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CSAT · 69 questions

Logical & analytical reasoning

Every UPSC CSAT question on this topic, 2016–2026, newest first. Tap an option to check yourself; the answer and explanation open below it.

Logical & analytical reasoning questions per year: 2016: 5, 2017: 8, 2018: 4, 2019: 8, 2020: 7, 2021: 7, 2022: 5, 2023: 5, 2024: 7, 2025: 7, 2026: 6 Asked in 11 of 11 years · most in 2019 (8)
Timed · 30 minutes a set Practise Logical & analytical reasoning as timed tests 3 sets of about 20 questions with UPSC's CSAT marking. Start practising

UPSC syllabus: “Logical reasoning and analytical ability;” Sub-topics in the detailed syllabus →

Showing 31–60 of 69, newest first.

CSAT 2021 · Q10

Easy

एक कथन नीचे दिया गया है, जिसके उपरांत निष्कर्ष-I और निष्कर्ष-II दिए गए हैं । आपको इस कथन को सही मानते हुए प्रश्नों का उत्तर देना है, भले ही यह सामान्य रूप से ज्ञात तथ्यों की दृष्टि से संगत प्रतीत न हो । सभी निष्कर्षों को पढ़ें और तत्पश्चात निर्णय करें कि कौन-सा/कौन-से निष्कर्ष दिए गए कथन के अनुसार तर्कसंगत है/हैं, भले ही वे सामान्य रूप से ज्ञात तथ्यों की दृष्टि से संगत न हों ।

  1. कथन.कुछ रेडियो, मोबाइल हैं । सभी मोबाइल, कंप्यूटर हैं । कुछ कंप्यूटर, घड़ी हैं ।
  2. निष्कर्ष-I: कुछ रेडियो निश्चित रूप से घड़ी हैं ।
  3. निष्कर्ष-II: कुछ मोबाइल निश्चित रूप से घड़ी हैं ।

निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा सही है ?

Read this question in English

A Statement followed by Conclusion-I and Conclusion-II is given below. You have to take the Statement to be true even if it seems to be at variance from the commonly known facts. Read all Conclusions and then decide which of the given Conclusion(s) logically follows/follow from the Statement, disregarding the commonly known facts.

Statement. Some radios are mobiles. All mobiles are computers. Some computers are watches.

Conclusion-I. Certainly some radios are watches.

Conclusion-II. Certainly some mobiles are watches.

Which one of the following is correct?

(a) Only Conclusion-I · (b) Only Conclusion-II · (c) Both Conclusion-I and Conclusion-II · (d) Neither Conclusion-I nor Conclusion-II

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (d) न तो निष्कर्ष-I, न ही निष्कर्ष-II

The only link to watches is 'some computers', and those computers need not include any mobile or radio. A diagram with the watches placed away from the mobiles fits every statement, so neither 'certainly' conclusion is forced.

  1. Some radios are mobiles and all mobiles are computers, so some radios are computers.
  2. 'Some computers are watches' does not say which computers.
  3. Draw the watches overlapping only the part of 'computers' that has no mobile and no radio — all three statements still hold.
  4. In that diagram no radio and no mobile is a watch, so neither conclusion is certain.
  • ✗ Conclusion-I Radios reach watches only through two 'some' links; a radio being a watch is possible but not certain.
  • ✗ Conclusion-II All mobiles are computers, but the computers that are watches may be the ones that are not mobiles.

Remember · A 'certainly' conclusion must hold in every possible diagram — try to draw one where it fails.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2021, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2021 · Q15

Medium

एक कथन नीचे दिया गया है, जिसके उपरांत निष्कर्ष-I और निष्कर्ष-II दिए गए हैं । आपको इस कथन को सही मानते हुए प्रश्नों का उत्तर देना है, भले ही यह सामान्य रूप से ज्ञात तथ्यों की दृष्टि से संगत प्रतीत न हो । सभी निष्कर्षों को पढ़ें और तत्पश्चात निर्णय करें कि कौन-सा/कौन-से निष्कर्ष दिए गए कथन के अनुसार तर्कसंगत है/हैं, भले ही वे सामान्य रूप से ज्ञात तथ्यों की दृष्टि से संगत न हों ।

  1. कथन.कुछ बिल्लियाँ अलमारी हैं । कुछ अलमारियाँ कुर्सी हैं । सभी कुर्सियाँ मेज़ हैं ।
  2. निष्कर्ष-I: कुछ अलमारियाँ निश्चित रूप से मेज़ हैं ।
  3. निष्कर्ष-II: कुछ बिल्लियाँ कुर्सी नहीं भी हो सकती हैं ।

निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा सही है ?

Read this question in English

A Statement followed by Conclusion-I and Conclusion-II is given below. You have to take the Statement to be true even if it seems to be at variance from the commonly known facts. Read all Conclusions and then decide which of the given Conclusion(s) logically follows/follow from the Statement, disregarding the commonly known facts.

Statement. Some cats are almirahs. Some almirahs are chairs. All chairs are tables.

Conclusion-I. Certainly some almirahs are tables.

Conclusion-II. Some cats may not be chairs.

Which one of the following is correct?

(a) Only Conclusion-I · (b) Only Conclusion-II · (c) Both Conclusion-I and Conclusion-II · (d) Neither Conclusion-I nor Conclusion-II

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (c) निष्कर्ष-I और निष्कर्ष-II दोनों

The almirahs that are chairs are also tables, so Conclusion-I is certain. Conclusion-II only claims a possibility ('may not'), and since nothing fixes how cats relate to chairs, that possibility is open — so both follow.

  1. Some almirahs are chairs and all chairs are tables, so those almirahs are tables — 'some almirahs are tables' is certain.
  2. Cats connect to chairs only through 'some almirahs', a particular link, so there is no definite relation between cats and chairs.
  3. With no definite relation, a diagram where some cats are not chairs is allowed — so 'some cats may not be chairs' follows.
  • ✓ Conclusion-I 'Some almirahs are chairs' + 'All chairs are tables' gives 'some almirahs are tables' with certainty.
  • ✓ Conclusion-II It states only a possibility; since the statements do not force every cat to be a chair, the possibility holds.

Remember · 'Some A are B' + 'All B are C' gives 'some A are C'. A 'may / may not' conclusion follows when no definite relation rules it out.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2021, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2021 · Q18

Easy

एक बैंक कर्मचारी अपने घर से दक्षिण की ओर 10 km गाड़ी चलाती है, फिर वह अपने बायीं ओर मुड़ती है और 20 km गाड़ी चलाती है । वह पुनः अपने बायीं ओर मुड़ती है और 40 km गाड़ी चलाती है, फिर वह अपने दायीं ओर मुड़ती है और 5 km गाड़ी चलाती है । वह पुनः अपने दायीं ओर मुड़ती है और 30 km गाड़ी चलाकर अपने बैंक पहुँचती है, जहाँ वह कार्यरत है । उसके बैंक और उसके घर के बीच न्यूनतम दूरी कितनी है ?

Read this question in English

A bank employee drives 10 km towards South from her house and turns to her left and drives another 20 km. She again turns left and drives 40 km, then she turns to her right and drives for another 5 km. She again turns to her right and drives another 30 km to reach her bank where she works. What is the shortest distance between her bank and her house?

(a) 20 km · (b) 25 km · (c) 30 km · (d) 35 km

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (b) 25 km

Tracking the turns, the north–south legs cancel out (10 south, 40 north, 30 south) and the east legs add to 20 + 5 = 25 km. The bank is 25 km due East of the house.

  1. Place the house at (0, 0), East as +x and North as +y.
  2. 10 km South → (0, −10). Facing South, a left turn faces East: 20 km → (20, −10).
  3. Left again faces North: 40 km → (20, 30). Right faces East: 5 km → (25, 30).
  4. Right again faces South: 30 km → (25, 0), the bank.
  5. The bank is 25 km due East of the house, so the shortest distance is 25 km.

Remember · Add the net East–West and North–South movements separately; use Pythagoras only if both are non-zero.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2021, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2021 · Q20

Easy

एक महिला उत्तर की ओर 12 km दौड़ती है, फिर वह दक्षिण की ओर 6 km तथा उसके पश्चात पूर्व की ओर 8 km दौड़ती है । अपने प्रस्थान बिंदु से वह किस दिशा में है ?

Read this question in English

A woman runs 12 km towards her North, then 6 km towards her South and then 8 km towards her East. In which direction is she from her starting point?

(a) An angle less than 45° South of East · (b) An angle less than 45° North of East · (c) An angle more than 45° South of East · (d) An angle more than 45° North of East

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (b) उत्तर-पूर्व में 45° से कम कोण पर

She ends 6 km North and 8 km East of the start. Because the northward part (6) is smaller than the eastward part (8), she is North of East at an angle below 45°.

  1. Net North = 12 − 6 = 6 km; East = 8 km.
  2. She is 8 km East and 6 km North of the start.
  3. tan θ = 6/8 = 0.75, which is less than 1, so the angle from East towards North is less than 45° (about 36.9°).

Remember · Compare the two net components: the direction lies within 45° of the axis with the larger component.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2021, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2021 · Q46

Medium

एक ग्राम में आधे ग्रामवासियों के अपने घर हैं । 1/5 ग्रामवासी धान की खेती करते हैं । 1/3 ग्रामवासी साक्षर हैं । 4/5 ग्रामवासियों की आयु 25 वर्ष से कम है । निम्नलिखित कथनों में से कौन-सा निश्चित रूप से सही है ?

Read this question in English

Half of the villagers of a certain village have their own houses. One-fifth of the villagers cultivate paddy. One-third of the villagers are literate. Four-fifth of the villagers are under 25 years of age. Which one of the following statements is certainly correct?

(a) All the villagers who have their own houses are literate. · (b) Some villagers under 25 years of age are literate. · (c) Only half of the villagers who cultivate paddy are literate. · (d) No villager under 25 years of age has his own house.

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (b) 25 वर्ष से कम आयु वाले कुछ ग्रामवासी साक्षर हैं ।

Fractions of the same village that add up to more than 1 must overlap. Under-25s (4/5) and literates (1/3) together make 17/15, so at least 2/15 of the villagers are both — some under-25s are certainly literate.

  1. Under 25: 4/5 of the villagers; literate: 1/3.
  2. 4/5 + 1/3 = 12/15 + 5/15 = 17/15, which is more than the whole village.
  3. So at least 17/15 − 1 = 2/15 of the villagers are both under 25 and literate — (b) is certain.
  4. Check the rest: house-owners (1/2) outnumber literates (1/3), so (a) is impossible; house-owners and under-25s (1/2 + 4/5 = 13/10) must overlap, so (d) is false; (c) cannot be fixed from the data.
  • ✗ (a) Half the villagers own houses but only a third are literate, so not all house-owners can be literate.
  • ✓ (b) 4/5 + 1/3 exceeds 1, so at least 2/15 of the villagers are both under 25 and literate.
  • ✗ (c) Nothing tells us how literacy is spread among paddy growers.
  • ✗ (d) 1/2 + 4/5 = 13/10 exceeds 1, so at least 3/10 of the villagers are under 25 and own a house.

Remember · If two fractions of one group add to more than 1, the excess over 1 is the guaranteed minimum overlap.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2021, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2021 · Q49

Easy

नीचे दिए गए दो कथनों और चार निष्कर्षों पर विचार कीजिए । आपको इन कथनों को सही मानते हुए प्रश्नों का उत्तर देना है, भले ही वे सामान्य रूप से ज्ञात तथ्यों की दृष्टि से संगत प्रतीत न हों । सभी निष्कर्षों को पढ़ें और तत्पश्चात निर्णय करें कि कौन-सा/कौन-से निष्कर्ष दिए गए कथनों के अनुसार तर्कसंगत है/हैं, भले ही वे सामान्य रूप से ज्ञात तथ्यों की दृष्टि से संगत न हों ।

  1. कथन-1: कुछ हरे नीले हैं ।
  2. कथन-2: कुछ नीले काले हैं ।
  3. निष्कर्ष-1: कुछ हरे काले हैं ।
  4. निष्कर्ष-2: कोई भी हरा काला नहीं है ।
  5. निष्कर्ष-3: सभी हरे काले हैं ।
  6. निष्कर्ष-4: सभी काले हरे हैं ।

निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा सही है ?

Read this question in English

Consider two Statements and four Conclusions given below. You have to take the Statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance from the commonly known facts. Read all Conclusions and then decide which of the given Conclusion(s) logically follows/follow from the Statements, disregarding the commonly known facts.

Statement-1. Some greens are blues.

Statement-2. Some blues are blacks.

Conclusion-1. Some greens are blacks.

Conclusion-2. No green is black.

Conclusion-3. All greens are blacks.

Conclusion-4. All blacks are greens.

Which one of the following is correct?

(a) Conclusion-1 and Conclusion-2 only · (b) Conclusion-2 and Conclusion-3 only · (c) Conclusion-3 and Conclusion-4 only · (d) Neither Conclusion 1 nor 2 nor 3 nor 4

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (d) न तो निष्कर्ष 1, न ही 2, न ही 3, न ही 4

Two 'some' statements joined only through blues give no definite link between greens and blacks. None of the four conclusions follows on its own; at most, 1 and 2 form an either-or pair, which no option offers.

  1. Both statements are particular ('some') and meet only in blues, so no definite relation between greens and blacks can be drawn.
  2. Conclusion-1 and Conclusion-2 are each possible, but neither is certain.
  3. Conclusions 3 and 4 ('all') cannot come from 'some' premises.
  4. None follows. (1 and 2 together make an either-or pair, but option (a) claims both follow, which is impossible.)
  • ✗ Conclusion-1 Greens and blacks may or may not overlap; nothing forces it.
  • ✗ Conclusion-2 A diagram with some greens being blacks fits the statements, so 'no green is black' is not certain.
  • ✗ Conclusion-3 An 'all' conclusion cannot follow from two 'some' statements.
  • ✗ Conclusion-4 Likewise, nothing says every black is green.

Remember · Two particular ('some') premises never give a definite conclusion; use the either-or rule only when an option offers 'either … or'.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2021, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2021 · Q56

Easy

एक कूट-भाषा में ‘MATHEMATICS’ को ‘LBSIDNZUHDR’ के रूप में लिखा जाता है । उस कूट-भाषा में ‘CHEMISTRY’ को कैसे लिखा जाएगा ?

Read this question in English

In a code language ‘MATHEMATICS’ is written as ‘LBSIDNZUHDR’. How is ‘CHEMISTRY’ written in that code language?

(a) DIDLHRSSX · (b) BIDNHTSSX · (c) BIDLHTSSX · (d) DGFLIRUQZ

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (b) BIDNHTSSX

The code moves letters alternately one step back and one step forward (M→L, A→B, T→S, H→I …). Applied to CHEMISTRY, this gives BIDNHTSSX.

  1. MATHEMATICS → LBSIDNZUHDR: M−1 = L, A+1 = B, T−1 = S, H+1 = I, E−1 = D, M+1 = N, A−1 = Z … — alternately −1 and +1.
  2. CHEMISTRY: C−1 = B, H+1 = I, E−1 = D, M+1 = N, I−1 = H, S+1 = T, T−1 = S, R+1 = S, Y−1 = X.
  3. Code: BIDNHTSSX.
  4. Check: (c) BIDLHTSSX differs only in the 4th letter — M+1 is N, not L.

Remember · In letter codes, write the shift under each letter; alternating shifts (−1, +1) are common. Compare options only where they differ.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2021, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2020 · Q15

Medium

निम्न विन्यास पर ध्यान दीजिए, जिसमें कुछ लुप्त वर्ण हैं :

abab_b_bcb_dcdcded_d

लुप्त वर्ण, जो कि विन्यास को पूर्ण करते हैं, हैं

Read this question in English

Consider the following arrangement that has some missing letters:

abab_b_bcb_dcdcded_d

The missing letters which complete the arrangement are

(a) a, b, c, d · (b) a, b, d, e · (c) a, c, c, e · (d) b, c, d, e

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (c) a, c, c, e

With a, c, c, e filled in, the string splits into four blocks of five letters — ababa, bcbcb, cdcdc, deded — each alternating two neighbouring letters. No other option gives a regular pattern.

  1. The completed string has 20 letters; try blocks of 5.
  2. Fill a, c, c, e: a b a b a | b c b c b | c d c d c | d e d e d.
  3. Each block alternates two consecutive letters (ab, bc, cd, de), starting where the last block ended.
  4. Check option (d) b, c, d, e: the first block becomes ababb, which breaks the alternation.

Remember · For letter-gap series, try splitting the full string into equal blocks; the blank count and length often reveal the block size.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2020, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2020 · Q19

Medium

एक परिवार की दो पीढ़ियों के छः सदस्यों P, Q, R, S, T और U में तीन पुरुष और तीन महिलाएँ हैं। उनमें दो विवाहित जोड़े और दो अविवाहित सहोदर हैं। U, P की पुत्री है और Q, R की सास है। T अविवाहित पुरुष है और S एक पुरुष है। निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा सही है?

Read this question in English

A family of two generations consisting of six members P, Q, R, S, T and U has three males and three females. There are two married couples and two unmarried siblings. U is P’s daughter and Q is R’s mother-in-law. T is an unmarried male and S is a male. Which one of the following is correct?

(a) R is U’s husband. · (b) R is S’s wife. · (c) S is unmarried. · (d) None of the above

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (b) R, S की पत्नी है।

Q, a mother-in-law, belongs to the older couple, so P (U's parent) is her husband. Their children are U, T and one married child whose spouse is R. With three males already P, T and S, R must be female and married to S.

  1. Q is R's mother-in-law, so Q is a woman of the older generation and R is married to Q's child.
  2. Two couples: the older couple and R with Q's child. U is P's daughter, so P is the older couple's other member — P is Q's husband (male).
  3. Males: P, T and S = three, so Q, U and R are the three females.
  4. R, a female, is married to a son of Q. T is unmarried, so that son is S — R is S's wife.
  5. The remaining two, U and T, are the unmarried siblings.
  6. Check (a): R is female, so cannot be U's husband; (c): S is married.

Remember · In family puzzles, fix the generations first, then use the male/female count to settle the remaining roles.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2020, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2020 · Q31

Easy

एक व्यक्ति अपने घर के पीछे से सीधे 25 मीटर चलता है, फिर वह दाहिने मुड़कर 50 मीटर और चलता है; फिर वह बाएँ मुड़कर पुनः 25 मीटर चलता है। यदि उसके घर का मुख पूर्व की ओर है, तो वह अपने प्रारंभिक बिंदु से किस दिशा में है?

Read this question in English

A man walks down the backside of his house straight 25 metres, then turns to the right and walks 50 metres again; then he turns towards left and again walks 25 metres. If his house faces to the East, what is his direction from the starting point?

(a) South-East · (b) South-West · (c) North-East · (d) North-West

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (d) उत्तर-पश्चिम

A house facing East has its back to the West, so he first walks West. A right turn from West points North, and a left turn from North points West again. He ends 50 m West and 50 m North of the start — North-West.

  1. House faces East, so walking down its backside means walking West: 25 m West.
  2. Right turn while facing West → facing North: 50 m North.
  3. Left turn while facing North → facing West: 25 m West.
  4. Net displacement: 50 m West and 50 m North, so he is North-West of the starting point.

Remember · Fix the first direction carefully (the back of an east-facing house is West), then apply each turn relative to the current heading.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2020, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2020 · Q32

Easy

नीचे दो कथन दिए गए हैं जिनके बाद दो निष्कर्ष दिए गए हैं :

  1. कथन.सभी संख्याएँ 2 से विभाज्य हैं। सभी संख्याएँ 3 से विभाज्य हैं।
  2. निष्कर्ष–I: सभी संख्याएँ 6 से विभाज्य हैं।
  3. निष्कर्ष–II: सभी संख्याएँ 4 से विभाज्य हैं।

ऊपर लिखे हुए निष्कर्षों में से कौन-सा/से दिए गए दो कथनों से तार्किक रूप से निकाला/निकाले जा सकता/सकते है/हैं?

Read this question in English

Two Statements are given followed by two Conclusions:

Statements. All numbers are divisible by 2. All numbers are divisible by 3.

Conclusion-I. All numbers are divisible by 6.

Conclusion-II. All numbers are divisible by 4.

Which of the above Conclusions logically follows/follow from the two given Statements?

(a) Only Conclusion-I · (b) Only Conclusion-II · (c) Neither Conclusion-I nor Conclusion-II · (d) Both Conclusion-I and Conclusion-II

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (a) केवल निष्कर्ष–I

A number divisible by both 2 and 3 is divisible by their LCM, 6, so Conclusion-I follows. Divisibility by 2 and 3 says nothing about a second factor of 2, so 4 need not divide the numbers — 6 itself is a counter-example.

  1. 2 and 3 have no common factor, so a number divisible by both is divisible by 2 × 3 = 6: Conclusion-I follows.
  2. Divisibility by 4 needs two factors of 2; the statements guarantee only one.
  3. Counter-example: 6 is divisible by 2 and 3 but not by 4, so Conclusion-II does not follow.

Remember · Divisible by a and b means divisible by LCM(a, b) — no more. Test any stronger claim with the LCM itself.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2020, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2020 · Q33

Medium

नीचे दो कथन दिए गए हैं जिनके बाद दो निष्कर्ष दिए गए हैं :

  1. कथन.सभी बिल्लियाँ कुत्ते हैं। सभी बिल्लियाँ काली हैं।
  2. निष्कर्ष–I: सभी कुत्ते काले हैं।
  3. निष्कर्ष–II: कुछ कुत्ते काले नहीं हैं।

सामान्य ज्ञात तथ्यों की उपेक्षा करते हुए, ऊपर लिखे हुए निष्कर्षों में से कौन-सा/से दिए गए दो कथनों से तार्किक रूप से निकाला/निकाले जा सकता/सकते है/हैं?

Read this question in English

Two Statements are given followed by two Conclusions:

Statements. All cats are dogs. All cats are black.

Conclusion-I. All dogs are black.

Conclusion-II. Some dogs are not black.

Which of the above Conclusions logically follows/follow from the two given Statements, disregarding commonly known facts?

(a) Only Conclusion-I · (b) Only Conclusion-II · (c) Neither Conclusion-I nor Conclusion-II · (d) Both Conclusion-I and Conclusion-II

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (c) न तो निष्कर्ष–I, न ही निष्कर्ष–II

The statements only tell us that every cat is both a dog and black, so some dogs are black. The other dogs may be black or not: 'all dogs are black' and 'some dogs are not black' are each possible, but neither is forced, so neither follows.

  1. Cats lie inside both 'dogs' and 'black', so some dogs (the cats) are black.
  2. Diagram 1: dogs outside the cats circle are not black — then Conclusion-I fails.
  3. Diagram 2: all dogs lie inside 'black' — then Conclusion-II fails.
  4. Each conclusion fails in some valid diagram, so neither follows. (Exactly one of them is true in any given case, but the statements do not tell us which.)

Remember · Draw one diagram where a conclusion fails; if you can, it does not follow. Contradictory conclusions can both fail to follow.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2020, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2020 · Q48

Medium

A से Z तक के वर्ण 1 से 26 तक क्रमशः क्रमांकित किए गए हैं। यदि GHI = 1578 और DEF = 912 हों, तो ABC किसके बराबर है?

Read this question in English

The letters from A to Z are numbered from 1 to 26 respectively. If GHI = 1578 and DEF = 912, then what is ABC equal to?

(a) 492 · (b) 468 · (c) 262 · (d) 246

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (d) 246

G, H, I are 7, 8, 9 and 789 × 2 = 1578; D, E, F are 4, 5, 6 and 456 × 2 = 912. So each code is the three letter numbers written together and doubled: ABC = 123 × 2 = 246.

  1. GHI → 7, 8, 9 → 789; 789 × 2 = 1578.
  2. DEF → 4, 5, 6 → 456; 456 × 2 = 912.
  3. ABC → 1, 2, 3 → 123; 123 × 2 = 246.

Remember · In number codes, write the letter positions side by side first and look for a single operation that gives the code.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2020, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2020 · Q49

Easy

निम्न में लुप्त पद @ क्या है?

ACPQ : BESU :: MNGI : @

Read this question in English

What is the missing term @ in the following?

ACPQ: BESU :: MNGI: @

(a) NPJL · (b) NOJM · (c) NPIL · (d) NPJM

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (d) NPJM

Going from ACPQ to BESU, the four letters move forward by 1, 2, 3 and 4 places. Applying the same shifts to MNGI gives N, P, J and M.

  1. A → B (+1), C → E (+2), P → S (+3), Q → U (+4).
  2. M + 1 = N, N + 2 = P, G + 3 = J, I + 4 = M.
  3. The missing term is NPJM.

Remember · In letter analogies, write the shift for each position separately; the shifts often run 1, 2, 3, 4.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2020, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2019 · Q13

Easy

निम्नलिखित कथनों और निष्कर्षों पर विचार कीजिए :

  1. कथन 1: कुछ चूहे बिल्लियाँ हैं ।
  2. कथन 2: कुछ बिल्लियाँ कुत्ते हैं ।
  3. कथन 3: कोई भी कुत्ता गाय नहीं है ।
  4. निष्कर्ष I: कोई भी गाय बिल्ली नहीं है ।
  5. निष्कर्ष II: कोई भी कुत्ता चूहा नहीं है ।
  6. निष्कर्ष III: कुछ बिल्लियाँ चूहे हैं ।

उपर्युक्त निष्कर्षों में से कौन-सा/से, इन कथनों से निकाला गया/निकाले गए है/हैं ?

Read this question in English

Consider the following Statements and Conclusions:

Statement 1. Some rats are cats.

Statement 2. Some cats are dogs.

Statement 3. No dog is a cow.

Conclusion I. No cow is a cat.

Conclusion II. No dog is a rat.

Conclusion III. Some cats are rats.

Which of the above conclusions is/are drawn from the statements?

(a) I, II and III · (b) Only I and II · (c) Only III · (d) Only II and III

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (c) केवल III

'Some rats are cats' converts directly into 'Some cats are rats'. The other two conclusions are 'no' statements that would need a definite chain, but the links to cows and to rats run through 'some' statements, which settle nothing.

  1. Statement 1 converts: some rats are cats → some cats are rats. Conclusion III follows.
  2. Only the cats that are dogs are kept away from cows (no dog is a cow); the other cats may or may not be cows, so Conclusion I is not certain.
  3. Rats reach dogs only through cats, by two 'some' links; a rat may or may not be a dog, so Conclusion II is not certain.
  4. Only III follows.
  • ✗ Conclusion I Cats that are not dogs could still be cows; nothing rules it out.
  • ✗ Conclusion II Two 'some' statements give no definite link between rats and dogs, either way.
  • ✓ Conclusion III It is the direct converse of 'Some rats are cats'.

Remember · A 'some' statement converts both ways; a 'no' conclusion needs an 'all' or 'no' chain — 'some' links never prove it.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2019, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2019 · Q29

Medium

किसी पाँच-मंज़िला इमारत को, जिसके I से V तल हैं, चार भिन्न रंगों का इस्तेमाल कर रँगा गया है और एक तल को रँगने में सिर्फ़ एक ही रंग का इस्तेमाल किया गया है ।

निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :

  1. 1.बीच के तीन तलों को भिन्न रंगों में रँगा गया है ।
  2. 2.दूसरे (II) और चौथे (IV) तलों को भिन्न रंगों में रँगा गया है ।
  3. 3.पहले (I) और पाँचवें (V) तलों को लाल रंग में रँगा गया है ।

यह सुनिश्चित करने के लिए, कि कोई भी दो क्रमागत तल भिन्न रंगों के हैं :

Read this question in English

A five-storeyed building with floors from I to V is painted using four different colours and only one colour is used to paint a floor.

Consider the following statements:

1. The middle three floors are painted in different colours.

2. The second (II) and the fourth (IV) floors are painted in different colours.

3. The first (I) and the fifth (V) floors are painted red.

To ensure that any two consecutive floors have different colours

(a) Only statement 2 is sufficient · (b) Only statement 3 is sufficient · (c) Statement 1 is not sufficient, but statement 1 along with statement 2 is sufficient · (d) Statement 3 is not sufficient, but statement 3 along with statement 2 is sufficient

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (b) केवल कथन 3 पर्याप्त है

All four colours are used on five floors, so exactly one colour repeats. If floors I and V are both red, red is that repeat, and floors II, III and IV must take the other three colours, one each — no two neighbours can match. Statements 1 and 2 leave the end floors free to copy a neighbour.

  1. Five floors, four colours, all four used: one colour appears on two floors, the others once each.
  2. Statement 3: I and V are red, so red is the repeated colour; II, III and IV take the other three colours, all different and none red.
  3. Hence I–II, II–III, III–IV and IV–V all differ: statement 3 alone is sufficient.
  4. Statement 1: II, III, IV differ, but floor I may copy floor II (e.g. blue, blue, green, yellow, red) — not sufficient.
  5. Statement 2 (II ≠ IV) is already implied by statement 1, so 1 and 2 together are still not sufficient; 2 alone says nothing about any adjacent pair.
  • ✗ 1. Not sufficient: it leaves the pairs I–II and IV–V unchecked.
  • ✗ 2. Not sufficient: floors II and IV are not neighbours, so it controls no consecutive pair.
  • ✓ 3. Sufficient: it forces II, III and IV to be the three non-red colours, all different.

Remember · 'Painted using four different colours' means all four are used; with five floors exactly one colour repeats — build from that count.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2019, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2019 · Q30

Easy

P, Q और R तीन नगर हैं । P और Q के बीच की दूरी 60 km है, जबकि P और R के बीच की दूरी 80 km है । Q, P के पश्चिम में है और R, P के दक्षिण में है । Q और R के बीच कितनी दूरी है ?

Read this question in English

P, Q and R are three towns. The distance between P and Q is 60 km, whereas the distance between P and R is 80 km. Q is in the West of P and R is in the South of P. What is the distance between Q and R?

(a) 140 km · (b) 130 km · (c) 110 km · (d) 100 km

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (d) 100 km

West and South are at right angles, so Q, P and R form a right triangle with the right angle at P. QR is the hypotenuse of a 60–80–100 triangle.

  1. Q is due West and R due South of P, so angle QPR = 90°.
  2. QR² = 60² + 80² = 3600 + 6400 = 10000.
  3. QR = 100 km.
  4. Check: 60 : 80 : 100 = 3 : 4 : 5.

Remember · Perpendicular directions make a right triangle; spot 3–4–5 multiples before squaring.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2019, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2019 · Q32

Medium

किसी विद्यालय में, 60% विद्यार्थी क्रिकेट खेलते हैं । जो विद्यार्थी क्रिकेट नहीं खेलता है, वह फुटबाल खेलता है । हर फुटबाल खिलाड़ी के पास एक दोपहिया वाहन है । उपर्युक्त आँकड़ों से निम्नलिखित में से कौन-से निष्कर्ष नहीं निकाले जा सकते हैं ?

  1. 1.60% विद्यार्थियों के पास दोपहिया वाहन नहीं है ।
  2. 2.किसी भी क्रिकेट खिलाड़ी के पास दोपहिया वाहन नहीं है ।
  3. 3.क्रिकेट खिलाड़ी फुटबाल नहीं खेलते हैं ।

नीचे दिए गए कूट का प्रयोग कर सही उत्तर चुनिए :

Read this question in English

In a school, 60% students play cricket. A student who does not play cricket, plays football. Every football player has got a two-wheeler. Which of the following conclusions cannot be drawn from the above data?

1. 60% of the students do not have two-wheelers.

2. No cricketer has a two-wheeler.

3. Cricket players do not play football.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only · (b) 2 and 3 only · (c) 1 and 3 only · (d) 1, 2 and 3

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (d) 1, 2 और 3

The data fixes only the 40% who do not play cricket: they all play football and so all own two-wheelers. Nothing is said about whether cricketers own two-wheelers or also play football, so none of the three conclusions can be drawn.

  1. Non-cricketers = 40%; all of them play football, so all of them have two-wheelers.
  2. The 60% cricketers are not described: some may own two-wheelers, some may also play football.
  3. Conclusions 1 and 2 need every cricketer to be without a two-wheeler — not given.
  4. Conclusion 3 needs cricketers to avoid football — not given; the rule runs only from 'not cricket' to 'football'.
  5. So 1, 2 and 3 all cannot be drawn.
  • ✗ 1. Cannot be drawn: at most 60% lack two-wheelers; fewer do if any cricketer owns one.
  • ✗ 2. Cannot be drawn: cricketers' vehicles are never mentioned.
  • ✗ 3. Cannot be drawn: a cricketer may also play football; the data does not forbid it.

Remember · 'Whoever is not A does B' says nothing about the members of A; claims about that group cannot be drawn.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2019, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2019 · Q57

Medium

‘A’ अपने घर से प्रारंभ कर पूर्व की ओर 20 m चला, जहाँ उसका मित्र ‘B’ उससे मिल गया । वे दोनों उसी दिशा में 10 m साथ-साथ चले । तब ‘A’ बाईं ओर मुड़ गया जबकि ‘B’ दाहिनी ओर मुड़ गया और वे क्रमशः 2 m और 8 m चले । फिर ‘B’ बाईं ओर मुड़ कर 4 m चला जिसके बाद अपनी दाहिनी ओर 5 m चलकर अपने कार्यालय पहुँच गया । ‘A’ दाहिनी ओर मुड़ गया और 12 m चलकर अपने कार्यालय पहुँच गया । दोनों कार्यालयों के बीच न्यूनतम दूरी कितनी है ?

Read this question in English

‘A’ started from his house and walked 20 m towards East, where his friend ‘B’ joined him. They together walked 10 m in the same direction. Then ‘A’ turned left while ‘B’ turned right and travelled 2 m and 8 m respectively. Again ‘B’ turned left to travel 4 m followed by 5 m to his right to reach his office. ‘A’ turned right and travelled 12 m to reach his office. What is the shortest distance between the two offices?

(a) 15 m · (b) 17 m · (c) 19 m · (d) 20 m

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (b) 17 m

Plotting the walks from A's house, A's office is at (42, 2) and B's at (34, −13). They are 8 m apart east–west and 15 m apart north–south, so the straight-line distance is 17 m.

  1. Take A's house as (0, 0), East as +x and North as +y.
  2. 20 m + 10 m East: both reach (30, 0).
  3. A turns left (North) 2 m → (30, 2), then right (East) 12 m → A's office at (42, 2).
  4. B turns right (South) 8 m → (30, −8), left (East) 4 m → (34, −8), right (South) 5 m → B's office at (34, −13).
  5. Separation: 42 − 34 = 8 m East–West and 2 − (−13) = 15 m North–South.
  6. Distance = √(8² + 15²) = √289 = 17 m.

Remember · Use coordinates for direction puzzles; left and right depend on the direction currently faced.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2019, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2019 · Q71

Medium

किसी संयुक्त परिवार में सात सदस्य A, B, C, D, E, F और G हैं, जिनमें तीन महिलाएँ हैं । G विधवा है और D के पिता F की साली/भाभी है । B और D एक ही माता-पिता की संतान हैं और A, B की पुत्री है । C, B का/की रिश्ते में चचेरा/ममेरा/फूफेरा/मौसेरा भाई अथवा चचेरी/ममेरी/फूफेरी/मौसेरी बहन है । E कौन है ?

  1. 1.F की पत्नी
  2. 2.A की दादी/नानी
  3. 3.C की चाची/मामी/मौसी/बुआ

नीचे दिए गए कूट का प्रयोग कर सही उत्तर चुनिए :

Read this question in English

A joint family consists of seven members A, B, C, D, E, F and G with three females. G is a widow and sister-in-law of D’s father F. B and D are siblings and A is daughter of B. C is cousin of B. Who is E?

1. Wife of F

2. Grandmother of A

3. Aunt of C

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only · (b) 2 and 3 only · (c) 1 and 3 only · (d) 1, 2 and 3

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (d) 1, 2 और 3

F is the father of B and D. G is F's widowed sister-in-law, so her late husband was F's brother, and C, B's cousin, is her child. The one slot left in the family — the mother of B and D — belongs to E, who is therefore F's wife, A's grandmother and C's aunt.

  1. F is D's father; B and D are siblings, so F is B's father too, and A (B's daughter) is F's granddaughter.
  2. G is a widow and F's sister-in-law, so her husband — F's brother — is no more.
  3. C is B's cousin, so C is the child of G and F's late brother.
  4. E completes the family as F's wife, the mother of B and D; the three females are then G, A and E.
  5. So E is F's wife, A's grandmother and, as the wife of C's uncle, C's aunt.
  • ✓ 1. E is the mother of B and D, hence F's wife.
  • ✓ 2. A is the daughter of E's son or daughter B, so E is A's grandmother.
  • ✓ 3. C is the child of F's brother; F's wife E is C's aunt.

Remember · Place each stated relation on a family tree; the leftover member usually fills the one slot the tree still needs.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2019, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2019 · Q79

Medium

आगे आने वाले 2 (दो) प्रश्नांशों के लिए निर्देश : निम्नलिखित कथनों, S1 और S2, को पढ़िए और उनके बाद आने वाले दो प्रश्नांशों के उत्तर दीजिए :

  1. S1.सोहन के वज़न का दुगुना, मोहन के वज़न या रोहन के वज़न से कम है ।
  2. S2.रोहन के वज़न का दुगुना, मोहन के वज़न या सोहन के वज़न से अधिक है ।

निम्नलिखित कथनों में से कौन-सा एक सही है ?

Read this question in English

Directions for the following 2 (two) items: Read the following statements S1 and S2 and answer the two items that follow:

S1. Twice the weight of Sohan is less than the weight of Mohan or that of Rohan.

S2. Twice the weight of Rohan is greater than the weight of Mohan or that of Sohan.

Which one of the following statements is correct?

(a) Weight of Mohan is greatest · (b) Weight of Sohan is greatest · (c) Weight of Rohan is greatest · (d) ‘Whose weight is greatest’ cannot be determined

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (d) ‘किसका वज़न अधिकतम है’ यह निर्धारित नहीं किया जा सकता

S1 makes Sohan lighter than both Mohan and Rohan. S2 only says Mohan weighs less than twice Rohan, which allows Mohan to be heavier or lighter than Rohan. So the heaviest person cannot be fixed.

  1. S1 (twice Sohan is below each of the others): 2S < M and 2S < R, so Sohan is the lightest.
  2. S2: 2R > M and 2R > S — Mohan may be anything below twice Rohan.
  3. Example 1: S = 10, R = 30, M = 50 → 20 < 50, 20 < 30, 60 > 50, 60 > 10; Mohan is heaviest.
  4. Example 2: S = 10, R = 30, M = 25 → all conditions still hold; Rohan is heaviest.
  5. The greatest weight cannot be determined.

Remember · Test inequality puzzles with two sets of numbers; if both fit the conditions but give different answers, it cannot be determined.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2019, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2019 · Q80

Easy

आगे आने वाले 2 (दो) प्रश्नांशों के लिए निर्देश : निम्नलिखित कथनों, S1 और S2, को पढ़िए और उनके बाद आने वाले दो प्रश्नांशों के उत्तर दीजिए :

  1. S1.सोहन के वज़न का दुगुना, मोहन के वज़न या रोहन के वज़न से कम है ।
  2. S2.रोहन के वज़न का दुगुना, मोहन के वज़न या सोहन के वज़न से अधिक है ।

निम्नलिखित कथनों में से कौन-सा एक सही है ?

Read this question in English

Directions for the following 2 (two) items: Read the following statements S1 and S2 and answer the two items that follow:

S1. Twice the weight of Sohan is less than the weight of Mohan or that of Rohan.

S2. Twice the weight of Rohan is greater than the weight of Mohan or that of Sohan.

Which one of the following statements is correct?

(a) Weight of Mohan is least · (b) Weight of Sohan is least · (c) Weight of Rohan is least · (d) ‘Whose weight is least’ cannot be determined

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (b) सोहन का वज़न न्यूनतम है

S1 says twice Sohan's weight is less than Mohan's and less than Rohan's. Since weights are positive, Sohan's own weight is even smaller, so Sohan is the lightest.

  1. S1: 2S < M and 2S < R.
  2. Weights are positive, so S < 2S; hence S < M and S < R.
  3. Sohan is lighter than both others: Sohan's weight is the least.
  4. S2 is not needed for this item.

Remember · If twice a quantity is below the others, the quantity itself certainly is — for positive values, x < 2x.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2019, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2018 · Q21

Easy

यदि MUMBAI के लिए कूट है LSJXVC, तो DELHI के लिए कूट है

Read this question in English

If LSJXVC is the code for MUMBAI, the code for DELHI is

(a) CCIDD · (b) CDKGH · (c) CCJFG · (d) CCIFE

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (a) CCIDD

Each letter of MUMBAI is moved back by 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 places in turn, wrapping from A round to Z. Moving the letters of DELHI back by 1 to 5 gives CCIDD.

  1. M − 1 = L, U − 2 = S, M − 3 = J, B − 4 = X (B → A → Z → Y → X), A − 5 = V, I − 6 = C.
  2. DELHI: D − 1 = C, E − 2 = C, L − 3 = I, H − 4 = D, I − 5 = D.
  3. Code: CCIDD.
  4. Check: (d) CCIFE agrees in the first three letters but fails at H − 4 = D.

Remember · In letter codes, write the shift for each position; a growing shift (−1, −2, −3 …) is common, and letters wrap from A to Z.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2018, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2018 · Q22

Easy

यदि RAMON को 12345 के रूप में तथा DINESH को 675849 के रूप में लिखा जाता है, तो HAMAM को किस रूप में लिखा जाएगा?

Read this question in English

If RAMON is written as 12345 and DINESH as 675849, then HAMAM will be written as

(a) 92233 · (b) 92323 · (c) 93322 · (d) 93232

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (b) 92323

Each letter stands for a fixed digit. From the two words, H = 9, A = 2 and M = 3, so HAMAM reads 9-2-3-2-3.

  1. RAMON = 12345: R = 1, A = 2, M = 3, O = 4, N = 5.
  2. DINESH = 675849: D = 6, I = 7, N = 5, E = 8, S = 4, H = 9.
  3. HAMAM = H, A, M, A, M = 9, 2, 3, 2, 3 = 92323.

Remember · For letter-to-digit codes, map each letter once and read the new word letter by letter; repeated letters repeat their digit.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2018, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2018 · Q37

Easy

यदि लेखनी < पेंसिल, पेंसिल < पुस्तक तथा पुस्तक > टोपी, तो निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा एक सदैव सत्य है?

Read this question in English

If Pen < Pencil, Pencil < Book and Book > Cap, then which one of the following is always true?

(a) Pen > Cap · (b) Pen < Book · (c) Pencil = Cap · (d) Pencil > Cap

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (b) लेखनी < पुस्तक

Pen < Pencil < Book is an unbroken chain, so Pen < Book always. Cap is tied only through Book > Cap, which says nothing about how Cap compares with Pen or Pencil.

  1. Join the first two relations: Pen < Pencil < Book, so Pen < Book.
  2. Book > Cap points the other way; Cap could be above or below Pen and Pencil.
  3. So (a), (c) and (d) are not always true, while (b) is.

Remember · A comparison is certain only if an unbroken chain of signs points the same way between the two items.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2018, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2018 · Q42

Easy

हॉकी खेलने के लिए 19 लड़के आए हैं। उनमें से 11 हॉकी की कमीज़ पहने हुए हैं और 14 हॉकी की पैंट पहने हुए हैं। एक भी लड़का ऐसा नहीं है जिसने कमीज़ और/या पैंट न पहनी हो। पूरी वर्दी पहने लड़कों की संख्या क्या है?

Read this question in English

19 boys turn out for playing hockey. Of these, 11 are wearing hockey shirts and 14 are wearing hockey pants. There are no boys without shirts and/or pants. What is the number of boys wearing full uniform?

(a) 3 · (b) 5 · (c) 6 · (d) 8

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (c) 6

Every boy wears at least a shirt or pants, so adding shirts and pants counts the boys in full uniform twice. 11 + 14 − 19 = 6 boys wear both.

  1. Every one of the 19 boys wears a shirt, pants or both.
  2. Shirts + pants = 11 + 14 = 25, which counts the boys wearing both twice.
  3. Both = 25 − 19 = 6.
  4. Check: 5 with shirts only + 8 with pants only + 6 with both = 19.

Remember · For two overlapping groups that together cover everyone: both = first group + second group − total.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2018, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2017 · Q9

Medium

निम्नलिखित 2 (दो) प्रश्नांशों के लिए निर्देश : दी गई जानकारी पर विचार कीजिए और उसके नीचे आने वाले दो प्रश्नांशों के उत्तर दीजिए।

‘X दल’ का कोई भी समर्थक, जो Z को जानता था और उसके अभियान की रणनीति का समर्थन करता था, ‘Y दल’ के साथ गठबंधन के लिए तैयार नहीं था; किन्तु उनमें से कुछ के ‘Y दल’ में मित्र थे।

उपर्युक्त जानकारी के सन्दर्भ में, निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा एक कथन सत्य होना ही चाहिए?

Read this question in English

Directions for the following 2 (two) items: Consider the given information and answer the two items that follow.

No supporters of ‘party X’, who knew Z and supported his campaign strategy, agreed for the alliance with ‘party Y’; but some of them had friends in ‘party Y’.

With reference to the above information, which one among the following statements must be true?

(a) Some supporters of ‘party Y’ did not agree for the alliance with the ‘party X’. · (b) There is at least one supporter of ‘party Y’ who knew some supporters of ‘party X’ as a friend. · (c) No supporters of ‘party X’ supported Z’s campaign strategy. · (d) No supporters of ‘party X’ knew Z.

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (b) ‘Y दल’ का कम-से-कम एक समर्थक ऐसा है, जो ‘X दल’ के किसी समर्थक को मित्र के रूप में जानता था।

The information is about a group of party X supporters who knew Z and backed his campaign strategy, and it says some of them had friends in party Y. So at least one person in party Y has a party X supporter as a friend.

  1. Call the group described G: supporters of party X who knew Z and supported his campaign strategy.
  2. 'Some of them had friends in party Y' tells us that G is not empty and that at least one member of G has a friend in party Y.
  3. Friendship works both ways, so that person in party Y knows a supporter of party X as a friend — option (b).
  4. Check (c) and (d): G itself consists of party X supporters who knew Z and backed his strategy, so both 'No …' statements are false.
  • ✗ (a) The information says nothing about how party Y's supporters viewed the alliance; it speaks only of party X supporters.
  • ✓ (b) Some members of the group had friends in party Y, so at least one person in party Y counts a party X supporter as a friend.
  • ✗ (c) The group described consists of party X supporters who did support Z's strategy, so this is false.
  • ✗ (d) The same group knew Z, so it is false that no party X supporter knew Z.

Remember · 'Some of them' confirms the group exists. A 'No …' statement fails as soon as one member of that group is shown to exist.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2017, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2017 · Q10

Medium

निम्नलिखित 2 (दो) प्रश्नांशों के लिए निर्देश : दी गई जानकारी पर विचार कीजिए और उसके नीचे आने वाले दो प्रश्नांशों के उत्तर दीजिए।

‘X दल’ का कोई भी समर्थक, जो Z को जानता था और उसके अभियान की रणनीति का समर्थन करता था, ‘Y दल’ के साथ गठबंधन के लिए तैयार नहीं था; किन्तु उनमें से कुछ के ‘Y दल’ में मित्र थे।

उपर्युक्त जानकारी के सन्दर्भ में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :

  1. 1.‘X दल’ के कुछ समर्थक, Z को जानते थे।
  2. 2.‘X दल’ के कुछ समर्थक, जो Z के अभियान की रणनीति के विरोधी थे, Z को जानते थे।
  3. 3.‘X दल’ के किसी समर्थक ने Z के अभियान की रणनीति का समर्थन नहीं किया।

ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन-सा/से सही नहीं है/हैं?

Read this question in English

Directions for the following 2 (two) items: Consider the given information and answer the two items that follow.

No supporters of ‘party X’, who knew Z and supported his campaign strategy, agreed for the alliance with ‘party Y’; but some of them had friends in ‘party Y’.

With reference to the above information, consider the following statements:

1. Some supporters of ‘party X’ knew Z.

2. Some supporters of ‘party X’, who opposed Z’s campaign strategy, knew Z.

3. No supporters of ‘party X’ supported Z’s campaign strategy.

Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?

(a) 1 only · (b) 2 and 3 only · (c) 3 only · (d) 1, 2 and 3

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (c) केवल 3

The information confirms that some party X supporters knew Z and supported his strategy. That makes statement 1 true and statement 3 false. Statement 2, about supporters who opposed the strategy, is neither confirmed nor contradicted, so only statement 3 can be called not correct.

  1. From 'some of them had friends in party Y', there exist party X supporters who knew Z and supported his strategy.
  2. Statement 1: some party X supporters knew Z — true.
  3. Statement 3: it says no party X supporter backed Z's strategy — this contradicts the information, so it is not correct.
  4. Statement 2: the information is silent about supporters who opposed the strategy, so it cannot be marked incorrect; it is simply not established.
  5. Only statement 3 is not correct.
  • ✓ 1. The supporters described knew Z, so 'some supporters of party X knew Z' must hold.
  • ✓ 2. Not contradicted: the information says nothing about supporters who opposed the strategy, so this may well be true and cannot be called incorrect.
  • ✗ 3. The information describes party X supporters who did support Z's campaign strategy, so this statement is false.

Remember · 'Not correct' means contradicted by the information. A statement the information is merely silent about is not proved wrong.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2017, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2017 · Q15

Easy

निम्नलिखित पर विचार कीजिए :

कथन :

अच्छा स्वर एक नैसर्गिक प्रतिभा है लेकिन संगीत के क्षेत्र में उन्नति और श्रेष्ठ प्रदर्शन के लिए अभ्यास करते रहना चाहिए।

निष्कर्ष :

  1. I.नैसर्गिक प्रतिभाओं को प्रशिक्षण और देखभाल की आवश्यकता होती है।
  2. II.किसी का स्वर अच्छा न होने पर भी उसे अभ्यास करते रहना चाहिए।

उपर्युक्त कथन और निष्कर्षों के सन्दर्भ में निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा एक सही है?

Read this question in English

Consider the following:

Statement:

Good voice is a natural gift but one has to keep practising to improve and excel well in the field of music.

Conclusions:

I. Natural gifts need nurturing and care.

II. Even though one’s voice is not good, one can keep practising.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statement and conclusions?

(a) Only conclusion I follows from the statement. · (b) Only conclusion II follows from the statement. · (c) Either conclusion I or conclusion II follows from the statement. · (d) Neither conclusion I nor conclusion II follows from the statement.

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (a) इस कथन से केवल निष्कर्ष I अनुगमित होता है।

The statement says that even a natural gift like a good voice must be practised to improve and excel — that is, a gift needs nurturing. It says nothing about people whose voice is not good, so only Conclusion I follows.

  1. The statement: a good voice is a gift, yet it must be practised to improve and excel.
  2. Conclusion I generalises this correctly — a natural gift still needs nurturing — so it follows.
  3. Conclusion II is about people without a good voice, whom the statement never mentions, so it does not follow.
  • ✓ I Practising 'to improve and excel' is exactly the nurturing and care the conclusion speaks of.
  • ✗ II The statement concerns only people who have a good voice; whether others should practise lies outside it, however sensible it sounds.

Remember · A conclusion must come from the statement itself; one about a group the statement never covers does not follow.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2017, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

CSAT 2017 · Q19

Easy

निम्नलिखित पर विचार कीजिए :

A + B का अर्थ है कि A, B का पुत्र है।

A − B का अर्थ है कि A, B की पत्नी है।

व्यंजक P + R − Q का अर्थ क्या है?

Read this question in English

Consider the following:

A + B means A is the son of B.

A − B means A is the wife of B.

What does the expression P + R − Q mean?

(a) Q is the son of P. · (b) Q is the wife of P. · (c) Q is the father of P. · (d) None of the above

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (c) Q, P का पिता है।

P + R means P is the son of R, and R − Q means R is the wife of Q. So Q is the husband of P's mother R, which makes Q the father of P.

  1. P + R → P is the son of R.
  2. R − Q → R is the wife of Q, so Q is R's husband.
  3. P is the son of R, and R's husband is Q, so Q is the father of P.

Remember · Decode coded relations one link at a time, left to right, noting each person's gender as you go.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2017, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

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