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Difficulty: HardStatement and Assumptions

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed all coal-fired thermal power plants located within a 50 km radius of the National Capital Region to immediately switch to beneficiated coal containing no more than 34% ash, warning of immediate closure for non-compliance.

Which of the following assumptions are implicit in the given statement? (Select all that apply)

  1. It is technologically and logistically feasible for the thermal power plants within this radius to procure and transition to beneficiated coal.Answer
  2. The threat of immediate closure is a sufficient deterrent to motivate the targeted power plants to comply with the new coal specifications.Answer
  3. C
    Non-compliant thermal power plants will be forced to halt their operations immediately.
  4. D
    Before this directive, every coal-fired thermal power plant in the region was using coal with an ash content significantly higher than 34%.

Answer

The implicit assumptions are that it is feasible for power plants to procure the specified coal, and that the threat of immediate closure serves as an effective deterrent.
An assumption is an unstated premise that must be true for the given statement to be logically sound. The directive requires an immediate switch to a specific type of coal, which inherently assumes that such a transition is technologically and logistically possible. Furthermore, by explicitly warning of immediate closure, the Board assumes that this severe penalty will act as an effective deterrent to enforce compliance. Both represent necessary, unstated foundations of the administrative directive.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the main action and purpose of the statement.
The CPCB is issuing a mandatory directive to switch to coal with a maximum of 34% ash, attaching a severe penalty (immediate closure) for non-compliance.
Understanding the components of an administrative order is necessary to evaluate the underlying premises behind it.
2
Evaluate the feasibility premise.
For the CPCB to issue an 'immediate' switch directive, it must assume that it is practically possible for the plants to obtain and use this specific grade of coal.
An administrative order is illogical if compliance is inherently impossible.
3
Evaluate the enforcement premise.
The CPCB attaches the penalty of 'immediate closure' assuming that this specific threat will effectively compel the plants to adhere to the new rule.
Penalties are designed with the underlying assumption that they act as sufficient deterrents.
4
Filter out direct inferences and unnecessary factual conditions.
Statements that merely restate the penalty (explicit facts) or assume every plant is currently non-compliant (extreme factual conditions) are discarded.
Assumptions must be unstated and logically necessary for the statement to hold, distinguishing them from inferences or external facts.

Key Concept

Identifying unstated logical premises (assumptions) required for an administrative directive to be enforceable and logically valid.
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Topics

Statement and Assumptions

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