- Paper: General Studies Paper-II (CSAT), Test Booklet Series A
- Total Questions: 80 | Max Marks: 200 | Time: 2 Hours
- Negative Marking: 1/3 of marks for wrong answers
Topic-wise Distribution
1. Quantitative Aptitude / Mathematics (~28–30 questions)
The heaviest section. Key sub-topics seen:
- Number Theory: Divisibility, prime numbers, HCF/LCM (Q5, Q19, Q42, Q45, Q59, Q60)
- Arithmetic: Percentages, ratio-proportion, profit/loss, averages, speed-time-distance (Q20, Q25, Q43, Q50, Q58, Q65, Q69, Q78, Q79)
- Algebra: Inequalities, proportionality, expressions (Q21, Q30)
- Combinatorics/Permutations: Word arrangements, pattern counting (Q9, Q15, Q23, Q34, Q68)
- Sequences/Series: Fibonacci-type, digit patterns (Q18, Q57)
- Mensuration/Geometry: Table dimensions, painted areas (Q15)
- Jumps/Movement on number line: LCM-based meeting problems (Q10, Q13)
- Miscellaneous: Weighing/balance puzzles, cube problems (Q8, Q51), power/exponent problems (Q19, Q42)
Trend: Heavy emphasis on multi-step arithmetic and number theory. Pure algebra is limited; applied problem-solving dominates.
2. Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability (~20–22 questions)
- Statement-Conclusion / Syllogisms: (Q36, Q48, Q71)
- Data Sufficiency: (Q1–Q5 block)
- Seating/Arrangement: Circular table (Q14), ranking (Q33)
- Blood Relations: (Q44)
- Direction Sense: (Q56)
- Coding-Decoding: (Q67)
- Scheduling/Travel problems: (Q35, Q37)
- Logical deduction from given conditions: (Q33, Q34, Q36)
- Clocks / Time logic: (Q41 — explosion-drone problem)
Trend: Variety is high. Circular arrangement and multi-condition logic puzzles are a consistent feature. The drone-explosion question (Q41) tests applied physics-logic — an increasingly common UPSC style.
3. Reading Comprehension (~18–20 questions)
Passages covered:
| Passage | Theme | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Kalagram (Maha Kumbh) | Culture/Art | Q6, Q7 |
| Sport as way of life | Society/Youth | Q11, Q12 |
| Double Deflation | Economics | Q16, Q17 |
| SARS-CoV-2 vs HMPV | Science/Health | Q26, Q27, Q28 |
| AI in Agriculture (India) | Technology/Policy | Q31, Q32 |
| Juvenile Justice Act | Governance/Law | Q39, Q40 |
| Clean Air / Fuel Bans | Environment/Policy | Q46, Q47 |
| AI in Customer Service | Technology | Q52, Q53 |
| Rai Sahib (Cattle/Land) | Literature/Ethics | Q54, Q55 |
| Hugh Grant at Wimbledon | Literature/Lifestyle | Q61, Q62 |
| Convergence Theory | Economics | Q63, Q64 |
Trend: Passages are intellectually diverse — economics, science, law, literature, and environment all appear. Questions test inference, assumption validity, and statement correctness — not mere recall. Literary/abstract passages (Hugh Grant, Rai Sahib) are a newer trend signalling higher reading sophistication required.
4. General Mental Ability / Decision Making (~8–10 questions)
- Communication types and barriers (Q72, Q73, Q74, Q75)
- Questionnaire design / Report writing (Q76, Q77)
- Interpersonal conflict resolution (Q74)
- Recruitment/cutoff scoring (Q70)
- Circular letters (Q77)
Trend: This section tests applied administrative/managerial reasoning — consistent with CSAT’s focus on civil service aptitude, not just math.
Difficulty Assessment
| Section | Difficulty |
|---|---|
| Quant (Number Theory, Exponents) | High |
| Quant (Arithmetic/Speed-Distance) | Moderate–High |
| Logical Reasoning | Moderate |
| Reading Comprehension | Moderate (passages are dense) |
| Mental Ability/Communication | Easy–Moderate |
Key Observations and Trends
1. Shift toward interdisciplinary passages Passages now blend science, law, economics, and literature. A student cannot rely on domain knowledge alone — pure reading and inference skills matter.
2. Data sufficiency is back strongly Q1–Q5 as a dedicated data sufficiency block is a prominent feature. This tests structured analytical thinking.
3. Applied mathematics over formula-based Questions like the drone-explosion (Q41), rectangular tile coverage (Q68), and the train+accident problem (Q69) require multi-step reasoning, not formula plugging.
4. Communication and interpersonal skills section expanded Q72–Q77 cover a solid block on communication theory — matching tools, barriers, types — which is increasingly important and often under-prepared.
5. Current affairs themes in passages AI in agriculture, HMPV vs COVID, Kalagram at Kumbh Mela, and fuel ban policy show that CSAT passages are drawn from contemporary issues, even though the test is aptitude-based.
6. Negative marking makes accuracy critical With 1/3 penalty, attempting ~55–60 questions accurately is more effective than attempting all 80.
Preparation Takeaways
- Prioritise speed + accuracy in arithmetic (at least 20 questions here)
- Practice data sufficiency as a standalone topic
- Read dense editorial/analytical passages daily for RC
- Do not neglect the communication skills block — easy marks
- For logic, focus on circular arrangements, blood relations, and multi-condition sets
- The paper rewards conceptual depth over rote formulas
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