UPSC Insta–DART (Daily Aptitude and Reasoning Test) 11 Sep 2025

Considering the alarming importance of CSAT in UPSC CSE Prelims exam and with enormous requests we received recently, InsightsIAS has started Daily CSAT Test to ensure students practice CSAT Questions on a daily basis. Regular Practice would help one overcome the fear of CSAT too.We are naming this initiative as Insta– DART – Daily Aptitude and Reasoning Test. We hope you will be able to use DART to hit bull’s eye in CSAT paper and comfortably score 100+ even in the most difficult question paper that UPSC can give you in CSP-2021. Your peace of mind after every step of this exam is very important for us.

Looking forward to your enthusiastic participation (both in sending us questions and solving them on daily basis on this portal).

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• Question 1 of 5 1. Question In recent years, urban India has witnessed a remarkable surge in start-ups, particularly in the digital and service sectors. This entrepreneurial wave has been celebrated as a driver of innovation, job creation, and global competitiveness. However, concerns remain about its sustainability. Many start-ups rely heavily on venture capital and are pressured into prioritizing rapid expansion over long-term stability. This often leads to unsustainable business models, excessive spending on customer acquisition, and high employee turnover. Furthermore, the benefits of this start-up boom are unevenly distributed, concentrated in metropolitan hubs, while smaller towns and rural areas remain largely excluded. The challenge lies in balancing innovation with stability and inclusivity, ensuring that entrepreneurship contributes to broad-based economic development rather than deepening regional disparities. Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea of the passage? (a) Venture capital funding should be completely stopped to ensure sustainability of start-ups. (b) Start-ups in India have generated more inequality than innovation. (c) The start-up ecosystem must focus not just on growth but also on stability and inclusivity. (d) The success of start-ups is confined only to metropolitan cities. Correct Answer: (c) Explanation: Option (a) is incorrect because the passage does not advocate stopping venture capital but highlights over-dependence on it. Option (b) is misleading since the passage recognizes innovation and job creation; it does not reduce the start-up story only to inequality. Option (d) is partially true — benefits are indeed concentrated in metros, but the passage’s central idea is broader: not just location, but the balance between growth, stability, and inclusivity. Option (c) is correct because the passage explicitly calls for balancing innovation with long-term sustainability and ensuring that entrepreneurship contributes to inclusive development, rather than remaining metro-centric. Hence, option (c) best captures the central idea. Incorrect Answer: (c) Explanation: Option (a) is incorrect because the passage does not advocate stopping venture capital but highlights over-dependence on it. Option (b) is misleading since the passage recognizes innovation and job creation; it does not reduce the start-up story only to inequality. Option (d) is partially true — benefits are indeed concentrated in metros, but the passage’s central idea is broader: not just location, but the balance between growth, stability, and inclusivity. Option (c) is correct because the passage explicitly calls for balancing innovation with long-term sustainability and ensuring that entrepreneurship contributes to inclusive development, rather than remaining metro-centric. Hence, option (c) best captures the central idea.

#### 1. Question

In recent years, urban India has witnessed a remarkable surge in start-ups, particularly in the digital and service sectors. This entrepreneurial wave has been celebrated as a driver of innovation, job creation, and global competitiveness. However, concerns remain about its sustainability. Many start-ups rely heavily on venture capital and are pressured into prioritizing rapid expansion over long-term stability. This often leads to unsustainable business models, excessive spending on customer acquisition, and high employee turnover. Furthermore, the benefits of this start-up boom are unevenly distributed, concentrated in metropolitan hubs, while smaller towns and rural areas remain largely excluded. The challenge lies in balancing innovation with stability and inclusivity, ensuring that entrepreneurship contributes to broad-based economic development rather than deepening regional disparities.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea of the passage?

• (a) Venture capital funding should be completely stopped to ensure sustainability of start-ups.

• (b) Start-ups in India have generated more inequality than innovation.

• (c) The start-up ecosystem must focus not just on growth but also on stability and inclusivity.

• (d) The success of start-ups is confined only to metropolitan cities.

Answer: (c)

Explanation: Option (a) is incorrect because the passage does not advocate stopping venture capital but highlights over-dependence on it. Option (b) is misleading since the passage recognizes innovation and job creation; it does not reduce the start-up story only to inequality. Option (d) is partially true — benefits are indeed concentrated in metros, but the passage’s central idea is broader: not just location, but the balance between growth, stability, and inclusivity. Option (c) is correct because the passage explicitly calls for balancing innovation with long-term sustainability and ensuring that entrepreneurship contributes to inclusive development, rather than remaining metro-centric. Hence, option (c) best captures the central idea.

Answer: (c)

• Question 2 of 5 2. Question With reference to the passage, consider the following assumptions: I. Start-ups that prioritize rapid expansion without sustainable models are vulnerable to collapse. II. Unequal distribution of entrepreneurial opportunities can deepen regional economic disparities. Which of the above assumptions is/are valid? (a) I only (b) II only (c) Both I and II (d) Neither I nor II Correct Answer: (c) Explanation: Assumption I is valid because the passage directly states that many start-ups face sustainability issues due to rapid expansion and unsustainable business models. This implies vulnerability to collapse. Assumption II is also valid because the passage explicitly mentions that the benefits of the start-up boom are concentrated in metropolitan hubs, leaving smaller towns excluded, thus risking deepening regional disparities. Since both assumptions are logically connected to the text, option (c) is the correct answer. Incorrect Answer: (c) Explanation: Assumption I is valid because the passage directly states that many start-ups face sustainability issues due to rapid expansion and unsustainable business models. This implies vulnerability to collapse. Assumption II is also valid because the passage explicitly mentions that the benefits of the start-up boom are concentrated in metropolitan hubs, leaving smaller towns excluded, thus risking deepening regional disparities. Since both assumptions are logically connected to the text, option (c) is the correct answer.

#### 2. Question

With reference to the passage, consider the following assumptions: I. Start-ups that prioritize rapid expansion without sustainable models are vulnerable to collapse. II. Unequal distribution of entrepreneurial opportunities can deepen regional economic disparities.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

• (a) I only

• (b) II only

• (c) Both I and II

• (d) Neither I nor II

Answer: (c)

Explanation: Assumption I is valid because the passage directly states that many start-ups face sustainability issues due to rapid expansion and unsustainable business models. This implies vulnerability to collapse. Assumption II is also valid because the passage explicitly mentions that the benefits of the start-up boom are concentrated in metropolitan hubs, leaving smaller towns excluded, thus risking deepening regional disparities. Since both assumptions are logically connected to the text, option (c) is the correct answer.

Answer: (c)

• Question 3 of 5 3. Question Over the last decade, India has recorded impressive GDP growth, yet this has not translated equally into employment creation. Economists describe this as “jobless growth,” where high economic output coexists with stagnant or low-quality employment. The increasing automation of industries, rising informalization of labour, and the mismatch between skills taught and market demands have worsened the situation. While sectors like IT and digital services generate high-value jobs, they employ only a small fraction of the workforce. On the other hand, agriculture and construction continue to absorb the majority, but with low productivity and poor wages. Thus, the real challenge for India is not just to accelerate growth but to ensure that growth is inclusive, labour-intensive, and capable of generating dignified employment across diverse sectors. Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea of the passage? (a) India should abandon GDP growth as an indicator of development. (b) High GDP growth has failed to create adequate quality employment opportunities. (c) Agriculture and construction are the only sectors capable of solving unemployment. (d) Automation should be banned to protect existing jobs in the country. Correct Answer: (b) Explanation: Option (a) is incorrect because the passage critiques GDP as insufficient but does not argue for abandoning it altogether. Option (c) is misleading since the passage shows that agriculture and construction employ many workers but at low productivity and wages. They are not seen as solutions by themselves. Option (d) is extreme — banning automation is not suggested; rather, the challenge is to adapt and balance. Option (b) is correct because the passage directly states that “jobless growth” has emerged, meaning GDP expansion has not translated into adequate, quality jobs. Hence, (b) captures the core message. Incorrect Answer: (b) Explanation: Option (a) is incorrect because the passage critiques GDP as insufficient but does not argue for abandoning it altogether. Option (c) is misleading since the passage shows that agriculture and construction employ many workers but at low productivity and wages. They are not seen as solutions by themselves. Option (d) is extreme — banning automation is not suggested; rather, the challenge is to adapt and balance. Option (b) is correct because the passage directly states that “jobless growth” has emerged, meaning GDP expansion has not translated into adequate, quality jobs. Hence, (b) captures the core message.

#### 3. Question

Over the last decade, India has recorded impressive GDP growth, yet this has not translated equally into employment creation. Economists describe this as “jobless growth,” where high economic output coexists with stagnant or low-quality employment. The increasing automation of industries, rising informalization of labour, and the mismatch between skills taught and market demands have worsened the situation. While sectors like IT and digital services generate high-value jobs, they employ only a small fraction of the workforce. On the other hand, agriculture and construction continue to absorb the majority, but with low productivity and poor wages. Thus, the real challenge for India is not just to accelerate growth but to ensure that growth is inclusive, labour-intensive, and capable of generating dignified employment across diverse sectors.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea of the passage?

• (a) India should abandon GDP growth as an indicator of development.

• (b) High GDP growth has failed to create adequate quality employment opportunities.

• (c) Agriculture and construction are the only sectors capable of solving unemployment.

• (d) Automation should be banned to protect existing jobs in the country.

Answer: (b)

Explanation: Option (a) is incorrect because the passage critiques GDP as insufficient but does not argue for abandoning it altogether. Option (c) is misleading since the passage shows that agriculture and construction employ many workers but at low productivity and wages. They are not seen as solutions by themselves. Option (d) is extreme — banning automation is not suggested; rather, the challenge is to adapt and balance. Option (b) is correct because the passage directly states that “jobless growth” has emerged, meaning GDP expansion has not translated into adequate, quality jobs. Hence, (b) captures the core message.

Answer: (b)

• Question 4 of 5 4. Question With reference to the above passage, consider the following assumptions: I. Growth that does not generate adequate employment risks widening inequality in society. II. The mismatch between education and labour market demands is a factor contributing to jobless growth. Which of the above assumptions is/are valid? (a) I only (b) II only (c) Both I and II (d) Neither I nor II Correct Answer: (c) Explanation: Assumption I is valid because the passage implies that while high-value jobs exist in IT/digital services, they employ only a small fraction of the workforce, leaving the majority in low-wage sectors. This suggests rising inequality when growth is not employment-generating. Assumption II is also valid, as the passage explicitly mentions a “mismatch between skills taught and market demands” as one of the factors worsening jobless growth. Thus, both assumptions logically follow, and option (c) is correct. Incorrect Answer: (c) Explanation: Assumption I is valid because the passage implies that while high-value jobs exist in IT/digital services, they employ only a small fraction of the workforce, leaving the majority in low-wage sectors. This suggests rising inequality when growth is not employment-generating. Assumption II is also valid, as the passage explicitly mentions a “mismatch between skills taught and market demands” as one of the factors worsening jobless growth. Thus, both assumptions logically follow, and option (c) is correct.

#### 4. Question

With reference to the above passage, consider the following assumptions: I. Growth that does not generate adequate employment risks widening inequality in society. II. The mismatch between education and labour market demands is a factor contributing to jobless growth.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

• (a) I only

• (b) II only

• (c) Both I and II

• (d) Neither I nor II

Answer: (c)

Explanation: Assumption I is valid because the passage implies that while high-value jobs exist in IT/digital services, they employ only a small fraction of the workforce, leaving the majority in low-wage sectors. This suggests rising inequality when growth is not employment-generating. Assumption II is also valid, as the passage explicitly mentions a “mismatch between skills taught and market demands” as one of the factors worsening jobless growth. Thus, both assumptions logically follow, and option (c) is correct.

Answer: (c)

• Question 5 of 5 5. Question Using digits {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7} without repetition, how many 4‑digit numbers can be formed that are divisible by 5 and have an even hundreds digit? (a) 180 (a) 180 (c) 195 (d) 210 Correct Answer: C Explanation : Divisible by 5 ⇒ last digit is 0 or 5. Hundreds digit must be even. Case 1: last = 0 Hundreds ∈ {2,4,6} → 3 choices. Thousands (non‑zero, ≠ hundreds) → 6 choices. Tens → 5 choices. Count = 3 × 6 × 5 = 90. Case 2: last = 5 Hundreds ∈ {0,2,4,6}. • If hundreds = 0: thousands ∈ {1,2,3,4,6,7} (6), tens (5) ⇒ 30. • If hundreds ∈ {2,4,6} (3 choices): thousands ∈ {1,3,4,6,7} excluding chosen hundreds ⇒ 5, tens 5 ⇒ 25 each ⇒ 75 total. Case 2 total = 30 + 75 = 105. Grand total = 90 + 105 = 195. Incorrect Answer: C Explanation : Divisible by 5 ⇒ last digit is 0 or 5. Hundreds digit must be even. Case 1: last = 0 Hundreds ∈ {2,4,6} → 3 choices. Thousands (non‑zero, ≠ hundreds) → 6 choices. Tens → 5 choices. Count = 3 × 6 × 5 = 90. Case 2: last = 5 Hundreds ∈ {0,2,4,6}. • If hundreds = 0: thousands ∈ {1,2,3,4,6,7} (6), tens (5) ⇒ 30. • If hundreds ∈ {2,4,6} (3 choices): thousands ∈ {1,3,4,6,7} excluding chosen hundreds ⇒ 5, tens 5 ⇒ 25 each ⇒ 75 total. Case 2 total = 30 + 75 = 105. Grand total = 90 + 105 = 195.

#### 5. Question

Using digits {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7} without repetition, how many 4‑digit numbers can be formed that are divisible by 5 and have an even hundreds digit?

Answer: C

Explanation : Divisible by 5 ⇒ last digit is 0 or 5. Hundreds digit must be even.

• Case 1: last = 0 Hundreds ∈ {2,4,6} → 3 choices. Thousands (non‑zero, ≠ hundreds) → 6 choices. Tens → 5 choices. Count = 3 × 6 × 5 = 90.

• Case 2: last = 5 Hundreds ∈ {0,2,4,6}. • If hundreds = 0: thousands ∈ {1,2,3,4,6,7} (6), tens (5) ⇒ 30. • If hundreds ∈ {2,4,6} (3 choices): thousands ∈ {1,3,4,6,7} excluding chosen hundreds ⇒ 5, tens 5 ⇒ 25 each ⇒ 75 total. Case 2 total = 30 + 75 = 105.

Grand total = 90 + 105 = 195.

Answer: C

Explanation : Divisible by 5 ⇒ last digit is 0 or 5. Hundreds digit must be even.

• Case 1: last = 0 Hundreds ∈ {2,4,6} → 3 choices. Thousands (non‑zero, ≠ hundreds) → 6 choices. Tens → 5 choices. Count = 3 × 6 × 5 = 90.

Grand total = 90 + 105 = 195.

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