Question

Read the following passage carefully: 

The Rise of Electric Vehicles in India:
(1)	Electric Vehicles (EVs) are gaining significant traction globally. In India, the push for EVs is driven by concerns over air pollution, rising fuel costs and government’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions. The Indian Government has set ambitious targets for EV adoption, aiming for 30% of private cars, 70% of commercial vehicles, and 80% of two wheelers and three-wheelers to be electric by 2030.
(2)	The benefits of EVs extend beyond environmental impact: Lower running cost due to cheaper electricity, reduces maintenance because of fewer moving parts, and lowers noise pollution in urban areas.
(3)	Despite the promising outlook, the EV industry in India faces several challenges currently. While public charging stations are slowly increasing, their availability, especially in semi-urban and rural areas, remains a bottleneck. The initial high purchase cost of EVs and concerns about range or the fear of running out of charge are other causes of anxiety.
(4)	To overcome these hurdles, the government is offering subsidies and tax benefits to make EVs more affordable. Private companies are investing in developing new EV models with improved battery technology for longer ranges and battery swapping technology is also being explored as a quick alternative to traditional charging.
(5)	The Indian EV market is witnessing rapid growth, with sales figures steadily climbing. In 2023, India recorded sales of over 1.5 million EVs, a significant jump from previous years. Two-wheelers dominated the sales, followed by three-wheelers and then passenger cars. States like Maharashtra, Delhi, and Karnataka have emerged as leaders in EV adoption, largely due to supportive state policies and greater awareness among consumers.

Answer the following questions, based on the above passage:

1. Electric vehicles offer multiple benefits in India. 2
   Support the above statement in 40 words with evidence from the text.
2. Select the option that is true for the assertion and reason given below: 1
   Assertion: EVs are gaining traction in India.
   Reason: The Indian government is committed to reducing carbon emissions.
   1. Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
   2. Both the assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
   3. The assertion is true, but the reason is false.
   4. The assertion is false, but the reason is true.
3. Justify the following statement: 1
   Despite governmental support, the initial cost of EVs remains a challenge for consumers.
4. Complete the following with one suitable reason from the text: 1
   The silent operation of EVs contributes to better urban living because ______.
5. “In 2023, India recorded sales of over 1.5 million EVs, a significant jump from previous years.”  1
   State any one inference that can be drawn from the above statement.
6. According to the passage, what is ‘range anxiety’ in the context of electric vehicles? 1
7. Based on the given text, which type of EV dominated sales in India in 2023? 1
8. Complete the sentence suitably: 1
   To address the challenge of charging infrastructure, various initiatives are being undertaken, such as ______.
9. Give one reason to support why the adoption of EVs is slow in some parts of India. 1

Answer 1

1. Electric vehicles offer multiple benefits in India. They help reduce air pollution and carbon emissions. EVs have lower running costs due to cheaper electricity, require less maintenance because of fewer moving parts, and reduce noise pollution in urban areas.
2. Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
3. Despite subsidies and tax benefits, the initial high purchase cost of EVs is still mentioned as a major challenge for consumers.
4. The silent operation of EVs contributes to better urban living because they reduce noise pollution in urban areas.
5. The demand and adoption of electric vehicles in India are increasing rapidly.
6. ‘Range anxiety’ refers to the fear of running out of charge before reaching a charging station.
7. Two-wheelers dominated sales in India in 2023.
8. To address the challenge of charging infrastructure, various initiatives are being undertaken, such as developing battery swapping technology and increasing public charging stations.
9. One reason is the limited availability of public charging stations, especially in semi-urban and rural areas.