UPSC Prelims 2014 CSAT Paper 2 Answer Key

This is the answer key for Set B.

Friends, each year, after the exam, there is a substantial confusion regarding answer keys – various answer keys don’t match and students are left in confusion. So this year, me and Prem Ranjan ji (IAS rank 62, cse 2013) ( ) have tried to come up with the following key after doing as much internet research as we could. Still there might be some grey areas and we are open for discussing these.


My personal opinion on the paper, passages I found it substantially tougher than last year.


Disclaimer: There is no guarantee for accuracy.


Himalayan Passage

Q 1.                     (a)

Para 2 says possible loss of genetic species. Extinction of ecosystems is nowhere talked. Only decrease in ecosystem services is talked about.


Q 2.                    (d)

Last paragraph tells us the need for …


Q 3.                     (c)

This is the main message of the passage covered throughout (except last para).


Q 4.                    (b)



Globalization Passage


Q 5.                    (a)

Obvious from the passage.


Q 6.                    (c)


Q 7.                    (c)


Q 8.                    (b)


Graph based questions 9, 10, 11, 12


Q 9                    (b)


Q 10                    (c)


Q 11                    (d)


Q 12                    (b)


Q 13    2 students marks table        (d)


Q 14    figure contained in other    (c)


Q 15    9 square with arrows        (b)


Q 16    population and income        (c)


Q 17    9 squares and a number    (b)


Q 18    circles and triangles in 9 squares    (a)


Q 19    routes from S to T        (d)


Q 20    half darkened circles in figures    (b)


Q 21    bell rings every 18 mins        (b)


Q 22    Price and value            (d)


Q 23    A & B from X to Y        (c)


Q 24    loan from bank            (c)


Q 25    worker and factory        (c)

d/5 = (x + 3)/60. 12d = x + 3                

d/6 = (x – 7)/60. 10d = x – 7. Solving these 2 equations, 2d = 10. D = 5 km.


Q 26    liberty and government    (a)


Inclusive Growth Passage


Q 27.                    (c)


Q 28.                    (c)

He is throughout saying growth is important and also inclusion.


Q 29.                    (d)


Petrol Pricing Passage


Q 30.                    (b)

2 and 3 are clearly talked about in the passage. 1 could be true, but there is no option 1, 2 & 3.


Q 31.                    (a)

1 is clearly correct. 3 and 4 are clearly wrong. So only option left is 1 & 2.


Q 32    5 persons fire bullet        (b)


Q 33    630 students and rows        (d)


Let it be 3. Means 3x + 9 = 630. Means 3x = 621. Possible as it is divisible by 3.

Let it be 4. Means 4x + 18 = 630. Means 4x = 612. Possible.

Let it be 5. Means 5x + 30 = 630. Possible.

Let it be 6. Means 6x + 45 = 630. 6x = 585. Not possible,


Q 34    7 persons on a ladder        (c)


Q 35    A is taller than B        (c)


Q 36    6 villages ABCDEF        (b)


Q 37    4 children sitting in a row    (b)

D A B C is the sequence


Q 38    hour and minute hand of clock        (c)


Q 39 – 44    English Questions, not to be attempted.    


Q 45.    3rd day Monday        (c)

3rd Monday means 10th Monday, 17th Monday. 18 is Tuesday, 19 is wed, 20 is thur, 21 is Friday. 1st day from 21 is Sat, 2nd day is Sun, 3rd day is Mon, 4th day is Tue, 5th day is Wed.


Q 46.    Charity show             (c)

Total sold = 420.

Sold at Rs. 5 = 210. Total money = 210 * 5 = 1050.

Sold at Rs 3 = 140. Total money = 140 * 3 = 420.

Sold at Rs 2 = 420 – 210 – 140 = 70. Total money = 70 * 2 = 140.

Total money = 1050 + 420 + 140 = 1610.


Q 47, 48, 49.

A (male, engg) husband of D(steno). 1st generartion.

B (Judge, son of A, D) husband of C(female, lawyer). 2nd generation.

F(draughtsman) brother of E (unmarried, doctor). 3rd generation.


Q 47.    ABCDEF passage        (a)

Q 48    ABCDEF passage        (c)    

Q 49    ABCDEF passage        (b)


Capitalism Passage

Q 50.                    (a)

Both a and c are correct, but a is more correct.


Q 51.                    (d)                

The ideological bias is that free markets are fair and competent. But the passage criticizes this bias and so implies that free markets are neither fair, nor competent.


Q 52                    (c)

2 and 3 tell us meaning of this assumption but the passage criticizes this assumption.


Public Sector Units Passage


Q 53.                    (c)

From 1st para, 2, 3, 4 are correct. 1 is nowhere clearly implied from the passage.


Q 54.                    (b)


Q 55.                    (c)


Q 56.                    (a)


Q 57.    Poets and questions         (b)

A = med

B = med

C = med

D = med

E = mod

F = mod

G = mod

H = mod

Modern alternate years. H like G. F like E. Paper setter likes F, so likes E. Last year paper had A, so this year modern must be asked. Among modern, paper setter likes E. So E has higher chance.


Q 58.    6 women            (d)

Total 6. 4 dancers, 4 vocal, 1 actress, 3 violin.

Girija = violin

Vanaja = violin, vocal

Jalaja = no violin, vocal

Shailja = no violin, dancer, vocal

Tanuja = dancer, vocal, violin (2 of them are also violin)

Pooja = actress


Q 59.    PQRST…             (d)

P = 4, T = 4 + 5 = 9, N = 9 – 3 = 6,


Q 60.    Army vs civilians        (c)

Quality of life is high in army that is why death rate is lower.


Q 61.    Buses, Trucks, Cars        (d)

Buses > Cars

Trucks < Buses

None of the given 3 options can be inferred from the passage.


Q 62.    Military passage        (b)

Clear from the 1st line itself.


Q 63.    Alok, Bhupesh            (a)

Alok + Bhupesh = Chander + Dinesh

Alok > Bhupesh

Dinesh = 2 Chander

Alok = Dinesh + 5

Clearly, Alok has highest.


Q 64.    George attending classes    (d)


Monday = Music

Tues = Sports

Wed = Maths

Thus = History

Friday = not Lit,


Q 65.    A 11th from left        (c)


10 people, A, x people, B, 9 people.

10 people, B, x people, A, 9 people. 10 + 1 + x = 17. X = 6. Total people other than A and B = 10 + 6 + 9 = 25.    


Q 66.    B is north of A        (b)


A    C

This is Pythagoras theorem. BC2 = AB2 + AC2 = 52 + 122 =25 + 144 = 169. So BC = 13.    


Q 67.    Cars meting        (a)

Total distance = 160 km. Total speed = 50 + 30 = 80 km. So they will meet after 160 / 80 = 2 hours. So time of meet = 10:10 AM



Climate Change and Agriculture Passage


Q 68.                    (a)


Q 69                    (c)


Green House Gases Passage


Q 70                    (c)


Q 71                    (a)

A is correct as is mentioned in the 1st para. Same para also tells us that availability of alternate resources is not a problem, specially for India. So 3 is wrong. Considering the options which have 1 but not 3, only option left is (a).


Q 72                    (b)


Q 73                    (d)

Both paragraphs majorly talk about how lifestyles need to be changed. This is the message of the passage.


Q 74.     Nursery class            (d)

Total Eng + Total Hindi – Both Eng and Hindi = 50

Total Eng = 21, Both Eng and Hindi = 10. So total Hindi = 50 + 10 – 21 = 39. Hindi only = Total Hindi – Both Hindi and Eng = 39 – 10 = 29. Similarly, only English = 21 – 10 = 11. So our ans (d)



Q 75.    Area of rectangle        (b)


New length = 1.4l

New width = 0.8w

New area = 1.4 * 0.8 lw = 1.12 lw. So area increases by 12%, b is correct.


Q 76.     ABCDEF books            (b)


A    Yl    New    Law

B    Gr    New    Law

C    Gr    Old    Law

D    Yl    New    Med

E    Gr    Old    Med

F    Gr    Old    Med


Q 77.    36 cm line            (b)

2 pts at 1, 35 cm

Next 2 pts at 3, 33 cm

Next 2 pts at 6, 30 cm

Next 2 pts at 10, 26 cm

Next 2 pts at 15, 21 cm

Next pt at 15, 21 cm so not counted.

Next pt at 28, 8 cm.

Next pt at 0, 36 cm so not counted.

Thus total 12 points.


Q 78.     Selling goats            (c)

Let cost of 1st goat be Rs. 100. Then its selling price = 110 = selling price of goat 2. But he suffers loss of 10% on goat 2 which means cost of goat 2 = 110/.9 = 122.22

Total cost = 222.22, total selling price = 220. Means loss of ~1%.


Q 79.    Guitar, violin, flute        (b)

Guitar alone + flute alone + violin alone + any 2 + all 3 = 120

All 3 = 6

Any 2 = 30

Guitar alone = 40

So flute alone + violin alone = 120 – 76 = 44


Q 80.    Turning cards upside down    (a)


308 Replies to “UPSC Prelims 2014 CSAT Paper 2 Answer Key”

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  8. My query is regarding Q.77.
    In my opinion it sud b like this
    The fifth point maintains a distance of 6cm between themselves also sum is equal to 36 cm and points are marked from both the ends.Thus there sud be 10 points in total.


  9. HELLO Sir,
    I have a problem in comprehension part and lot of confusion in many questions.So please suggest me how to read in short time and any best book for practice?


  10. SIR, I am an undergraduate student, learning in 2nd sem B.E. as I have keen desire to pass I.A.S, I want to start preparation now only along with my course syllabus. so, can you please guide me in having an overview of PREE and MAIN exams and the thing usually covered in them? pls suggest me what are the subjects that a student can choose as optional and main subjects for him.


  11. Sir, I am an undergraduate student, studying in 2nd seem B.E(civil egg). As I am desired to pass IAS exam, I want to start preparing from now only along with my regular course syllabus. So, can you please help me in having an overview of PRE and MAIN exams and the things usually covered in them?. please enlighten me what are the subjects that a student can chooose as optional and main subjects for him.


  12. SIR, I am an undergraduate student, learning in 2nd sem B.E(civil engineering, in Karnataka state). as I have keen desire to pass I.A.S, I want to start preparation now only along with my course syllabus. so, can you please guide me in having an overview of PREE and MAIN exams and the thing usually covered in them? pls suggest me what are the subjects that a student can choose as optional and main subjects for him.


  13. Hello sir! I am sushil mishra,i have been completed (B.A. Geography) my graduation last year ,and so keen to become an IAS Officer . I request you to add me and guide me for my aim ,for being student of hindi medium i felt good and have a lots of confidence due to Santosh sir ,i hope to you to add me with this blog and guide me furthure! Thanks a lott sir.


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