A question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the Question and the Statements and mark the correct option.
Question:
How is Q related to P?
- Statement I: P has two sisters, R and S.
- Statement II: R’s father is the brother of Q.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Question and the Statements?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (d) The Question cannot be answered even using any of the Statements.
Together the statements show that Q is a brother or sister of P's father, but Q's gender is never given. Q could be P's uncle or aunt, so the relation cannot be fixed even with both statements.
- Statement I alone tells us about P's sisters but nothing about Q.
- Statement II alone links Q to R's father, but not to P.
- Together: R is P's sister, so R's father is P's father, and Q is a sibling of P's father.
- Q's gender is not given, so Q could be P's paternal uncle or aunt.
- The question cannot be answered even using both statements.
- ✗ Statement I Says nothing about Q.
- ✗ Statement II Links Q only to R's father; even combined with I, Q may be P's uncle or aunt.
Remember · In relation-based sufficiency items, check gender: a relation that depends on an unknown gender is not determined.
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2025, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·