Urbanisation, slums and environment – UGC NET Question

Statements A, B, D and E are correct as they describe typical service deficits, risks and participatory solutions in informal settlements. Lack of basic services and marginal locations increase environmental health risks, and involving residents helps design appropriate upgrading interventions. Statements C and F are false because environmental conditions in slums strongly influence health, and air pollution does affect residents, who may even be more exposed. The correct combination therefore includes A, B, D and E only.

Option A:
Option A is correct since it brings together all true statements about service gaps, risk exposure, health benefits of upgrading and the value of participation. It rightly excludes C and F, which deny well-documented links between environment and health in slums.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it includes C, which wrongly claims that environmental conditions do not affect health outcomes. Adding this false statement makes the overall combination unacceptable.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect as it includes F, which denies the impact of air pollution on slum dwellers, and omits A. Air pollution clearly affects slum inhabitants, often living near busy roads or industrial areas, so accepting F is inconsistent with evidence.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it again accepts F and leaves out B, thus ignoring the importance of hazardous locations while including a clearly wrong statement about pollution.