Question

Directions (191-198) : Read the passage given below and answer the questions by choosing the best/most appropriate options: 1. After independence there have been some government initiatives for public libraries such as the National Mission of Public Libraries, improving school library services as part of five-year plans for education and assistance, and provision of grants by the RRRLF for library programmes aimed at training and development. A few public libraries in village and talukas have also been given financial aid in the construction of buildings and upkeep of facilities. However, these programmes have been ad-hoc and not administered with concerted efforts by the Ministry of Culture, which manages the National Library of India and the National Archives of India. 2. Several libraries remain in poor conditions with no concerted programmes–for example, district of Bihar that housed 12,000 tattered books, managed by a librarian who was paid ` 700 per month – the cost of a meal for one at a mid–range restaurant in a metro city. Nevertheless, several students visited the library daily to study for their exams. 3. There were 70,817 libraries in rural areas and 4,580 in urban areas serving a population of more than 830 million and 370 million, respectively, according to the 2011 Census where libraries were notified (Officially identified) for the first time. These numbers roughly translate to one rural library for every 11,500 people, and one urban library for over 80,000 people. However, there is no precise information on the functionality and level of service capabilities of running through the support of private donors or NGOs. The word ‘upkeep’ in para 1 means

• A. improvement
• B. beautification
• C. maintenance
• D. management

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

The word ‘upkeep’ in paragraph 1 means ‘maintenance’. The word ‘maintenance’ means- keeping something is good condition. Hence, option (C) is the correct answer.