SSC CGL 2025 Tier-I · 14 September 2025, Shift 3 · English Comprehension · Question 17 of 95

We transcribed this text from the pictures on a candidate's response sheet for this shift; the answer is the key SSC colour-marked on that sheet. Solution last reviewed 13 September 2026.

Read the following passage and answer the questions based on the passage:
India’s digital transformation over the last decade has been nothing short of revolutionary. What began as a modest attempt to expand internet access has now evolved into one of the largest digital ecosystems in the world. Spearheaded by government initiatives such as Digital India, the country has witnessed an unprecedented surge in internet penetration, digital payments, and online governance. A pivotal moment in this journey was the launch of Aadhaar, a biometric-based identification system that enabled secure and streamlined access to various public services. Coupled with the rise of Unified Payments Interface (UPI), India has leapfrogged traditional banking hurdles and facilitated real-time, low-cost transactions across urban and rural regions alike. Significantly, the pandemic acted as an unexpected catalyst. As lockdowns forced physical distancing, citizens turned to digital alternatives—telemedicine, online education, and remote work became not just accessible but essential. This sudden shift forced both public and private sectors to rethink infrastructure and embrace scalable tech solutions. However, the digital journey hasn’t been without obstacles. A persistent digital divide remains, particularly between urban and rural populations. While metros enjoy high-speed broadband, many villages struggle with basic connectivity. Moreover, concerns around data privacy, cybersecurity, and misinformation have emerged as pressing issues in this digital age. Nonetheless, India’s digital growth story remains a testament to its adaptability and ambition. With over 850 million internet users and counting, the nation stands at a crucial intersection—where robust digital policy, inclusive access, and responsible innovation will determine the trajectory of its digital future.

Which factor unexpectedly accelerated India’s digital adoption?

(a)Demonetisation
(b)GST Implementation
(c)COVID-19 pandemic
(d)Global recession

Answer

Why

Correct — C. The question's unexpectedly accelerated echoes the passage: Significantly, the pandemic acted as an unexpected catalyst.

The next sentence ties it to lockdowns: as they forced physical distancing, citizens turned to telemedicine, online education and remote work.

The passage says the pandemic, and COVID-19 pandemic is the option that names it → option (c).

Why the others are wrong

(a)
Demonetisation — Demonetisation is not mentioned in the passage. Whatever its real-world effect, the question asks what the passage calls the unexpected catalyst.
(b)
GST Implementation — GST Implementation appears nowhere in the passage, which discusses no tax reform. It is a general-knowledge lure.
(d)
Global recession — Global recession is absent from the passage. The catalyst the text names is the pandemic, with its lockdowns and physical distancing, and no economic downturn is mentioned.

Concept

This is a keyword-echo question. The stem's unexpectedly points straight at the passage's unexpected catalyst, and that sentence names the cause: the pandemic.

The passage then gives the mechanism. Lockdowns forced physical distancing, and telemedicine, online education and remote work became not just accessible but essential.

That sudden shift forced both public and private sectors to rethink infrastructure.

The passage never prints COVID-19. It says the pandemic and lockdowns, and the option supplies the name. None of the other options is a pandemic.

Key facts

The passage: Significantly, the pandemic acted as an unexpected catalyst.
Lockdowns forced physical distancing, and citizens turned to telemedicine, online education and remote work.
The shift forced both public and private sectors to rethink infrastructure.

Study next

Keyword echoes between question and passage (unexpectedly and unexpected catalyst)Options that name a real event the passage never mentionsCause-and-effect questions in comprehension

Common traps

Picking Demonetisation from general knowledge about digital payments. The passage never mentions it.
Hesitating because the passage says the pandemic, not COVID-19. The option only supplies the name.

Q.15 to Q.19 of the 14 Sep 2025, 16:00 sitting share this passage. Q.15 is keyed Digital India from Spearheaded by government initiatives such as Digital India, and Q.19 is keyed Inclusive access and responsible tech from the closing sentence.

Related PYQs

No directly related past PYQ was found.

Topic: Reading comprehension — all 128 SSC CGL questions on it, every solved shift.

Read the following passage and answer the questions based on the passage:
India’s digital transformation over the last decade has been nothing short of revolutionary. What began as a modest attempt to expand internet access has now evolved into one of the largest digital ecosystems in the world. Spearheaded by government initiatives such as Digital India, the country has witnessed an unprecedented surge in internet penetration, digital payments, and online governance. A pivotal moment in this journey was the launch of Aadhaar, a biometric-based identification system that enabled secure and streamlined access to various public services. Coupled with the rise of Unified Payments Interface (UPI), India has leapfrogged traditional banking hurdles and facilitated real-time, low-cost transactions across urban and rural regions alike. Significantly, the pandemic acted as an unexpected catalyst. As lockdowns forced physical distancing, citizens turned to digital alternatives—telemedicine, online education, and remote work became not just accessible but essential. This sudden shift forced both public and private sectors to rethink infrastructure and embrace scalable tech solutions. However, the digital journey hasn’t been without obstacles. A persistent digital divide remains, particularly between urban and rural populations. While metros enjoy high-speed broadband, many villages struggle with basic connectivity. Moreover, concerns around data privacy, cybersecurity, and misinformation have emerged as pressing issues in this digital age. Nonetheless, India’s digital growth story remains a testament to its adaptability and ambition. With over 850 million internet users and counting, the nation stands at a crucial intersection—where robust digital policy, inclusive access, and responsible innovation will determine the trajectory of its digital future.