UPSC CSAT Simplified: Here’s what PYQs tell us about changes in the CSAT paper that you shouldn’t miss

In this article, we will look at the different types of questions that have been on the radar of UPSC for some time, and a special focus on them can help aspirants tackle CSAT 2025 effectively.

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#1 DATA SUFFICIENCY BASED QUESTIONS IN CSAT

Data sufficiency-type questions are the ones wherein a question is asked and multiple statements are given to support the question. In such questions, we have to find out the answer using the supporting statements and determine how many statements are sufficient to answer the given question.

For example, let us consider a question asked by UPSC in CSAT 2024.

A question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the question and the statements.

What are the values of m and n, where m and n are natural numbers

Statement-I: m+n (greater than)mn and m(greater than)n.

Statement-II: The product of m and n is 24.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Question and the Statements?

(a) The Question can be answered by using one of the Statements alone, but cannot be answered using the other Statement alone

(b) The Question can be answered by using either Statement alone

(c) The Question can be answered by using both Statements together, but cannot be answered using either statement alone

(d) The Question cannot be answered even by using both the Statements together

In the above question, we need to determine the value of ‘m’ and ‘n’. Also, we need to determine if the question can be answered using individual statements or using both statements together or if it cannot be answered even using both statements together.

IMPORTANT: UPSC has constantly changed the options in such data sufficiency questions. Earlier the options used to look like the following:

1. Statement-I alone is sufficient to answer the question
   
2. Statement-II alone is sufficient to answer the question
   
3. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are sufficient to answer the question 
4. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are insufficient to answer the question
   

However, in recent times, UPSC has increased the difficulty level of the options. Here are a few conclusions that can be drawn from this comparison:

1. Earlier, the process was much easier because the candidate just had to check the individual statements and the statements taken together. If the question could be solved using one of the statements, the candidate could have easily marked that Statement-I alone or Statement-II alone is sufficient to answer the question. 

But now, the options have changed. Now even if the candidate can answer the question using one of the statements alone, the other statement needs to be tested mandatorily because there is now an option that the question can be answered using both the statements alone/individually.

2. While attempting such questions, it is imperative for the aspirants to first check the options carefully and then start attempting the questions. 

#2 STATEMENT-CONCLUSION BASED QUESTIONS IN CSAT

Such questions were not a focus area of UPSC before 2024. However, in CSAT 2024, 2 questions were asked on this new pattern. In such questions, there is a statement and based on that statement multiple conclusions are given. We have to determine the correct conclusions. Such questions are mostly understanding-based and there is no specific formula or method to solve them.

Let us consider a question asked by UPSC in CSAT 2024.

A Statement is given followed by two Conclusions numbered I and II. Consider the Statement and the Conclusions.

Statement:

India is the world’s largest producer of milk.

Conclusion-I:

India is the world’s largest exporter of milk.

Conclusion-II:

India does not import milk.

Which one of the following is correct?

(a) Only Conclusion-I follows

(b) Only Conclusion-II follows

(c) Both Conclusion-I and Conclusion-II follow

(d) Neither Conclusion-I nor Conclusion-Il follows

The statement states that India is the world’s largest producer of milk. However, this statement alone is not sufficient to conclude that India is also the largest exporter of milk or India has zero milk imports. Hence, the answer will be option (D). 

#3 STATEMENT-BASED QUESTIONS IN CSAT

In such types of questions, we must check multiple statements’ correctness. Usually, some data is given in the question and based on that data, we have to check the correctness of the statements.

Let us consider a question asked by UPSC in CSAT 2024.

Consider the following statements in respect of the sum S = x+y+z, where x, y and z are distinct prime numbers each less than 10:

1. The unit digit of S can be 0.
2. The unit digit of S can be 9.
3. The unit digit of S can be 5.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Based on the condition in the question, we have to test which of the three statements is correct.

IMPORTANT: One variant of this type that can be asked in the upcoming examinations is rather than asking which statement is correct, UPSC can ask how many statements given above are correct. Such a variation by UPSC will make it tougher for the aspirants to eliminate the options.

#4 INFERENCE-BASED PARAGRAPHIC QUESTIONS IN CSAT

In English Reading Comprehension, a new type of question has been introduced by the UPSC, and that is an ‘inference-based’ question. In such questions, the candidate is required to read and develop an understanding of the paragraph. Based on that understanding, the candidate needs to pick the closest and the best possible inference from the options. Such inference-based options are not given directly and explicitly in the paragraph, but the candidate needs to connect the cues in the paragraph and arrive at the nearest option. 

In other words, drawing inferences means finding out the ‘obvious’ from the paragraph.

Let us take a question asked by UPSC in CSAT 2024.

Today, if we consider cities such as New York, London and Paris as some of the most iconic cities in the world, it is because plans carrying a heavy systems approach were imposed on their precincts. The backbone of the systems theory is the process of translating social, spatial and cultural desirables into mathematical models using computing, statistics, optimization and an algorithmic way of formulating and solving problems. The early universities of the West which began to train professionals in planning, spawned some of the most ingenious planners, who were experts in these domains. This was because these very subjects were absorbed into the planning curriculum that had its roots in the social sciences, geography and architecture. Planning in India, and its education differ from the West.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?

(a) Curriculum for urban planning courses should have diverse and interdisciplinary approach.

(b) In India, city administration is under bureaucracy which lacks formal training in urban planning and management.

(c) In India, the management of urban areas is a local affair with a chronic problem of insufficient funds.

(d) With high density of population and widespread poverty in our urban areas, planned development in them is very difficult.

If we look at the four options, none of the options is to be directly seen in the paragraph verbatim. The candidate has to understand the paragraph given above and arrive at the ‘obvious’ to solve the question.

(About our Expert: Mudit Gupta has been a mentor and faculty for the UPSC Civil Services exam for 8 years with expertise in CSAT, Polity, International Relations, and Current Affairs. He is known to break complex concepts into simpler ones that allow UPSC aspirants to develop a grip over the subject matter.)

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