UPSC Insta–DART (Daily Aptitude and Reasoning Test) 5 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 Consider the following statements: Vertical farming’s environmental benefits could be undermined if its energy use significantly increases greenhouse gas emissions. The primary advantage of vertical farming lies in its ability to produce a wider range of crops than traditional farming. High initial investment costs are a critical factor in assessing the scalability of vertical farming. Which of the statements given above can be inferred from the passage? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Correct Solution: (b) Explanation: • Statement 1 is valid: The passage warns that its carbon footprint could negate environmental benefits, implying that high energy use can undermine sustainability. • Statement 2 is invalid: The text says vertical farming has limited crop diversity, so this is the opposite of what’s stated. • Statement 3 is valid: High capital costs are directly mentioned as a key scalability concern. Incorrect Solution: (b) Explanation: • Statement 1 is valid: The passage warns that its carbon footprint could negate environmental benefits, implying that high energy use can undermine sustainability. • Statement 2 is invalid: The text says vertical farming has limited crop diversity, so this is the opposite of what’s stated. • Statement 3 is valid: High capital costs are directly mentioned as a key scalability concern.

#### 1. Question

Consider the following statements:

• Vertical farming’s environmental benefits could be undermined if its energy use significantly increases greenhouse gas emissions.

• The primary advantage of vertical farming lies in its ability to produce a wider range of crops than traditional farming.

• High initial investment costs are a critical factor in assessing the scalability of vertical farming.

Which of the statements given above can be inferred from the passage?

• (a) 1 and 2 only

• (b) 1 and 3 only

• (c) 2 and 3 only

• (d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution: (b)

Explanation: • Statement 1 is valid: The passage warns that its carbon footprint could negate environmental benefits, implying that high energy use can undermine sustainability. • Statement 2 is invalid: The text says vertical farming has limited crop diversity, so this is the opposite of what’s stated. • Statement 3 is valid: High capital costs are directly mentioned as a key scalability concern.

Solution: (b)

• Question 2 of 5 2. Question A piece of work can be completed in 12m days by a certain number of men, where m is a natural number. By what percent should the number of men be increased so that the work can be completed in 10m days? (a) 15% (b) 20% (c) 25% (d) 30% Correct Answer: (b) Explanation: Let the initial number of workers = N1, and the final number of workers = N2. Since work is constant, we have: Hence, option (b) 20% is correct. Incorrect Answer: (b) Explanation: Let the initial number of workers = N1, and the final number of workers = N2. Since work is constant, we have: Hence, option (b) 20% is correct.

#### 2. Question

A piece of work can be completed in 12m days by a certain number of men, where m is a natural number. By what percent should the number of men be increased so that the work can be completed in 10m days?

Answer: (b)

Explanation: Let the initial number of workers = N1, and the final number of workers = N2. Since work is constant, we have:

Hence, option (b) 20% is correct.

Answer: (b)

Explanation: Let the initial number of workers = N1, and the final number of workers = N2. Since work is constant, we have:

Hence, option (b) 20% is correct.

• Question 3 of 5 3. Question X, Y and Z can complete a piece of work individually in 6 hours, 8 hours and 8 hours respectively. However, only one person at a time can work in each hour and nobody can work for two consecutive hours. All are engaged to finish the work. What is the minimum amount of time that they will take to finish the work? (UPSC 2024) (a) 6 h 15 m (b) 6 h 30 m (c) 6 h 45 m (d) 7 h Correct Answer: (c) Explanation: Take total work = LCM(6, 8, 8) = 24 units. Efficiencies: X = 24/6 = 4 u/h, Y = 24/8 = 3 u/h, Z = 24/8 = 3 u/h. To minimize time, alternate highest with next (X with Y/Z), since no one can work consecutively. Schedule (choose Y/Z interchangeably): Hour Worker Cumulative work 1 X 4 2 Y/Z 7 3 X 11 4 Y/Z 14 5 X 18 6 Y/Z 21 Remaining work after 6 h = 24 − 21 = 3 units. Next (7th hour) is X (allowed, since hour 6 was Y/Z). Time for last 3 units at 4 u/h = 3/4 h = 45 minutes. Total time = 6 h 45 m. Hence, option C is correct. Incorrect Answer: (c) Explanation: Take total work = LCM(6, 8, 8) = 24 units. Efficiencies: X = 24/6 = 4 u/h, Y = 24/8 = 3 u/h, Z = 24/8 = 3 u/h. To minimize time, alternate highest with next (X with Y/Z), since no one can work consecutively. Schedule (choose Y/Z interchangeably): Hour Worker Cumulative work 1 X 4 2 Y/Z 7 3 X 11 4 Y/Z 14 5 X 18 6 Y/Z 21 Remaining work after 6 h = 24 − 21 = 3 units. Next (7th hour) is X (allowed, since hour 6 was Y/Z). Time for last 3 units at 4 u/h = 3/4 h = 45 minutes. Total time = 6 h 45 m. Hence, option C is correct.

#### 3. Question

X, Y and Z can complete a piece of work individually in 6 hours, 8 hours and 8 hours respectively. However, only one person at a time can work in each hour and nobody can work for two consecutive hours. All are engaged to finish the work. What is the minimum amount of time that they will take to finish the work? (UPSC 2024)

• (a) 6 h 15 m

• (b) 6 h 30 m

• (c) 6 h 45 m

Answer: (c)

Explanation: Take total work = LCM(6, 8, 8) = 24 units.

Efficiencies: X = 24/6 = 4 u/h, Y = 24/8 = 3 u/h, Z = 24/8 = 3 u/h.

To minimize time, alternate highest with next (X with Y/Z), since no one can work consecutively.

Schedule (choose Y/Z interchangeably):

Hour | Worker | Cumulative work

1 | X | 4

2 | Y/Z | 7

3 | X | 11

4 | Y/Z | 14

5 | X | 18

6 | Y/Z | 21

Remaining work after 6 h = 24 − 21 = 3 units. Next (7th hour) is X (allowed, since hour 6 was Y/Z). Time for last 3 units at 4 u/h = 3/4 h = 45 minutes.

Total time = 6 h 45 m.

Hence, option C is correct.

Answer: (c)

Explanation: Take total work = LCM(6, 8, 8) = 24 units.

Efficiencies: X = 24/6 = 4 u/h, Y = 24/8 = 3 u/h, Z = 24/8 = 3 u/h.

To minimize time, alternate highest with next (X with Y/Z), since no one can work consecutively.

Schedule (choose Y/Z interchangeably):

Hour | Worker | Cumulative work

1 | X | 4

2 | Y/Z | 7

3 | X | 11

4 | Y/Z | 14

5 | X | 18

6 | Y/Z | 21

Remaining work after 6 h = 24 − 21 = 3 units. Next (7th hour) is X (allowed, since hour 6 was Y/Z). Time for last 3 units at 4 u/h = 3/4 h = 45 minutes.

Total time = 6 h 45 m.

Hence, option C is correct.

• Question 4 of 5 4. Question What percent of sand must be mixed with cement so as to gain 25% by selling the mixture at the cost price of cement? a) 25% b) 20% c) 15% d) 10% Correct Answer: a Exp) Let cost price of 1 kg cement = ₹1. Then, cost price of 100 kg cement = ₹100. Now, x kg sand is mixed with 100 kg cement. Mixture = 100 + x kg. Selling price at cement’s cost rate = 100 + x. For 25% profit, SP = 100 × 1.25 = 125. So, 100 + x = 125 → x = 25. Thus, % of sand = (25/100) × 100 = 25%. Hence, option a is correct. Incorrect Answer: a Exp) Let cost price of 1 kg cement = ₹1. Then, cost price of 100 kg cement = ₹100. Now, x kg sand is mixed with 100 kg cement. Mixture = 100 + x kg. Selling price at cement’s cost rate = 100 + x. For 25% profit, SP = 100 × 1.25 = 125. So, 100 + x = 125 → x = 25. Thus, % of sand = (25/100) × 100 = 25%. Hence, option a is correct.

#### 4. Question

What percent of sand must be mixed with cement so as to gain 25% by selling the mixture at the cost price of cement?

Answer: a

Let cost price of 1 kg cement = ₹1. Then, cost price of 100 kg cement = ₹100.

Now, x kg sand is mixed with 100 kg cement. Mixture = 100 + x kg.

Selling price at cement’s cost rate = 100 + x. For 25% profit, SP = 100 × 1.25 = 125.

So, 100 + x = 125 → x = 25.

Thus, % of sand = (25/100) × 100 = 25%.

Hence, option a is correct.

Answer: a

Let cost price of 1 kg cement = ₹1. Then, cost price of 100 kg cement = ₹100.

Now, x kg sand is mixed with 100 kg cement. Mixture = 100 + x kg.

Selling price at cement’s cost rate = 100 + x. For 25% profit, SP = 100 × 1.25 = 125.

So, 100 + x = 125 → x = 25.

Thus, % of sand = (25/100) × 100 = 25%.

Hence, option a is correct.

• Question 5 of 5 5. Question The respective ratio between the speed of a car, a train, and a bus is 4 : 10 : 6.The average speed of the car, the bus and the train is 72 km/hr together. What is the average speed of the car and the train together? a) 75.6 km/h b) 82 km/h c) 72 km/h d) 67 km/h Correct Answer: (a) Explanation: Let speed of the car, the train, and the bus be 4a Km/hr , 10a Km/hr and 6a Km/hr respectively Given: total speed = (72 × 3) Km/hr = 216 Km/hr ⇒4a + 10a + 6a = 216 ⇒20a = 216 ⇒ a = 10.8 Km/hr ⇒ speed of car = 4 × 10.8 = 43.2 Km/hr And, speed of train = 10 × 10.8 = 108 Km/hr ⇒ their average speed = (43.2 + 108) / 2 = 75.6 Km/hr Hence, option (a) is the correct answer. Incorrect Answer: (a) Explanation: Let speed of the car, the train, and the bus be 4a Km/hr , 10a Km/hr and 6a Km/hr respectively Given: total speed = (72 × 3) Km/hr = 216 Km/hr ⇒4a + 10a + 6a = 216 ⇒20a = 216 ⇒ a = 10.8 Km/hr ⇒ speed of car = 4 × 10.8 = 43.2 Km/hr And, speed of train = 10 × 10.8 = 108 Km/hr ⇒ their average speed = (43.2 + 108) / 2 = 75.6 Km/hr Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

#### 5. Question

The respective ratio between the speed of a car, a train, and a bus is 4 : 10 : 6.The average speed of the car, the bus and the train is 72 km/hr together. What is the average speed of the car and the train together?

• a) 75.6 km/h

• b) 82 km/h

• c) 72 km/h

• d) 67 km/h

Answer: (a)

Explanation:

Let speed of the car, the train, and the bus be 4a Km/hr , 10a Km/hr and 6a Km/hr respectively

total speed = (72 × 3) Km/hr = 216 Km/hr

⇒4a + 10a + 6a = 216

⇒20a = 216

⇒ a = 10.8 Km/hr

⇒ speed of car = 4 × 10.8 = 43.2 Km/hr

And, speed of train = 10 × 10.8 = 108 Km/hr

⇒ their average speed = (43.2 + 108) / 2 = 75.6 Km/hr Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.