UPSC Insta–DART (Daily Aptitude and Reasoning Test) 19 Dec 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 Implementing resilience strategy will require efforts to strengthen the capacities of public institutions. Government agencies, ministries, and national agricultural research systems need support to undertake and utilize research more effectively; and ensure this research is packaged and disseminated so that it can inform decision-making and lead to the creation of appropriate policies. Improving technical skills will be critical so that countries have sufficient expertise to embrace technological advances and utilize innovations such as geo-informatics and climate modelling. Given that many of the region’s best agricultural scientists were trained decades ago, and are nearing retirement age, there is a desperate need to target younger researchers with capacity development opportunities, and equip them with the knowledge and skills they will need to strengthen production systems against a backdrop of new and emerging climate challenges. Based on the above passage, consider the following assumptions: It is crucial to train and induct young agricultural scientists and researchers to bring effective change. An effective resilience strategy requires robust public institutional capacities. Innovative technologies and inventions are sparsely utilized as they are not effective. Choose the correct answer: (a) 1 and 2 (b) 1 and 3 (c) 2 and 3 (d) All of the above Correct Answer: (a) Explanation: Assumption 1 is correct: The passage explicitly mentions the “desperate need to target younger researchers” and to “equip them with knowledge and skills,” clearly implying that training and induction of young agricultural scientists are essential for effective change. Assumption 2 is correct: The passage begins by asserting that implementing a resilience strategy “will require efforts to strengthen the capacities of public institutions,” which directly supports the idea that robust institutional capacity is central to success. Assumption 3 is incorrect: The passage never suggests that innovative technologies are “not effective.” Instead, it stresses the need to build expertise so these technologies—like geo-informatics and climate modelling—can be better utilized. The issue lies in capacity, not in technological inefficacy. Hence, only assumptions 1 and 2 are valid. Incorrect Answer: (a) Explanation: Assumption 1 is correct: The passage explicitly mentions the “desperate need to target younger researchers” and to “equip them with knowledge and skills,” clearly implying that training and induction of young agricultural scientists are essential for effective change. Assumption 2 is correct: The passage begins by asserting that implementing a resilience strategy “will require efforts to strengthen the capacities of public institutions,” which directly supports the idea that robust institutional capacity is central to success. Assumption 3 is incorrect: The passage never suggests that innovative technologies are “not effective.” Instead, it stresses the need to build expertise so these technologies—like geo-informatics and climate modelling—can be better utilized. The issue lies in capacity, not in technological inefficacy. Hence, only assumptions 1 and 2 are valid.

#### 1. Question

Implementing resilience strategy will require efforts to strengthen the capacities of public institutions. Government agencies, ministries, and national agricultural research systems need support to undertake and utilize research more effectively; and ensure this research is packaged and disseminated so that it can inform decision-making and lead to the creation of appropriate policies. Improving technical skills will be critical so that countries have sufficient expertise to embrace technological advances and utilize innovations such as geo-informatics and climate modelling. Given that many of the region’s best agricultural scientists were trained decades ago, and are nearing retirement age, there is a desperate need to target younger researchers with capacity development opportunities, and equip them with the knowledge and skills they will need to strengthen production systems against a backdrop of new and emerging climate challenges.

Based on the above passage, consider the following assumptions:

• It is crucial to train and induct young agricultural scientists and researchers to bring effective change.

• An effective resilience strategy requires robust public institutional capacities.

• Innovative technologies and inventions are sparsely utilized as they are not effective.

Choose the correct answer:

• (a) 1 and 2

• (b) 1 and 3

• (c) 2 and 3

• (d) All of the above

Answer: (a)

Explanation: Assumption 1 is correct: The passage explicitly mentions the “desperate need to target younger researchers” and to “equip them with knowledge and skills,” clearly implying that training and induction of young agricultural scientists are essential for effective change.

Assumption 2 is correct: The passage begins by asserting that implementing a resilience strategy “will require efforts to strengthen the capacities of public institutions,” which directly supports the idea that robust institutional capacity is central to success.

Assumption 3 is incorrect: The passage never suggests that innovative technologies are “not effective.” Instead, it stresses the need to build expertise so these technologies—like geo-informatics and climate modelling—can be better utilized. The issue lies in capacity, not in technological inefficacy.

Hence, only assumptions 1 and 2 are valid.

Answer: (a)

Hence, only assumptions 1 and 2 are valid.

• Question 2 of 5 2. Question Suresh and Ramesh start from a point and move in opposite directions for 2 km each. Then Suresh takes a right turn and walks 3 km in 1 hour. Ramesh turns to the left at some angle and also reaches the same point as Suresh in 1 hour. At what speed was Ramesh walking for the last hour? (a) 7 km/hr (b) 5 km/hr (c) 2 km/hr (d) Cannot be determined Correct Explanation: Both first go 2 km in opposite directions, so they are 4 km apart on a straight line. After that, Suresh turns right and walks 3 km in 1 hour. So, we know Suresh’s second-leg distance = 3 km. Ramesh “turns to the left at some angle” and also reaches the same point as Suresh in 1 hour, but the angle of Ramesh’s turn is not given. So, the triangle formed by Ramesh’s path, Suresh’s path, and the 4 km separation is not uniquely known. That means Ramesh’s second-leg distance (and hence speed) cannot be uniquely fixed. So, the speed of Ramesh in the last hour cannot be determined with the given data. Hence, option (d) is correct. Incorrect Explanation: Both first go 2 km in opposite directions, so they are 4 km apart on a straight line. After that, Suresh turns right and walks 3 km in 1 hour. So, we know Suresh’s second-leg distance = 3 km. Ramesh “turns to the left at some angle” and also reaches the same point as Suresh in 1 hour, but the angle of Ramesh’s turn is not given. So, the triangle formed by Ramesh’s path, Suresh’s path, and the 4 km separation is not uniquely known. That means Ramesh’s second-leg distance (and hence speed) cannot be uniquely fixed. So, the speed of Ramesh in the last hour cannot be determined with the given data. Hence, option (d) is correct.

#### 2. Question

Suresh and Ramesh start from a point and move in opposite directions for 2 km each. Then Suresh takes a right turn and walks 3 km in 1 hour. Ramesh turns to the left at some angle and also reaches the same point as Suresh in 1 hour. At what speed was Ramesh walking for the last hour?

• (a) 7 km/hr

• (b) 5 km/hr

• (c) 2 km/hr

• (d) Cannot be determined

Explanation: Both first go 2 km in opposite directions, so they are 4 km apart on a straight line. After that, Suresh turns right and walks 3 km in 1 hour. So, we know Suresh’s second-leg distance = 3 km. Ramesh “turns to the left at some angle” and also reaches the same point as Suresh in 1 hour, but the angle of Ramesh’s turn is not given. So, the triangle formed by Ramesh’s path, Suresh’s path, and the 4 km separation is not uniquely known. That means Ramesh’s second-leg distance (and hence speed) cannot be uniquely fixed. So, the speed of Ramesh in the last hour cannot be determined with the given data. Hence, option (d) is correct.

• Question 3 of 5 3. Question Length of two trains ‘A’ and ‘B’ are 300 metres and 200 metres respectively. Train ‘A’ crosses a man standing on a platform in 20 seconds and train ‘B’ crosses a man in 16 seconds. Which of the following statement(s) is/are true? Time taken by the two trains to cross each other while moving in opposite directions is 18.18 seconds (approx). II. Time taken by train ‘A’ to cross a bridge of length 450 metres is 50 seconds. III. Time taken by the front end of train ‘B’ to cross a tunnel of length 250 metres is 20 seconds. (a) All I, II and III (b) Both I and II (c) Both II and III (d) Only I Correct Explanation: Speed of A = 300/20 = 15 m/s Speed of B = 200/16 = 12.5 m/s Opposite directions → relative speed = 15 + 12.5 = 27.5 m/s Total distance to be covered = 300 + 200 = 500 m Time = 500 / 27.5 ≈ 18.18 s → correct. Train A crossing bridge 450 m → total distance = 300 + 450 = 750 m Time = 750 / 15 = 50 s → correct. III. “Front end of B to cross tunnel” means only tunnel length = 250 m Time = 250 / 12.5 = 20 s → correct. So all three are true. Answer: (a) Incorrect Explanation: Speed of A = 300/20 = 15 m/s Speed of B = 200/16 = 12.5 m/s Opposite directions → relative speed = 15 + 12.5 = 27.5 m/s Total distance to be covered = 300 + 200 = 500 m Time = 500 / 27.5 ≈ 18.18 s → correct. Train A crossing bridge 450 m → total distance = 300 + 450 = 750 m Time = 750 / 15 = 50 s → correct. III. “Front end of B to cross tunnel” means only tunnel length = 250 m Time = 250 / 12.5 = 20 s → correct. So all three are true. Answer: (a)

#### 3. Question

Length of two trains ‘A’ and ‘B’ are 300 metres and 200 metres respectively. Train ‘A’ crosses a man standing on a platform in 20 seconds and train ‘B’ crosses a man in 16 seconds. Which of the following statement(s) is/are true?

Time taken by the two trains to cross each other while moving in opposite directions is 18.18 seconds (approx). II. Time taken by train ‘A’ to cross a bridge of length 450 metres is 50 seconds. III. Time taken by the front end of train ‘B’ to cross a tunnel of length 250 metres is 20 seconds.

• (a) All I, II and III

• (b) Both I and II

• (c) Both II and III

• (d) Only I

Explanation: Speed of A = 300/20 = 15 m/s Speed of B = 200/16 = 12.5 m/s

• Opposite directions → relative speed = 15 + 12.5 = 27.5 m/s Total distance to be covered = 300 + 200 = 500 m Time = 500 / 27.5 ≈ 18.18 s → correct.

• Train A crossing bridge 450 m → total distance = 300 + 450 = 750 m Time = 750 / 15 = 50 s → correct.

III. “Front end of B to cross tunnel” means only tunnel length = 250 m Time = 250 / 12.5 = 20 s → correct.

So all three are true. Answer: (a)

Explanation: Speed of A = 300/20 = 15 m/s Speed of B = 200/16 = 12.5 m/s

• Opposite directions → relative speed = 15 + 12.5 = 27.5 m/s Total distance to be covered = 300 + 200 = 500 m Time = 500 / 27.5 ≈ 18.18 s → correct.

• Train A crossing bridge 450 m → total distance = 300 + 450 = 750 m Time = 750 / 15 = 50 s → correct.

III. “Front end of B to cross tunnel” means only tunnel length = 250 m Time = 250 / 12.5 = 20 s → correct.

So all three are true. Answer: (a)

• Question 4 of 5 4. Question If a boat’s speed in still water is a two-digit number P, and the speed of the stream is one-fourth of P, then: Statement I: The boat covers 24 km downstream in 1 hour. Statement II: The boat covers the same distance upstream in 2 hours. Question: What is the speed of the boat in still water? (a) Statement I alone is sufficient (b) Statement II alone is sufficient (c) Statement I and Statement II together are required (d) Statement I and Statement II together are insufficient Correct Answer: (c) Explanation: Let boat speed = P and stream speed = P/4. From Statement I: Downstream speed = P + P/4 = 1.25P = 24 → P = 19.2 (not an integer). From Statement II: Upstream speed = P – P/4 = 0.75P = 12 → P = 16. When both are combined, the only consistent value is P = 16. Hence, both statements together are necessary. Incorrect Answer: (c) Explanation: Let boat speed = P and stream speed = P/4. From Statement I: Downstream speed = P + P/4 = 1.25P = 24 → P = 19.2 (not an integer). From Statement II: Upstream speed = P – P/4 = 0.75P = 12 → P = 16. When both are combined, the only consistent value is P = 16. Hence, both statements together are necessary.

#### 4. Question

If a boat’s speed in still water is a two-digit number P, and the speed of the stream is one-fourth of P, then:

Statement I: The boat covers 24 km downstream in 1 hour. Statement II: The boat covers the same distance upstream in 2 hours.

Question: What is the speed of the boat in still water?

• (a) Statement I alone is sufficient

• (b) Statement II alone is sufficient

• (c) Statement I and Statement II together are required

• (d) Statement I and Statement II together are insufficient

Answer: (c) Explanation: Let boat speed = P and stream speed = P/4. From Statement I: Downstream speed = P + P/4 = 1.25P = 24 → P = 19.2 (not an integer). From Statement II: Upstream speed = P – P/4 = 0.75P = 12 → P = 16. When both are combined, the only consistent value is P = 16. Hence, both statements together are necessary.

• Question 5 of 5 5. Question Two trains, A and B, start from the same station in the same direction. Train A leaves 20 minutes earlier than Train B and runs at 60 km/h. Train B runs at 75 km/h. Consider the following statements: Statement I: Train B will catch Train A after 1 hour and 20 minutes. Statement II: At the meeting point, both trains would have covered 100 km. Statement III: If both had started together, Train B would have reached the meeting point 16 minutes earlier. How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Correct Answer: (b) Explanation: Time gap between starts = 20 min = 1/3 hr. Distance advantage of A = 60 × 1/3 = 20 km. Relative speed = 75 − 60 = 15 km/h. Catch-up time = 20 ÷ 15 = 4/3 hr = 1 hr 20 min → Statement I true. Distance covered by A till meeting = 60 × (1 + 1/3) = 80 km → Statement II false. If they started together, B would cover 80 km in 80/75 hr = 1.066 hr = 64 min. A takes 80/60 hr = 1.33 hr = 80 min. Difference = 16 min → Statement III true. Hence, two statements (I and III) are correct. Incorrect Answer: (b) Explanation: Time gap between starts = 20 min = 1/3 hr. Distance advantage of A = 60 × 1/3 = 20 km. Relative speed = 75 − 60 = 15 km/h. Catch-up time = 20 ÷ 15 = 4/3 hr = 1 hr 20 min → Statement I true. Distance covered by A till meeting = 60 × (1 + 1/3) = 80 km → Statement II false. If they started together, B would cover 80 km in 80/75 hr = 1.066 hr = 64 min. A takes 80/60 hr = 1.33 hr = 80 min. Difference = 16 min → Statement III true. Hence, two statements (I and III) are correct.

#### 5. Question

Two trains, A and B, start from the same station in the same direction. Train A leaves 20 minutes earlier than Train B and runs at 60 km/h. Train B runs at 75 km/h.

Consider the following statements: Statement I: Train B will catch Train A after 1 hour and 20 minutes. Statement II: At the meeting point, both trains would have covered 100 km. Statement III: If both had started together, Train B would have reached the meeting point 16 minutes earlier.

How many of the above statements are correct?

• (a) Only one

• (b) Only two

• (c) All three

Answer: (b)

Explanation: Time gap between starts = 20 min = 1/3 hr. Distance advantage of A = 60 × 1/3 = 20 km. Relative speed = 75 − 60 = 15 km/h. Catch-up time = 20 ÷ 15 = 4/3 hr = 1 hr 20 min → Statement I true. Distance covered by A till meeting = 60 × (1 + 1/3) = 80 km → Statement II false. If they started together, B would cover 80 km in 80/75 hr = 1.066 hr = 64 min. A takes 80/60 hr = 1.33 hr = 80 min. Difference = 16 min → Statement III true. Hence, two statements (I and III) are correct.

Answer: (b)

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