used in toys are not biodegradable.
– However, the primary reason cited by the Government of India for the ban on Chinese toys was not their non-biodegradability, but rather concerns about safety and quality standards, specifically high levels of lead and other toxic chemicals hazardous to children’s health.
– Therefore, while both statements are individually true, the non-biodegradability of the plastic was not the reason for the import ban. R is not the correct explanation for A.
– This highlights how regulatory decisions, especially regarding imports, are often driven by concerns for public health, safety, and adherence to quality standards, rather than environmental factors like biodegradability, although environmental concerns are also important in other policy contexts.