Read the following passage carefully and answer the followi…

Q1. [10]

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.

Read the following passage carefully and answer the following questions, based on the above passage.

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

Previously asked in CBSE board exam

2026 2/5/1 Q2

Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 07:09 · grounding stimulus

Model Answer

(i) EVs offer multiple benefits in India. They have lower running costs due to cheaper electricity and require less maintenance because of fewer moving parts. Additionally, they reduce noise pollution in urban areas, making cities more liveable and environmentally friendly.

(ii) (A) Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.

(iii) Although the government offers subsidies and tax benefits to make EVs more affordable, the initial high purchase cost of EVs is still a concern, making them difficult for many consumers to afford.

(iv) The silent operation of EVs contributes to better urban living because EVs lower noise pollution in urban areas.

(v) One inference is that EV adoption in India is growing rapidly and gaining consumer acceptance, as sales crossed 1.5 million in 2023, showing a significant rise compared to previous years.

(vi) 'Range anxiety' refers to the fear of running out of charge before reaching a destination, i.e., the concern that an EV's battery will not last long enough for the journey.

(vii) Two-wheelers dominated EV sales in India in 2023, followed by three-wheelers and then passenger cars.

(viii) To address the challenge of charging infrastructure, various initiatives are being undertaken, such as increasing public charging stations and exploring battery swapping technology as a quick alternative to traditional charging.

(ix) The adoption of EVs is slow in some parts of India because public charging stations are not sufficiently available, especially in semi-urban and rural areas, creating a bottleneck.

Source: "The Rise of Electric Vehicles in India," paragraphs 1–5

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Explanation

(i) requires evidence from the text — always quote or paraphrase specific details (running cost, maintenance, noise).
(ii) The reason (government commitment to reducing carbon emissions) is indeed one of the stated drivers of EV growth, so it directly explains the assertion → Option A.
(iii) "Justify" means acknowledge the challenge despite the support — link subsidies to the still-existing high cost.
(iv) This is a fill-in-the-blank; lift directly from paragraph 2.
(v) An "inference" goes one step beyond the fact — the student should conclude what the statistic implies (rapid growth/acceptance).
(vi) The passage defines it indirectly as "the fear of running out of charge" — always use the passage's own words.
(vii) Factual recall from paragraph 5.
(viii) Two solutions are given in paragraph 4; mention at least one.
(ix) Paragraph 3 clearly states charging infrastructure gaps in semi-urban/rural areas as the bottleneck.

English Language & Literature — CBSE Class 10 board question