Read the passage and answer the questions that follow. Some words may be highlighted for you. Pay careful attention.

The Directive Principle of State Policy to provide for primary education to all children has failed in its objectives. At present, almost half of India’s population is still illiterate. Through the ages, the illiterate masses have been exploited. The present-day politicians have exploited them for their perverted interests. This has resulted in the formation of unstable coalition governments at the Centre. Social evils like drug abuse, consumption of alcohol and child labour are a result of illiteracy among the masses. Kerala has concentrated on mass education and has, thus, controlled many social evils. With the nation hovering around the 1 billion marks and around 48 per cent of its population still illiterate, there is hardly a ray of hope for India. In the near future, the rising illiterate population would further impede the growth and development of the nation. The Directive Principles of State Policy inter alia provide that the State shall endeavour to provide for free and compulsory education to all children below the age of 14 years, within a period of ten years from the commencement of the Constitution of India. However, because of the lack of resources and foresight among politicians, this dream has never been realized. The prevalence of illiteracy among the masses has made them vulnerable to exploitation, as they are unaware of their rights and privileges. The Indian masses have through the age remained illiterate and naive because education had been the privilege of only the Brahmins and the upper classes. The under­privileged looked up to them, but never envied them. On the contrary, the masses resigned themselves to their fate. The Government launched the National Literacy Mission (NLM) with the objective of achieving total adult literacy in 1988. The objective was to achieve total adult literacy among 80 million adults in the age group of 15-35 by the year 1995. Non-Governmental Organization should also take part in the literacy mission to help the government in achieving its targets sooner than proposed. Though total adult literacy is a stupendous task, we must contribute our bit in achieving the desired targets.