UPSC Insta–DART (Daily Aptitude and Reasoning Test) 27 Nov 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 With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: The natural functioning of rivers plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological and economic balance. II. Constructing more dams is the most effective solution to manage both water scarcity and flooding. 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: (a) Explanation: Assumption I is correct: The passage repeatedly highlights how rivers sustain ecosystems, recharge groundwater, and renew soils, indicating their vital ecological and economic functions. Recognising this balance forms the core of sustainable river management. Assumption II is incorrect: The author warns that “excessive damming… disrupts natural processes,” implying that more dams do not automatically solve water or flood problems. Instead, they may worsen ecological imbalances. Therefore, this assumption contradicts the passage. Hence, only Assumption I is valid, making option (a) correct. Incorrect Answer: (a) Explanation: Assumption I is correct: The passage repeatedly highlights how rivers sustain ecosystems, recharge groundwater, and renew soils, indicating their vital ecological and economic functions. Recognising this balance forms the core of sustainable river management. Assumption II is incorrect: The author warns that “excessive damming… disrupts natural processes,” implying that more dams do not automatically solve water or flood problems. Instead, they may worsen ecological imbalances. Therefore, this assumption contradicts the passage. Hence, only Assumption I is valid, making option (a) correct.

#### 1. Question

With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

• The natural functioning of rivers plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological and economic balance. II. Constructing more dams is the most effective solution to manage both water scarcity and flooding.

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: (a)

Explanation: Assumption I is correct: The passage repeatedly highlights how rivers sustain ecosystems, recharge groundwater, and renew soils, indicating their vital ecological and economic functions. Recognising this balance forms the core of sustainable river management. Assumption II is incorrect: The author warns that “excessive damming… disrupts natural processes,” implying that more dams do not automatically solve water or flood problems. Instead, they may worsen ecological imbalances. Therefore, this assumption contradicts the passage. Hence, only Assumption I is valid, making option (a) correct.

Answer: (a)

• Question 2 of 5 2. Question The search for renewable energy is not a recent phenomenon. Long before the industrial revolution, human societies depended on wind to sail ships, water to run mills, and biomass for cooking and heating. The dominance of coal and petroleum in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, however, reduced these sources to the margins. The oil shocks of the 1970s, environmental concerns of the late twentieth century, and the climate crisis of the twenty-first have together revived global interest in renewables. Today’s transition, therefore, is not about discovering new energy sources but about re-imagining ancient ones through modern technology—transforming sunlight, wind, and water into clean, efficient, and sustainable power for a carbon-constrained world. Which one of the following statements best reflects the critical message conveyed by the author of the passage? (a) The future of renewable energy lies entirely in inventing new energy sources beyond wind, water, and sunlight. (b) Renewable energy is a modern innovation born out of the twenty-first-century climate crisis. (c) The global shift to renewable energy represents a technological reinvention of age-old natural sources to meet present-day sustainability goals. (d) Fossil-fuel dominance should continue until renewable technologies become fully cost-competitive. Correct Answer: (c) Explanation: Option (a) is incorrect: The author explicitly notes that the present transition is “not about discovering new energy sources but about re-imagining ancient ones.” Hence, creating entirely new sources is not the message. Option (b) is incorrect: The passage traces renewable use to pre-industrial times, showing that these sources are ancient, not purely modern inventions. Option (c) is correct: The passage’s core idea is that humanity is revisiting and reinventing traditional natural energies—wind, water, sunlight—using modern technology for sustainable development. The line “transforming sunlight, wind, and water into clean, efficient, and sustainable power” confirms this. Option (d) is incorrect: The author nowhere supports continued fossil-fuel dependence; instead, the tone advocates transition and innovation. Therefore, option (c) best conveys the central message. Incorrect Answer: (c) Explanation: Option (a) is incorrect: The author explicitly notes that the present transition is “not about discovering new energy sources but about re-imagining ancient ones.” Hence, creating entirely new sources is not the message. Option (b) is incorrect: The passage traces renewable use to pre-industrial times, showing that these sources are ancient, not purely modern inventions. Option (c) is correct: The passage’s core idea is that humanity is revisiting and reinventing traditional natural energies—wind, water, sunlight—using modern technology for sustainable development. The line “transforming sunlight, wind, and water into clean, efficient, and sustainable power” confirms this. Option (d) is incorrect: The author nowhere supports continued fossil-fuel dependence; instead, the tone advocates transition and innovation. Therefore, option (c) best conveys the central message.

#### 2. Question

The search for renewable energy is not a recent phenomenon. Long before the industrial revolution, human societies depended on wind to sail ships, water to run mills, and biomass for cooking and heating. The dominance of coal and petroleum in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, however, reduced these sources to the margins. The oil shocks of the 1970s, environmental concerns of the late twentieth century, and the climate crisis of the twenty-first have together revived global interest in renewables. Today’s transition, therefore, is not about discovering new energy sources but about re-imagining ancient ones through modern technology—transforming sunlight, wind, and water into clean, efficient, and sustainable power for a carbon-constrained world.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the critical message conveyed by the author of the passage?

• (a) The future of renewable energy lies entirely in inventing new energy sources beyond wind, water, and sunlight.

• (b) Renewable energy is a modern innovation born out of the twenty-first-century climate crisis.

• (c) The global shift to renewable energy represents a technological reinvention of age-old natural sources to meet present-day sustainability goals.

• (d) Fossil-fuel dominance should continue until renewable technologies become fully cost-competitive.

Answer: (c)

Explanation: Option (a) is incorrect: The author explicitly notes that the present transition is “not about discovering new energy sources but about re-imagining ancient ones.” Hence, creating entirely new sources is not the message. Option (b) is incorrect: The passage traces renewable use to pre-industrial times, showing that these sources are ancient, not purely modern inventions. Option (c) is correct: The passage’s core idea is that humanity is revisiting and reinventing traditional natural energies—wind, water, sunlight—using modern technology for sustainable development. The line “transforming sunlight, wind, and water into clean, efficient, and sustainable power” confirms this. Option (d) is incorrect: The author nowhere supports continued fossil-fuel dependence; instead, the tone advocates transition and innovation. Therefore, option (c) best conveys the central message.

Answer: (c)

• Question 3 of 5 3. Question With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: I. Technological progress enables traditional energy sources to be harnessed in more efficient and sustainable ways. II. Renewable energy became significant only after the depletion of global coal and oil reserves. 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: (a) Explanation: Assumption I is correct: The passage directly supports this by stating that modern society is “re-imagining ancient sources through modern technology” to make them clean and efficient, implying technological advancement enables sustainability. Assumption II is incorrect: The revival of renewables, as described, stems from oil shocks and environmental awareness—not from physical depletion of fossil fuels. The passage never claims that coal and oil reserves have run out; it highlights ecological motivation instead. Hence, only Assumption I is valid, making option (a) correct. Incorrect Answer: (a) Explanation: Assumption I is correct: The passage directly supports this by stating that modern society is “re-imagining ancient sources through modern technology” to make them clean and efficient, implying technological advancement enables sustainability. Assumption II is incorrect: The revival of renewables, as described, stems from oil shocks and environmental awareness—not from physical depletion of fossil fuels. The passage never claims that coal and oil reserves have run out; it highlights ecological motivation instead. Hence, only Assumption I is valid, making option (a) correct.

#### 3. Question

With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

I. Technological progress enables traditional energy sources to be harnessed in more efficient and sustainable ways. II. Renewable energy became significant only after the depletion of global coal and oil reserves.

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: (a)

Explanation: Assumption I is correct: The passage directly supports this by stating that modern society is “re-imagining ancient sources through modern technology” to make them clean and efficient, implying technological advancement enables sustainability. Assumption II is incorrect: The revival of renewables, as described, stems from oil shocks and environmental awareness—not from physical depletion of fossil fuels. The passage never claims that coal and oil reserves have run out; it highlights ecological motivation instead. Hence, only Assumption I is valid, making option (a) correct.

Answer: (a)

• Question 4 of 5 4. Question Consider the following question and statements: Question: What is the number of pens Rahul has? Statement I: Rahul and Amit together have 45 pens. Statement II: Rahul has 5 more pens than Amit. Which of the following is correct with respect to above? (a) Statement I alone is sufficient to answer the question. (b) Statement II alone is sufficient to answer the question. (c) Statement I and Statement II together are sufficient to answer the question. (d) Statement I and Statement II together are insufficient to answer the question. Correct Answer – C Solution – Statement I: Possible pairs (Rahul, Amit) → (0,45), (1,44), … not unique. Statement II: Could be (6,1), (10,5), (20,15), … not unique. Combining: Let Amit = x, Rahul = x+5 → total = 2x+5 = 45 → x = 20, Rahul = 25 → unique. Incorrect Answer – C Solution – Statement I: Possible pairs (Rahul, Amit) → (0,45), (1,44), … not unique. Statement II: Could be (6,1), (10,5), (20,15), … not unique. Combining: Let Amit = x, Rahul = x+5 → total = 2x+5 = 45 → x = 20, Rahul = 25 → unique.

#### 4. Question

Consider the following question and statements:

Question: What is the number of pens Rahul has?

Statement I: Rahul and Amit together have 45 pens. Statement II: Rahul has 5 more pens than Amit.

Which of the following is correct with respect to above?

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

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

• (c) Statement I and Statement II together are sufficient to answer the question.

• (d) Statement I and Statement II together are insufficient to answer the question.

Answer – C Solution – Statement I: Possible pairs (Rahul, Amit) → (0,45), (1,44), … not unique. Statement II: Could be (6,1), (10,5), (20,15), … not unique. Combining: Let Amit = x, Rahul = x+5 → total = 2x+5 = 45 → x = 20, Rahul = 25 → unique.

• Question 5 of 5 5. Question P and Q can complete a handmade carpet in 9 days and 12 days respectively. The contract amount is ₹5,760. They work together for 2 days and then R joins, who alone can finish the carpet in 36 days. What amount is paid to R? (a) ₹396 (b) ₹420 (c) ₹440 (d) ₹480 Correct Answer: (c) Explanation: Work in 1 day: P = 1/9, Q = 1/12, R = 1/36. P + Q in 1 day = 1/9 + 1/12 = (4 + 3)/36 = 7/36. In 2 days, done = 2 × 7/36 = 14/36 = 7/18. Remaining work = 1 − 7/18 = 11/18. P + Q + R in 1 day = 1/9 + 1/12 + 1/36 = (4 + 3 + 1)/36 = 8/36 = 2/9. Time for remaining 11/18 = (11/18) ÷ (2/9) = (11/18) × (9/2) = 11/4 days. R’s contribution = (1/36) × (11/4) = 11/144 of total work. R’s share = (11/144) × ₹5,760 = ₹440. Hence, option (c) is correct. Incorrect Answer: (c) Explanation: Work in 1 day: P = 1/9, Q = 1/12, R = 1/36. P + Q in 1 day = 1/9 + 1/12 = (4 + 3)/36 = 7/36. In 2 days, done = 2 × 7/36 = 14/36 = 7/18. Remaining work = 1 − 7/18 = 11/18. P + Q + R in 1 day = 1/9 + 1/12 + 1/36 = (4 + 3 + 1)/36 = 8/36 = 2/9. Time for remaining 11/18 = (11/18) ÷ (2/9) = (11/18) × (9/2) = 11/4 days. R’s contribution = (1/36) × (11/4) = 11/144 of total work. R’s share = (11/144) × ₹5,760 = ₹440. Hence, option (c) is correct.

#### 5. Question

P and Q can complete a handmade carpet in 9 days and 12 days respectively. The contract amount is ₹5,760. They work together for 2 days and then R joins, who alone can finish the carpet in 36 days. What amount is paid to R?

Answer: (c) Explanation: Work in 1 day: P = 1/9, Q = 1/12, R = 1/36. P + Q in 1 day = 1/9 + 1/12 = (4 + 3)/36 = 7/36. In 2 days, done = 2 × 7/36 = 14/36 = 7/18. Remaining work = 1 − 7/18 = 11/18. P + Q + R in 1 day = 1/9 + 1/12 + 1/36 = (4 + 3 + 1)/36 = 8/36 = 2/9. Time for remaining 11/18 = (11/18) ÷ (2/9) = (11/18) × (9/2) = 11/4 days. R’s contribution = (1/36) × (11/4) = 11/144 of total work. R’s share = (11/144) × ₹5,760 = ₹440. Hence, option (c) is correct.

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