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CSAT 2026 paper

UPSC CSE CSAT 2026 · Question 55 · Reading comprehension

Which of the following statements are not correct?

Directions for the next 2 (two) items: Read the following passage and answer the items that follow. Your answers should be based solely on the passage.

Passage

Cattle from the nearby villages came to the common ground to graze, and there was still a cool freshness in the air. Hori took several deep breaths and thought of sitting down for a while, since he’d be dying of heat in the scorching ‘loo’ wind the rest of the day. A number of farmers were eager to lease this bit of land and had offered a good price, but Rai Sahib—God bless him—had plainly told them it was reserved for grazing and would not be relinquished for any price. If he’d been one of those selfish Zamindars, he’d have said the cattle could go to hell, that there was no reason for him to miss the chance to make a little money. But the Rai Sahib still held to the old values, feeling that any landlord who didn’t look after his tenants was less than human.

CSAT 2026 · Q55

Reading comprehension Medium Provisional key

Which of the following statements are not correct?

  1. 1.The landholdings of Rai Sahib were currently not being used for farming
  2. 2.Temperamentally, Rai Sahib was as greedy as other landlords.
  3. 3.It cannot be ascertained that Rai Sahib could have made some money by leasing out the grazing land.
  4. 4.It may be asserted that Rai Sahib valued his tenants and wanted to protect their livelihood.

Select the answer using the code given below.

Answer & explanation

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Only statement 4 fits the passage: Rai Sahib kept the grazing land for the villagers' cattle out of concern for his tenants. The passage speaks only of 'this bit of land', contrasts him with greedy landlords, and says farmers offered him a good price.

  • ✗ 1. Only 'this bit of land' was reserved for grazing; nothing is said about the rest of his landholdings.
  • ✗ 2. He is explicitly contrasted with 'those selfish Zamindars' who would grab the money.
  • ✗ 3. It can be ascertained: farmers 'had offered a good price' to lease the land.
  • ✓ 4. He refused to lease the grazing land 'for any price' and felt a landlord who did not look after his tenants was 'less than human'.

Remember · In 'not correct' items, reject overgeneralisations (one plot → all landholdings) and claims the passage directly contradicts.

Question and answer: UPSC's provisional GS Paper II (2026, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·

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