Prelims CSAT 2025

Q. There are 7 places A, B, C, D, E, F and G in a city connected by various roads AB, AC, CD, DE, BF, EG and FG. A is 6 km south of B. A is 10 km west of C. D is 5 km east of E. C is 6 km north of D. F is 9 km west of B. F is 12 km north of G. A person travels from D to F through these roads. What is the distance covered by the person?

Q. There are 7 places A, B, C, D, E, F and G in a city connected by various roads AB, AC, CD, DE, BF, EG and FG. A is 6 km south of B. A is 10 km west of C. D is 5 km east of E. C is 6 km north of D. F is 9 km west of B. F is 12 km north of G. A person travels from D to F through these roads. What is the distance covered by the person?

(a) 20 km
(b) 25 km
(c) 31 km
(d) 37 km

Correct Answer: (c) 31 km

UPSC Prelims 2025 CSAT

Explanation : 

1. Assign convenient coordinates to each place, taking east as the +x-direction and north as the +y-direction. For example, let A = (0, 0).
– A is 6 km south of B ⇒ B = (0, 6)
– A is 10 km west of C ⇒ C = (10, 0)
– C is 6 km north of D ⇒ D = (10, –6)
– D is 5 km east of E ⇒ E = (5, –6)
– F is 9 km west of B ⇒ F = (–9, 6)
– F is 12 km north of G ⇒ G = (–9, –6)

2. Compute the lengths of the roads (all align with the axes):
– AB = distance between (0,0) and (0,6) = 6
– AC = distance between (0,0) and (10,0) = 10
– CD = distance between (10,0) and (10,–6) = 6
– DE = distance between (10,–6) and (5,–6) = 5
– BF = distance between (0,6) and (–9,6) = 9
– EG = distance between (5,–6) and (–9,–6) = 14
– FG = distance between (–9,6) and (–9,–6) = 12

3. Two possible routes from D to F along the given roads both give the same total:
• D → C → A → B → F
= DC + CA + AB + BF
= 6 + 10 + 6 + 9
= 31 km

• D → E → G → F
= DE + EG + GF
= 5 + 14 + 12
= 31 km

Hence the distance traveled is 31 km.

Q. There are 7 places A, B, C, D, E, F and G in a city connected by various roads AB, AC, CD, DE, BF, EG and FG. A is 6 km south of B. A is 10 km west of C. D is 5 km east of E. C is 6 km north of D. F is 9 km west of B. F is 12 km north of G. A person travels from D to F through these roads. What is the distance covered by the person? Read More »

Q. What is X in the sequence 1, 3, 6, 11, 18, X, 42?

Q. What is X in the sequence 1, 3, 6, 11, 18, X, 42?

(a) 26
(b) 27
(c) 29
(d) 30

Correct Answer : (c) 29

UPSC Prelims 2025 CSAT

Explanation : 

1. List the terms and their differences:
Sequence: 1, 3, 6, 11, 18, X, 42
Differences:
3–1 = 2
6–3 = 3
11–6 = 5
18–11 = 7
X–18 = ?
42–X = ?

2. Observe the differences so far: 2, 3, 5, 7 – these are consecutive primes.

3. The next two primes after 7 are 11 and 13.
So
X – 18 = 11 ⇒ X = 18 + 11 = 29
42 – X = 13 ⇒ 42 – 29 = 13 (checks out)

Thus X = 29.

Answer: (c) 29.

Q. What is X in the sequence 1, 3, 6, 11, 18, X, 42? Read More »

Q. X can complete one-third of a certain work in 6 days, Y can complete one-third of the same work in 8 days and Z can complete three-fourth of the same work in 12 days. All of them work together for n days and then X and Z quit and Y alone finishes the remaining work in 8 2/3 days. What is n equal to?

Q. X can complete one-third of a certain work in 6 days, Y can complete one-third of the same work in 8 days and Z can complete three-fourth of the same work in 12 days. All of them work together for n days and then X and Z quit and Y alone finishes the remaining work in 8 and 2/3 days. What is n equal to?

(a) 3
(b) 4
(c) 5
(d) 6

Correct Answer: (b) 4

UPSC Prelims 2025 CSAT

Explanation : 

1. Compute each person’s daily work rate (fraction of the whole work per day):

• X does 1/3 of the work in 6 days ⇒ rate of X = (1/3) ÷ 6 = 1/18
• Y does 1/3 of the work in 8 days ⇒ rate of Y = (1/3) ÷ 8 = 1/24
• Z does 3/4 of the work in 12 days ⇒ rate of Z = (3/4) ÷ 12 = 1/16

2. All three work together for n days. Together they do per day:
1/18 + 1/24 + 1/16
= (8 + 6 + 9) / 144
= 23/144 of the work per day.
In n days they complete 23n/144 of the work.

3. Remaining work after n days = 1 – 23n/144 = (144 – 23n)/144.

4. Then X and Z quit, and Y alone finishes the rest in 8 2/3 days = 26/3 days.
Work done by Y in that time = rate × time = (1/24) × (26/3) = 26/72 = 13/36.

5. Set remaining work = 13/36:

(144 – 23n) / 144 = 13/36
⇒ 144·(13/36) = 144 – 23n
⇒ 4·13 = 144 – 23n
⇒ 52 = 144 – 23n
⇒ 23n = 144 – 52 = 92
⇒ n = 92 / 23 = 4.

Answer: (b) 4

Q. X can complete one-third of a certain work in 6 days, Y can complete one-third of the same work in 8 days and Z can complete three-fourth of the same work in 12 days. All of them work together for n days and then X and Z quit and Y alone finishes the remaining work in 8 2/3 days. What is n equal to? Read More »

Q. The 5-digit number PQRST (all distinct digits) is such that T ≠ 0. P is thrice T. S is greater than Q by 4, while Q is greater than R by 3. How many such 5-digit numbers are possible?

Q. The 5-digit number PQRST (all distinct digits) is such that T ≠ 0. P is thrice T. S is greater than Q by 4, while Q is greater than R by 3. How many such 5-digit numbers are possible?

(a) 3
(b) 4
(c) 5
(d) 6

Correct Answer : (b) 4

UPSC Prelims 2025 CSAT

Explanation : 

1. The 5‐digit number is P Q R S T with all digits distinct and T ≠ 0.
2. Given:
• P = 3·T
• Q = R + 3
• S = Q + 4

3. Since P=3T must be a single digit (0–9) and T≠0, the only possibilities for T are 1, 2 or 3:
– T=1 ⇒ P=3
– T=2 ⇒ P=6
– T=3 ⇒ P=9

4. Also Q=R+3 ≤9 ⇒ R≤6, and S=Q+4=R+7 ≤9 ⇒ R≤2. Hence R∈{0,1,2}.

5. Check each T and each R∈{0,1,2}, discarding any repeat digits:

Case A: T=1, P=3
R=0 ⇒ Q=3 (conflicts with P=3) ✗
R=2 ⇒ Q=5, S=9 → digits {3,5,2,9,1} all distinct ✓
→ Number = 35291

Case B: T=2, P=6
R=0 ⇒ Q=3, S=7 → {6,3,0,7,2} distinct ✓ → 63072
R=1 ⇒ Q=4, S=8 → {6,4,1,8,2} distinct ✓ → 64182
R=2 ⇒ Q=5, S=9 → conflicts with T=2 or repeats none but R=2=T? actually R=2 conflicts with T=2 ✗

Case C: T=3, P=9
R=0 ⇒ Q=3 conflicts with T=3 ✗
R=1 ⇒ Q=4, S=8 → {9,4,1,8,3} distinct ✓ → 94183
R=2 ⇒ Q=5, S=9 conflicts with P=9 ✗

6. Valid numbers found: 35291, 63072, 64182, 94183 → total 4.

Answer: (b) Only 4 such numbers.

Q. The 5-digit number PQRST (all distinct digits) is such that T ≠ 0. P is thrice T. S is greater than Q by 4, while Q is greater than R by 3. How many such 5-digit numbers are possible? Read More »

Q. If FRANCE is coded as 654321 and GERMANY is coded as 9158437, then how is YEMEN coded?

Q. If FRANCE is coded as 654321 and GERMANY is coded as 9158437, then how is YEMEN coded?

(a) 54321
(b) 81913
(c) 71913
(d) 71813

Correct Answer : (d) 71813

UPSC Prelims 2025 CSAT

Explanation : 

1. From “FRANCE → 654321” we get a letter→digit mapping:
F→6, R→5, A→4, N→3, C→2, E→1

2. From “GERMANY → 9158437” the same mapping must hold for letters already seen, and it tells us the new letters’ codes:
G→9, E→1 (matches), R→5, M→8, A→4, N→3, Y→7

3. Now code “YEMEN” by replacing each letter with its digit:
Y → 7
E → 1
M → 8
E → 1
N → 3

So YEMEN → 71813

Answer: (d) 71813

Q. If FRANCE is coded as 654321 and GERMANY is coded as 9158437, then how is YEMEN coded? Read More »

Q. If NO is coded as 210, NOT is coded as 4200 and NOTE is coded as 21000, then how is NOTES coded?

Q. If NO is coded as 210, NOT is coded as 4200 and NOTE is coded as 21000, then how is NOTES coded?

(a) 399000
(b) 420000
(c) 440000
(d) 630000

Correct Answer : (a) 399000

UPSC Prelims 2025 CSAT

Explanation : 

We notice that each code is the product of the letters’ positions in the alphabet:

• N = 14
• O = 15
• T = 20
• E = 5
• S = 19

Check the given examples:

1. NO → 14 × 15 = 210
2. NOT → 14 × 15 × 20 = 210 × 20 = 4200
3. NOTE → 14 × 15 × 20 × 5 = 4200 × 5 = 21000

Therefore, for NOTES:

NOTES → 14 × 15 × 20 × 5 × 19
= (14 × 15 × 20 × 5) × 19
= 21000 × 19
= 399000

Answer: (a) 399000

Q. If NO is coded as 210, NOT is coded as 4200 and NOTE is coded as 21000, then how is NOTES coded? Read More »

Q. P is the brother of Q and R. S is R’s mother. T is P’s father. How many of the following statements are definitely true?

Q. P is the brother of Q and R. S is R’s mother. T is P’s father. How many of the following statements are definitely true?

I. S and T are a couple.
II. Q is T’s son.
III. T is Q’s father.
IV. S is P’s mother.
V. R is T’s daughter.
VI. P is S’s son.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) Only two
(b) Only three
(c) Only four
(d) Only five

Correct Answer : (c) Only four

UPSC Prelims 2025 CSAT

Explanation : 

Let’s first restate the given facts in “family‐tree” form:

1. P is the brother of Q and of R.
⇒ P is male, and (in a standard puzzle) P, Q and R share the same two parents.
2. S is R’s mother.
⇒ S is the mother of R (and hence, of P and Q).
3. T is P’s father.
⇒ T is the father of P (and hence, of Q and R).

So the (full) parents of P, Q, R are S (mother) and T (father). Now check each statement:

I. S and T are a couple.
– True (they are mother and father of the same children).

II. Q is T’s son.
– Not necessarily: we know Q is T’s child, but Q’s gender wasn’t given.

III. T is Q’s father.
– True (T is father of P, Q and R).

IV. S is P’s mother.
– True (S is the mother of R, and P is R’s full brother ⇒ same mother).

V. R is T’s daughter.
– Not necessarily: R is T’s child, but R’s gender wasn’t given.

VI. P is S’s son.
– True (P is male and S is the mother of P, Q, R).

Counting the definitely true ones: I, III, IV and VI ⇒ 4 statements.

Answer: (c) Only four.

Q. P is the brother of Q and R. S is R’s mother. T is P’s father. How many of the following statements are definitely true? Read More »

Q. Three teams P, Q, R participated in a tournament in which the teams play with one another exactly once. A win fetches a team 2 points and a draw 1 point. A team gets no point for a loss. Each team scored exactly one goal in the tournament. The team P got 3 points, Q got 2 points and R got 1 point. Which of the following statements is/are correct?

Q. Three teams P, Q, R participated in a tournament in which the teams play with one another exactly once.

A win fetches a team 2 points and a draw 1 point. A team gets no point for a loss. Each team scored exactly one goal in the tournament. The team P got 3 points, Q got 2 points and R got 1 point.

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

I. The result of the match between P and Q is a draw with the score 0-0.
II. The number of goals scored by R against Q is 1.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) I only
(b) II only
(c) Both I and II
(d) Neither I nor II

Correct Answer : (c) Both I and II

UPSC Prelims 2025 CSAT

Explanation : 

There are three matches (each pair plays once):
1. P vs Q
2. P vs R
3. Q vs R

We know:
• A win gives 2 points, a draw 1 point each, a loss 0 points.
• P’s total = 3 pts, Q’s total = 2 pts, R’s total = 1 pt.
• Each team scored exactly 1 goal in the whole tournament.

Step 1: Find who beat whom (points condition)

– P has 3 points from two games ⇒ P must have one win (2 pts) and one draw (1 pt).
– Q has 2 points ⇒ possible splits are (2+0) or (1+1).
– R has 1 point ⇒ one draw and one loss (1+0).

Try the two ways P can get 3 points:

Case A:
• P beats R (P=2 pts, R=0)
• P draws with Q (P=1 pt, Q=1)
⇒ P total 3, Q so far 1.
Q needs 2 → Q–R must be a draw (Q+1=2, R+1=1).
R’s total = 1 (0 from P, 1 from Q).
This fits perfectly.

Case B:
• P beats Q (P=2, Q=0)
• P draws with R (P=1, R=1)
⇒ P total 3, R so far 1.
Q needs 2 points → Q–R must be a win for Q (Q+2=2, R+0=1).
R’s total would be 1 (1 from P, 0 from Q), OK.
But as we’ll see in Step 2, Case B fails the “one goal each” condition.

So only Case A survives the points check.

Step 2: Distribute exactly one goal per team

Under Case A the results are:
P–R: P wins
P–Q: draw
Q–R: draw

Each team must score exactly 1 goal in total:

1. P has two games (win vs R, draw vs Q) but only 1 goal in all ⇒
• In the draw P–Q, P must have scored 0;
• In P–R, P must have scored its single goal ⇒ score 1–0.

2. R has two games (loss vs P, draw vs Q) and must total 1 goal ⇒
• In P–R (lost 0–1) R scored 0;
• In Q–R draw, R scored its 1 goal ⇒ Q–R is 1–1.

3. Q has two draws (with P and R) and needs 1 goal total ⇒
• In P–Q (draw) Q scored 0;
• In Q–R, Q scored its 1 goal ⇒ 1–1.

Final scores:
P–Q: 0–0
P–R: 1–0
Q–R: 1–1

Check statements:

I. “P vs Q is a 0–0 draw.” True.
II. “R scored 1 goal against Q.” True (in the 1–1 draw).

Therefore both I and II are correct.

Q. Three teams P, Q, R participated in a tournament in which the teams play with one another exactly once. A win fetches a team 2 points and a draw 1 point. A team gets no point for a loss. Each team scored exactly one goal in the tournament. The team P got 3 points, Q got 2 points and R got 1 point. Which of the following statements is/are correct? Read More »

Q. A mobile phone has been stolen. There are 3 suspects P, Q and R. They were questioned knowing that only one of them is guilty. Their responses are as follows:

Q. A mobile phone has been stolen. There are 3 suspects P, Q and R. They were questioned knowing that only one of them is guilty. Their responses are as follows:

P: I did not steal. Q stole it.
Q: R did not steal. I did not steal.
R: I did not steal. I do not know who did it.
Who stole the mobile phone?
(a) P
(b) Q
(c) R
(d) Cannot be concluded

Correct Answer : (d) Cannot be concluded

UPSC Prelims 2025 CSAT

Explanation : 

1. We only know exactly one of P, Q, R is the thief.
2. Each makes two statements, but we have no rule linking guilt to lying or innocence to truth-telling. They might lie or tell the truth arbitrarily.
3. We can check each candidate:

• Case P is guilty
– P’s statements (“I did not steal,” “Q stole it”) could both be false (he lies twice) or mixed – there’s no rule forbidding that.
– Q and R’s statements can be assigned true/false arbitrarily to fit any needed pattern.

• Case Q is guilty
– Q’s statements (“R did not steal,” “I did not steal”) could both be false (he lies twice) or otherwise.
– P and R’s statements can again be forced to fit.

• Case R is guilty
– R says “I do not know who did it,” which would then be false (the thief knows his own guilt), but he could simply be lying.
– P and Q’s two statements each can be arranged in truth/lie to avoid contradiction.

4. In every scenario you can assign truth/lie values to each person’s two statements so as to avoid an outright contradiction—because we have not constrained who must lie or tell the truth.

Conclusion: With only the facts given (and no further assumptions about lying patterns), the identity of the thief cannot be determined.

Q. A mobile phone has been stolen. There are 3 suspects P, Q and R. They were questioned knowing that only one of them is guilty. Their responses are as follows: Read More »

Q. What is the 489th digit in the number 123456789101112…?

Q. What is the 489th digit in the number 123456789101112…?

(a) 0
(b) 3
(c) 6
(d) 9

Correct Answer : (d) 9

UPSC Prelims 2025 CSAT

Explanation : 

1. Count digits in the 1-digit numbers (1 to 9):
• 9 numbers × 1 digit = 9 digits

2. Count digits in the 2-digit numbers (10 to 99):
• 90 numbers × 2 digits = 180 digits
• Cumulative total so far = 9 + 180 = 189 digits

3. Since 489 > 189, the 489th digit lies in the 3-digit numbers (100, 101, 102, …).
• Digits to go into the 3-digit block: 489 – 189 = 300

4. Each 3-digit number contributes 3 digits.
• 300 ÷ 3 = 100 exactly, so the 300th digit in this block is the 3rd digit of the 100th 3-digit number.
• The first 3-digit number is 100, so the 100th one is 100 + 100 – 1 = 199.

5. The 3rd (last) digit of 199 is 9.

Therefore, the 489th digit is 9.

Q. What is the 489th digit in the number 123456789101112…? Read More »