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    Question

    There are many industries where India has an advantage

    because of relatively lower Costs of all forms of manpower whether it is professional or factory labour. However, while this can give initial advantage, it should not be taken for an enduring advantage due to the following reasons. One as products become more sophisticated, labour as cost factor becomes less and less important. Two, the differences in costs are narrowed down through a higher level of automation. There, in processes that require large number of cheap labour, the industry is bound to shift its operation along; the line of the ever-declining scale of poorer countries.  So a poorer country than India can eventually overtake us with yet cheaper labour. Therefore, when one has established an export market on the basis of cheaper manpower …………..   In each of the following questions a short passage is given with one of the lines in the passage missing and represented by a blank. Select the best out of the five answer choices given, to make the passage complete and coherent.  
    A One has to be vigilant to make sure that one builds up other advantages to compensate for the inevitable loss of this temporary advantage. Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    B One has to be vigilant to make sure that this advantage should not be given away Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    C One need not be vigilant as there is no competition in the near future Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    D There is a need for caution to see the variations in labour charges of other countries Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    E There is a need to build this cheap labour on a regular basis Correct Answer Incorrect Answer

    Solution

    The passage discusses how India’s advantage in lower labor costs may not be sustainable due to advancements in automation and shifts in industry towards countries with even cheaper labor. The blank in the last sentence should logically follow this reasoning and emphasize the need for additional competitive advantages to maintain relevance in export markets. Option (a) aligns with the passage’s logic that reliance on cheaper manpower is temporary. It suggests vigilance to create other competitive strengths, which is the most coherent and fitting choice to complete the passage.

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