On the day of writing this, India had reported 116 deaths from COVID-19. In contrast, the US, with around one-fourth the population of India, reported 1,897 deaths, or 16 times the daily deaths as India. The UK, which has one-twentieth the population of India, reported 592 deaths, or 5 times the daily deaths as India. On other metrics too-new cases, active cases-the Indian curve has flattened. If and when the UK and the US achieve what we have, there will be major celebrations. Such low death rates would be seen as a victory of the government, citizens and science over the dreaded coronavirus. However, because we are India, we don’t get as much credit. We are considered poor, third-world and untrustworthy, incapable of achieving something like this on our own. Instead of learning from India’s experience, the first instinct is to doubt Indian data. We aren’t counting the cases right, we aren’t doing enough tests, we don’t classify the deaths properly-the list of doubts goes on and on. This, even as the tests have only increased, positivity rate has dropped and almost all Indian hospitals are seeing a drop in COVID-19 admissions and fatalities. To think that the Deep Indian State is capable of fudging data at the level of every district and every state, and sustaining this façade for months is giving it way too much credit. Conspiracies require enormous co-ordination and effort and it isn’t quite how things work in India. Given that you can check corona data at every ward level, it is also impossible to fudge data, not to mention create a downwards curve that is moving in the same direction in virtually every corner of India. In terms of testing, while a case might be made for a lot of Indians not getting tested, it is also true that random testing has increased in the last few months. Domestic flyers into Maharashtra from many states for instance, have to get a COVID-19 test done irrespective of symptoms. If there was rampant corona, we would see a spike in cases from just these flyers. It may be hard for people to accept this reality but almost all evidence points to the fact India has flattened the corona curve, while the US, UK and most of Europe still haven’t. What is even more remarkable about India’s achievement is that it has managed to do this without draconian lockdowns (apart from the two months in April-May 2020). In fact, cases have dropped even as India opened up more.
According to the given passage, which of the following statements is not true?
Correct Answer :
Developed nations are reluctant to learn from India’s experience as Indian data is doubtful.
Solution :
Correct Option: Developed nations are reluctant to learn from India’s experience as Indian data is doubtful.
To determine which statement is not true according to the passage, let us analyze the passage text against each given option:
1. "Developed nations are reluctant to learn from India’s experience as Indian data is doubtful."
The passage states: "Instead of learning from India’s experience, the first instinct is to doubt Indian data." It also mentions that the Indian state is given too much credit by thinking it is fudging data at every level, and that doubts exist. However, the passage explicitly refutes the idea that Indian data is actually doubtful or fudged, calling it "impossible to fudge data" and providing evidence that testing has increased, positivity rates dropped, and hospital admissions dropped across all districts. Therefore, stating that "Indian data is doubtful" as a matter of fact is inaccurate/not true according to the author's argument and findings in the passage.
2. "India does not get as much credit for tackling the COVID-19 pandemic."
This statement is explicitly supported by the passage: "However, because we are India, we don’t get as much credit." Thus, this statement is true according to the text.
3. "India is seen as a poor, third-world country."
This statement is explicitly supported by the passage: "We are considered poor, third-world and untrustworthy..." Thus, this statement is true according to the text.
4. "There may be unauthorised networks of power operating independently of the Indian state’s political leadership..."
The passage mentions the concept of the "Deep Indian State" in the sentence: "To think that the Deep Indian State is capable of fudging data at the level of every district and every state, and sustaining this façade for months is giving it way too much credit." This defines the notion of a "Deep State" in context, which is discussed in the text.
Hence, the option that represents an untrue statement based on the passage's factual premise and main argument is Developed nations are reluctant to learn from India’s experience as Indian data is doubtful.
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