UPSC Insta–DART (Daily Aptitude and Reasoning Test) 27 Aug 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 Rare earth minerals, essential for high-tech applications like electric vehicles, wind turbines, and advanced defence systems, have become a focal point of 21st-century geopolitics. Though not geologically scarce, their extraction and refining are concentrated in a few countries, with China dominating global supply chains. This concentration creates strategic vulnerabilities, where export restrictions or price controls can influence global manufacturing and national security. Efforts by other nations to diversify supply—through new mining projects, recycling technologies, and strategic reserves—face challenges from high environmental costs and long project timelines. Securing stable, ethical, and sustainable access to rare earths is now central to both economic competitiveness and geopolitical leverage. Which one of the following statements best reflects the thinking of the author? (a) Rare earth minerals are rare and can only be sourced from a handful of countries. (b) Securing rare earth supply chains requires balancing strategic, economic, and environmental considerations. (c) Recycling rare earths is the only viable long-term solution to supply risks. (d) China’s dominance in rare earth production is unlikely to affect global trade patterns. Correct Solution: (b) Explanation: The passage emphasizes supply concentration risks, environmental costs, and the need for diversification strategies. This requires a balance between strategic security, economic viability, and sustainability. Option (b) captures this approach; other options either misrepresent facts or oversimplify solutions. Incorrect Solution: (b) Explanation: The passage emphasizes supply concentration risks, environmental costs, and the need for diversification strategies. This requires a balance between strategic security, economic viability, and sustainability. Option (b) captures this approach; other options either misrepresent facts or oversimplify solutions.

#### 1. Question

Rare earth minerals, essential for high-tech applications like electric vehicles, wind turbines, and advanced defence systems, have become a focal point of 21st-century geopolitics. Though not geologically scarce, their extraction and refining are concentrated in a few countries, with China dominating global supply chains. This concentration creates strategic vulnerabilities, where export restrictions or price controls can influence global manufacturing and national security. Efforts by other nations to diversify supply—through new mining projects, recycling technologies, and strategic reserves—face challenges from high environmental costs and long project timelines. Securing stable, ethical, and sustainable access to rare earths is now central to both economic competitiveness and geopolitical leverage.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the thinking of the author?

• (a) Rare earth minerals are rare and can only be sourced from a handful of countries.

• (b) Securing rare earth supply chains requires balancing strategic, economic, and environmental considerations.

• (c) Recycling rare earths is the only viable long-term solution to supply risks.

• (d) China’s dominance in rare earth production is unlikely to affect global trade patterns.

Solution: (b)

Explanation: The passage emphasizes supply concentration risks, environmental costs, and the need for diversification strategies. This requires a balance between strategic security, economic viability, and sustainability. Option (b) captures this approach; other options either misrepresent facts or oversimplify solutions.

Solution: (b)

• Question 2 of 5 2. Question Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: Overdependence on a single supplier for critical minerals can pose national security risks. Environmental concerns are a significant barrier to expanding rare earth production outside current dominant suppliers. Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Correct Solution: (c) Explanation: The passage links supply concentration to strategic vulnerabilities, supporting statement 1. It also identifies high environmental costs as a key challenge to diversification, supporting statement 2. Both assumptions logically follow, making option (c) correct. Incorrect Solution: (c) Explanation: The passage links supply concentration to strategic vulnerabilities, supporting statement 1. It also identifies high environmental costs as a key challenge to diversification, supporting statement 2. Both assumptions logically follow, making option (c) correct.

#### 2. Question

Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

• Overdependence on a single supplier for critical minerals can pose national security risks.

• Environmental concerns are a significant barrier to expanding rare earth production outside current dominant suppliers.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

• (a) 1 only

• (b) 2 only

• (c) Both 1 and 2

• (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution: (c)

Explanation: The passage links supply concentration to strategic vulnerabilities, supporting statement 1. It also identifies high environmental costs as a key challenge to diversification, supporting statement 2. Both assumptions logically follow, making option (c) correct.

Solution: (c)

• Question 3 of 5 3. Question A certain number gives a remainder of 68 when divided by 144. What will be the remainder when the number is divided by 12? (a) 4 (b) 6 (c) 8 (d) 10 Correct Ans: (c) Solution: Let the number be P. P=144×Q+68 Now 144=12×12 P=(12×12×Q)+(12×5+8) P=12(12Q+5)+8 The remainder when P is divided by 12 is 8. Hence, option (c) is correct. Incorrect Ans: (c) Solution: Let the number be P. P=144×Q+68 Now 144=12×12 P=(12×12×Q)+(12×5+8) P=12(12Q+5)+8 The remainder when P is divided by 12 is 8. Hence, option (c) is correct.

#### 3. Question

A certain number gives a remainder of 68 when divided by 144. What will be the remainder when the number is divided by 12?

Ans: (c)

Solution: Let the number be P.

P=144×Q+68

Now 144=12×12

P=(12×12×Q)+(12×5+8)

P=12(12Q+5)+8

The remainder when P is divided by 12 is 8. Hence, option (c) is correct.

Ans: (c)

Solution: Let the number be P.

P=144×Q+68

Now 144=12×12

P=(12×12×Q)+(12×5+8)

P=12(12Q+5)+8

The remainder when P is divided by 12 is 8. Hence, option (c) is correct.

• Question 4 of 5 4. Question A six‑digit number N is formed using only the digits 0, 1, 3, 6, with each used at least once. If N is divisible by 15, what is the hundreds digit of the smallest such number? (a) 3 (b) 1 (c) 6 (d) 0 Correct Answer: (a) Explanation Divisible by 15 ⇒ divisible by 3 and 5. Since 5 is not allowed, the last digit must be 0. Use each digit at least once and keep the number minimal. For divisibility by 3, the digit sum must be a multiple of 3. Base sum of {0,1,3,6} is 10≡1(mod3). Add two more digits so total ≡0(mod3) Only digit with residue 1 (mod 3) is 1, so add two 1’s: multiset {0,1,1,1,3,6}\{0,1,1,1,3,6\}{0,1,1,1,3,6} (sum =12=12=12). Last digit fixed at 0. Arrange the first five digits minimally: 1,1,1,3,6. Smallest N=111360 . The hundreds digit is 3. Hence option (a). Incorrect Answer: (a) Explanation Divisible by 15 ⇒ divisible by 3 and 5. Since 5 is not allowed, the last digit must be 0. Use each digit at least once and keep the number minimal. For divisibility by 3, the digit sum must be a multiple of 3. Base sum of {0,1,3,6} is 10≡1(mod3). Add two more digits so total ≡0(mod3) Only digit with residue 1 (mod 3) is 1, so add two 1’s: multiset {0,1,1,1,3,6}\{0,1,1,1,3,6\}{0,1,1,1,3,6} (sum =12=12=12). Last digit fixed at 0. Arrange the first five digits minimally: 1,1,1,3,6. Smallest N=111360 . The hundreds digit is 3. Hence option (a).

#### 4. Question

A six‑digit number N is formed using only the digits 0, 1, 3, 6, with each used at least once. If N is divisible by 15, what is the hundreds digit of the smallest such number?

Answer: (a)

Explanation Divisible by 15 ⇒ divisible by 3 and 5. Since 5 is not allowed, the last digit must be 0. Use each digit at least once and keep the number minimal. For divisibility by 3, the digit sum must be a multiple of 3. Base sum of {0,1,3,6} is 10≡1(mod3). Add two more digits so total ≡0(mod3) Only digit with residue 1 (mod 3) is 1, so add two 1’s: multiset {0,1,1,1,3,6}\{0,1,1,1,3,6\}{0,1,1,1,3,6} (sum =12=12=12). Last digit fixed at 0. Arrange the first five digits minimally: 1,1,1,3,6. Smallest N=111360 .

The hundreds digit is 3. Hence option (a).

Answer: (a)

The hundreds digit is 3. Hence option (a).

• Question 5 of 5 5. Question A question is given followed by two statements: Question: What is the selling price of the article? Statement I. The article was bought for ₹1,200 and sold at a profit of 20%. Statement II. The profit earned was ₹240. Which one of the following is correct with respect to the above statements? (a) If statement I alone is sufficient to answer the question. (b) If statement II alone is sufficient to answer the question. (c) If both the statements I & II together are not sufficient to answer the question. (d) If both the statements I & II together are sufficient to answer the question. Correct Answer – A Statement I alone: CP = ₹1,200, Profit% = 20% ⇒ Profit = (20/100) × 1,200 = ₹240. SP = CP + Profit = 1,200 + 240 = ₹1,440. Sufficient. Statement II alone: Profit = ₹240 but CP or profit% not given ⇒ SP cannot be determined. Not sufficient. Conclusion: (a) Statement I alone is sufficient. Incorrect Answer – A Statement I alone: CP = ₹1,200, Profit% = 20% ⇒ Profit = (20/100) × 1,200 = ₹240. SP = CP + Profit = 1,200 + 240 = ₹1,440. Sufficient. Statement II alone: Profit = ₹240 but CP or profit% not given ⇒ SP cannot be determined. Not sufficient. Conclusion: (a) Statement I alone is sufficient.

#### 5. Question

A question is given followed by two statements: Question: What is the selling price of the article?

Statement I. The article was bought for ₹1,200 and sold at a profit of 20%. Statement II. The profit earned was ₹240.

Which one of the following is correct with respect to the above statements?

• (a) If statement I alone is sufficient to answer the question.

• (b) If statement II alone is sufficient to answer the question.

• (c) If both the statements I & II together are not sufficient to answer the question.

• (d) If both the statements I & II together are sufficient to answer the question.

Answer – A

Statement I alone: CP = ₹1,200, Profit% = 20% ⇒ Profit = (20/100) × 1,200 = ₹240. SP = CP + Profit = 1,200 + 240 = ₹1,440. Sufficient.

Statement II alone: Profit = ₹240 but CP or profit% not given ⇒ SP cannot be determined. Not sufficient.

Conclusion: (a) Statement I alone is sufficient.

Answer – A

Statement I alone: CP = ₹1,200, Profit% = 20% ⇒ Profit = (20/100) × 1,200 = ₹240. SP = CP + Profit = 1,200 + 240 = ₹1,440. Sufficient.

Statement II alone: Profit = ₹240 but CP or profit% not given ⇒ SP cannot be determined. Not sufficient.

Conclusion: (a) Statement I alone is sufficient.

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