UPSC Insta–DART (Daily Aptitude and Reasoning Test) 13 Feb 2026
Kartavya Desk Staff
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 The debate surrounding automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) often oscillates between dystopian fears of mass unemployment and utopian visions of a leisure society. However, the immediate reality is likely to be a “hollowing out” of the labor market. Routine cognitive and manual tasks—the historical domain of the middle class—are the most susceptible to automation, while high-skill strategic roles and low-skill service jobs remain relatively insulated. This polarization threatens to sever the traditional link between productivity growth and wage increases for the median worker. Consequently, the challenge for policymakers is not merely to foster innovation, but to construct a new social contract that decouples livelihood security from the volatility of a transforming labor market. Which one of the following statements best reflects the central premise of the passage? (a) The rapid advancement of AI will inevitably lead to a total collapse of the traditional employment structure. (b) Policymaking should focus on slowing down technological innovation to protect middle-class jobs. (c) The primary concern regarding automation is the widening inequality caused by the erosion of middle-skill employment. (d) High-skill and low-skill workers are equally vulnerable to the disruptions caused by automation. Correct Answer: (c) Explanation: Option (a) is incorrect: The passage describes a specific shift (“hollowing out” and “polarization”) rather than a “total collapse.” It suggests a restructuring rather than an end to employment. Option (b) is incorrect: The passage states the challenge is “not merely to foster innovation” (implying innovation should continue) but to “construct a new social contract.” It does not advocate for slowing down technology. Option (c) is correct: The text explicitly describes the “hollowing out” of the middle class and the “polarization” of the market, warning that this threatens to sever the link between productivity and wages. This highlights inequality and the erosion of middle-skill jobs as the core issue. Option (d) is incorrect: The passage specifically states that high-skill and low-skill jobs “remain relatively insulated,” meaning they are less vulnerable than middle-skill jobs, not equally vulnerable. Incorrect Answer: (c) Explanation: Option (a) is incorrect: The passage describes a specific shift (“hollowing out” and “polarization”) rather than a “total collapse.” It suggests a restructuring rather than an end to employment. Option (b) is incorrect: The passage states the challenge is “not merely to foster innovation” (implying innovation should continue) but to “construct a new social contract.” It does not advocate for slowing down technology. Option (c) is correct: The text explicitly describes the “hollowing out” of the middle class and the “polarization” of the market, warning that this threatens to sever the link between productivity and wages. This highlights inequality and the erosion of middle-skill jobs as the core issue. Option (d) is incorrect: The passage specifically states that high-skill and low-skill jobs “remain relatively insulated,” meaning they are less vulnerable than middle-skill jobs, not equally vulnerable.
#### 1. Question
The debate surrounding automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) often oscillates between dystopian fears of mass unemployment and utopian visions of a leisure society. However, the immediate reality is likely to be a “hollowing out” of the labor market. Routine cognitive and manual tasks—the historical domain of the middle class—are the most susceptible to automation, while high-skill strategic roles and low-skill service jobs remain relatively insulated. This polarization threatens to sever the traditional link between productivity growth and wage increases for the median worker. Consequently, the challenge for policymakers is not merely to foster innovation, but to construct a new social contract that decouples livelihood security from the volatility of a transforming labor market.
Which one of the following statements best reflects the central premise of the passage?
• (a) The rapid advancement of AI will inevitably lead to a total collapse of the traditional employment structure.
• (b) Policymaking should focus on slowing down technological innovation to protect middle-class jobs.
• (c) The primary concern regarding automation is the widening inequality caused by the erosion of middle-skill employment.
• (d) High-skill and low-skill workers are equally vulnerable to the disruptions caused by automation.
Answer: (c)
Explanation:
• Option (a) is incorrect: The passage describes a specific shift (“hollowing out” and “polarization”) rather than a “total collapse.” It suggests a restructuring rather than an end to employment.
• Option (b) is incorrect: The passage states the challenge is “not merely to foster innovation” (implying innovation should continue) but to “construct a new social contract.” It does not advocate for slowing down technology.
• Option (c) is correct: The text explicitly describes the “hollowing out” of the middle class and the “polarization” of the market, warning that this threatens to sever the link between productivity and wages. This highlights inequality and the erosion of middle-skill jobs as the core issue.
• Option (d) is incorrect: The passage specifically states that high-skill and low-skill jobs “remain relatively insulated,” meaning they are less vulnerable than middle-skill jobs, not equally vulnerable.
Answer: (c)
Explanation:
• Option (a) is incorrect: The passage describes a specific shift (“hollowing out” and “polarization”) rather than a “total collapse.” It suggests a restructuring rather than an end to employment.
• Option (b) is incorrect: The passage states the challenge is “not merely to foster innovation” (implying innovation should continue) but to “construct a new social contract.” It does not advocate for slowing down technology.
• Option (c) is correct: The text explicitly describes the “hollowing out” of the middle class and the “polarization” of the market, warning that this threatens to sever the link between productivity and wages. This highlights inequality and the erosion of middle-skill jobs as the core issue.
• Option (d) is incorrect: The passage specifically states that high-skill and low-skill jobs “remain relatively insulated,” meaning they are less vulnerable than middle-skill jobs, not equally vulnerable.
• Question 2 of 5 2. Question Which of the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage? (a) Educational reforms alone will be sufficient to mitigate the adverse effects of automation. (b) Existing social safety nets may be inadequate to protect workers in an AI-driven economy. (c) Automation will eventually lead to a decrease in the productivity of high-skill workers. (d) The service sector will disappear as AI takes over low-skill manual tasks. Correct Answer: (b) Explanation: Option (a) is incorrect: The passage calls for a “new social contract” and decoupling livelihood security from market volatility. It implies structural economic changes are needed, not just education. Option (b) is correct: By stating the need to “construct a new social contract that decouples livelihood security from… volatility,” the author implies that the current systems (where security is tied to stable middle-class jobs) are no longer sufficient for this new reality. Option (c) is incorrect: The passage suggests high-skill roles are “insulated,” implying their productivity remains intact or grows; it does not suggest a decrease. Option (d) is incorrect: The passage states that “low-skill service jobs remain relatively insulated,” directly contradicting the idea that the service sector will disappear. Incorrect Answer: (b) Explanation: Option (a) is incorrect: The passage calls for a “new social contract” and decoupling livelihood security from market volatility. It implies structural economic changes are needed, not just education. Option (b) is correct: By stating the need to “construct a new social contract that decouples livelihood security from… volatility,” the author implies that the current systems (where security is tied to stable middle-class jobs) are no longer sufficient for this new reality. Option (c) is incorrect: The passage suggests high-skill roles are “insulated,” implying their productivity remains intact or grows; it does not suggest a decrease. Option (d) is incorrect: The passage states that “low-skill service jobs remain relatively insulated,” directly contradicting the idea that the service sector will disappear.
#### 2. Question
Which of the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?
• (a) Educational reforms alone will be sufficient to mitigate the adverse effects of automation.
• (b) Existing social safety nets may be inadequate to protect workers in an AI-driven economy.
• (c) Automation will eventually lead to a decrease in the productivity of high-skill workers.
• (d) The service sector will disappear as AI takes over low-skill manual tasks.
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
• Option (a) is incorrect: The passage calls for a “new social contract” and decoupling livelihood security from market volatility. It implies structural economic changes are needed, not just education.
• Option (b) is correct: By stating the need to “construct a new social contract that decouples livelihood security from… volatility,” the author implies that the current systems (where security is tied to stable middle-class jobs) are no longer sufficient for this new reality.
• Option (c) is incorrect: The passage suggests high-skill roles are “insulated,” implying their productivity remains intact or grows; it does not suggest a decrease.
Option (d) is incorrect: The passage states that “low-skill service jobs remain relatively insulated,” directly contradicting the idea that the service sector will disappear.
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
• Option (a) is incorrect: The passage calls for a “new social contract” and decoupling livelihood security from market volatility. It implies structural economic changes are needed, not just education.
• Option (b) is correct: By stating the need to “construct a new social contract that decouples livelihood security from… volatility,” the author implies that the current systems (where security is tied to stable middle-class jobs) are no longer sufficient for this new reality.
• Option (c) is incorrect: The passage suggests high-skill roles are “insulated,” implying their productivity remains intact or grows; it does not suggest a decrease.
Option (d) is incorrect: The passage states that “low-skill service jobs remain relatively insulated,” directly contradicting the idea that the service sector will disappear.
• Question 3 of 5 3. Question Two machines produce a beep at intervals of 72 seconds and 90 seconds. If they beep together at 2:15 pm, when will they beep together again for the first time? (a) 2:21 pm (b) 2:24 pm (c) 2:27 pm (d) 2:30 pm Correct Incorrect
#### 3. Question
Two machines produce a beep at intervals of 72 seconds and 90 seconds. If they beep together at 2:15 pm, when will they beep together again for the first time?
• (a) 2:21 pm
• (b) 2:24 pm
• (c) 2:27 pm
• (d) 2:30 pm
• Question 4 of 5 4. Question How many zeroes are there at the end of the product? 510202550*75 (a) 6 (b) 7 (c) 8 (d) 9 Correct Incorrect
#### 4. Question
How many zeroes are there at the end of the product?
510202550*75
• Question 5 of 5 5. Question There are some chairs and some students in a classroom. If one student sits on each chair, two students remain standing. If two students sit on each chair, one chair remains vacant. The number of chairs and students respectively is: (a) 3 and 5 (b) 4 and 6 (c) 5 and 7 (d) 6 and 8 Correct Incorrect
#### 5. Question
There are some chairs and some students in a classroom. If one student sits on each chair, two students remain standing. If two students sit on each chair, one chair remains vacant. The number of chairs and students respectively is:
• (a) 3 and 5
• (b) 4 and 6
• (c) 5 and 7
• (d) 6 and 8
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