UPSC CSE Prelims
Inference & Conclusion Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Practice solved questions for Inference & Conclusion with detailed step-by-step solutions, key insights, and trend analysis for UPSC CSE PRELIMS.
Solved Previous Year Questions
Filter & practice questions topic-wise
Which of the following inferences is/are correct?
- The source of the energy we consume is the key to the battle for cleaner air.
- Bans are effective where the will is strong and the people are convinced that such bans are for the greater good of society.
- There is judicial approval for a policy that intervenes fiscally to facilitate benevolent pricing for cleaner fuel.
Select the answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
The passage evaluates statements based on explicit textual evidence.
- Statement 1 is Correct: The passage opens: "The key source of the battle for clean skies and clear lungs is the fuel we burn"—directly confirming energy source as key to cleaner air.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: The passage emphasizes "people need alternatives for a ban to be effective" (citing CNG availability, cost feasibility)—not public will or conviction.
- Statement 3 is Correct: "The Supreme Court agreed that fiscal measures were needed to keep clean fuel cheaper than dirty fuel"—explicit judicial approval for fiscal intervention.
- Therefore, only 1 and 3 are correct, making Option 3 the correct answer.
Which of the following conclusions is/are valid?
- Only a serious offence as categorised by the revised JJ Act, justifies the transfer of a case to the adult judicial system.
- The JJ Act, 2021, categorises an offence as a serious offence based on the maximum sentence it carries, rather than on the minimum sentence.
Select the answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
The passage clearly states that heinous offences (with a minimum punishment of seven years) allow trying adolescents as adults. The 2021 amendment introduced serious offences (no minimum, but maximum of seven years or more), which activists believe does not merit transfer to adult courts.
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: Only heinous offences, not serious offences, justify transfer to the adult judicial system according to the passage.
- Statement 2 is Correct: The 2021 JJ Act categorises a serious offence based on maximum sentence (seven years or more) when no minimum sentence exists.
- Therefore, only Statement 2 is valid, making Option 2 the correct answer.
Which of the following assumptions is/are valid?
- Agricultural productivity has marched ahead in the West because of the economies of scale facilitated by the adoption of AI tools.
- Affordable AI tools rendered available in local languages can help AI-based solutions reach more and more small farmers.
- Though penetration is as yet low, critical application areas deploying AI tools are already in use in India.
Select the answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
Evaluate each statement against the passage:
- Statement 1 is Invalid: The passage mentions AI tools have started offering precision farming in the West, but does not claim agricultural productivity "marched ahead" because of AI—this causal link is unsupported.
- Statement 2 is Valid: The passage explicitly recommends developing Indian language-based AI tools and affordable solutions to enable "at-scale integration and accessibility" for smallholder farmers.
- Statement 3 is Valid: The passage clearly states "India is starting to deploy AI for critical use cases" like weather forecasting and pest detection, though penetration remains limited.
- Therefore, only statements 2 and 3 are valid, making Option 4 the correct answer.
🧐 Not Sure What to Study Next?
Get a personalised study plan based on your goals, time and revision needs.
Which of the following statements is/are correct?
- The convergence model divides nations into three phases of economic progress.
- At the heart of the convergence theory is the closing of the gap between labour and productivity.
- Technology leaders typically have arrived earlier at different economic eras.
- The time period covered by the convergence theory presented herein encompasses, as mentioned, 4012200 years.
Select the answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
The passage states convergence theory explains how countries close the labour-productivity gap with technology leaders, making this central to the theory (Statement 2 is correct). The model divides economic eras into three phases, not nations (Statement 1 is incorrect).
Technology leaders advance first during the breakaway phase when their per capita income rises while followers' income remains unchanged, confirming leaders arrive earlier at different economic eras (Statement 3 is correct). The time periods mentioned (3 MYA, 1 MYA, 12,000 years ago, 200+ years ago) are separate historical reference points for different technologies, not a cumulative total (Statement 4 is incorrect).
Therefore, only statements 2 and 3 are correct, making Option 2 the correct answer.
Which of the following conclusions are valid?
- Seven Sanskriti Angans, representing different regions of India, had been showcased in Kalagram.
- Regional artistry was recognised via the inspiration drawn from iconic temples.
- India's ancient history had been crafted by the contemporary craftsmanship of 230 artisans into creations to behold.
- Art forms from all regions of India had been showcased in these living galleries.
Select the answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
The passage states that Kalagram featured seven meticulously crafted Sanskriti Angans representing India's diverse regions, and that these thematic zones were inspired by iconic temples like Dakshineshwar Kali Temple and Brahma Mandir, showcasing regional artistry.
- Statement 1 is Valid: Seven Sanskriti Angans representing different regions of India were explicitly mentioned in the passage.
- Statement 2 is Valid: Regional artistry was recognized through zones inspired by iconic temples, as stated in the passage.
- Statement 3 is Invalid: The passage says artisans shaped India's ancient history into creations, not that they crafted ancient history itself—this overstates the text.
- Statement 4 is Invalid: Only examples from Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh are given; the passage does not claim all regions were represented.
- Therefore, only statements 1 and 2 are valid, making Option 1 the correct answer.
Which of the following conclusions are valid?
- Sport is more than just games; it is a way of life.
- Sport can help mitigate the problems of seclusion among the young.
- Earning laurels in sport can help one secure a job on the basis of an assigned quota.
- Standard corporate sector skills cannot be learnt through sport.
Select the answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
The passage explicitly states sport should be "seen as a way of life" (validates Statement 1) and that sport can "help tackle" problems of youth being "inactive and rarely leaving the house" (validates Statement 2, addressing seclusion).
The opening line acknowledges "getting jobs through a sports quota" as a reality of sport, even though it emphasizes sport offers more than this alone (validates Statement 3). However, the passage lists "time management, teamwork, coordination" as learnings from sport—these are standard corporate skills—so Statement 4 (claiming these cannot be learnt through sport) directly contradicts the passage and is invalid.
Therefore, statements 1, 2, and 3 are valid conclusions, making Option 4 the correct answer.
Which of the following assumptions is/are valid?
- Deflation strategies can be used to make manufacturers appear to be doing better than they actually are.
- When input and output prices are both deflated against a single input price, it is referred to as 'double deflation'.
Select the answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
Double deflation uses separate deflators for input and output prices. The passage explicitly states that if India uses the same deflator for both inputs and outputs (instead of double deflation), falling oil prices would make manufacturers appear more productive than they actually are.
- Statement 1 is Valid: Using a single deflator when input prices fall can overestimate real value added, making manufacturers appear better than reality.
- Statement 2 is Invalid: Double deflation means deflating inputs and outputs separately, not using a single input price for both.
- Therefore, only Statement 1 is valid, making Option 1 the correct answer.
Which of the following statements reflect the logical and rational inferences that can be drawn from the passage?
- HMPV has, historically, had longer documentation of studies when compared with SARS-CoV2
- The two viruses are different from each other and this results in markedly different outcomes amongst those affected.
- Long-term impacts of the two viruses are dissimilar and this is an important differentiator between them.
- One of the common factors between the two viruses is seasonal specificity. Select the answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
Evaluate each statement against passage evidence:
- Statement 1 is Correct: HMPV has been studied "for decades" and is "well-studied," while SARS-CoV-2 was "truly novel" in 2019—clearly longer documentation for HMPV.
- Statement 2 is Correct: Passage states "different severity of symptoms" and "affected population segments do not fully overlap"—fundamental differences result in markedly different outcomes.
- Statement 3 is Correct: Passage explicitly notes symptoms differ "particularly over the long term" and HMPV has "no long-term post-viral symptoms"—making long-term impact a key differentiator.
- Statement 4 is Incorrect: Passage states "strong seasonality seen in HMPV, unlike SARS-CoV-2"—seasonality is a difference, not a common factor.
- Therefore, statements 1, 2, and 3 are valid inferences, making Option 2 the correct answer.
Which of the following statements are not correct?
- The landholdings of Rai Sahib were currently not being used for farming.
- Temperamentally, Rai Sahib was as greedy as other landlords.
- It cannot be ascertained that Rai Sahib could have made some money by leasing out the grazing land.
- It may be asserted that Rai Sahib valued his tenants and wanted to protect their livelihood.
Select the answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
The question asks which statements are not correct.
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: The passage mentions only a specific common grazing ground, not all landholdings of Rai Sahib—overgeneralization.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: The passage explicitly contrasts Rai Sahib with selfish Zamindars, noting he held to old values—opposite of greedy.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: The passage states farmers offered a good price to lease the land—we can clearly ascertain he could have made money.
- Statement 4 is Correct: The passage affirms Rai Sahib valued his tenants, believing landlords must look after them to remain human.
- Therefore, statements 1, 2, and 3 are not correct, making Option 4 the correct answer.
Which of the following statements is/are correct?
- Radical action can also be attributed to mild surrender where one acts against societal expectations.
- Submitting to one's limitations, given the effect of age and other factors, ought not to be conflated with laziness.
- 'Leading man' usually refers to one who plays the lead role in a movie; in this instance the implication is that Hugh Grant is performing the role of not an action hero, but that of a resting one!
Select the answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
The passage describes Hugh Grant's nap as "quietly radical" and a "surrender to limits... to the body's quiet wisdom over society's relentless performance metrics," supporting Statement 1. It explicitly states this surrender was "Not to laziness, but to limits," mentioning the "crushing weight of being a 64-year-old man," validating Statement 2.
The passage concludes that "The perpetually sleep-deprived discovered a leading man, not of action, but of rest." Since Hugh Grant is an actor known for playing leading roles, the author cleverly repositions him as a "resting hero" rather than an action hero, confirming Statement 3.
Therefore, all three statements accurately reflect the passage's content and tone, making Option 3 the correct answer.
Which of the following conclusions, made on the basis of the given passage, is/are correct?
- The advent of new customer-service technology had invariably sparked fears about job losses.
- Often it is found that instead of job losses, alternative channels for employee engagement are discovered while certain tasks are replaced by technology.
- The advent of technology inevitably leads to stressful outcomes.
Select the answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
The passage states previous customer-service technologies (email, voice menus) "stoked concerns of job losses" and mentions AI continuing this pattern, supporting the claim of invariable fears.
- Statement 1 is Correct: The passage explicitly confirms that new customer-service technology has consistently sparked job loss fears.
- Statement 2 is Correct: Earlier job loss fears "failed to materialise" and AI may free agents for "creative and rewarding tasks"—technology replaces tasks while opening alternative engagement channels.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: The passage describes AI's effects as "salutary" (beneficial) with workers shifting to rewarding tasks—contradicting the claim of inevitable stressful outcomes.
- Therefore, only Statements 1 and 2 are correct, making Option 4 the correct answer.
Which of the following conclusions is/are correct?
- All landlords essentially have some goodness trapped within them.
- The common grazing grounds of a village are intended for use by the cattle of that village.
- Landlords who believe in tradition tend to be more concerned about their tenants.
- Winds later in the day tend to be cooler post the hot winds of the morning.
Select the answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
The passage explicitly states that Rai Sahib held to the old values and believed that any landlord who didn't look after his tenants was less than human. This directly supports the conclusion that landlords who believe in tradition tend to be more concerned about their tenants.
Statement 1 is incorrect—the passage contrasts Rai Sahib with selfish Zamindars, implying not all landlords have goodness. Statement 2 is incorrect—cattle from nearby villages came to graze, not just from that village. Statement 4 is incorrect—the passage states there was cool freshness in the morning, but the rest of the day would be scorching hot (not cooler).
Therefore, only conclusion 3 is correct, making Option 3 the correct answer.
Which one among the following statements most appropriately reflects the point of view of the given passage?
Detailed Explanation:
The passage states AI's effects "may be salutary" (beneficial) because human agents could be "freed up to spend more time on creative and rewarding tasks" like using feedback to improve products—thereby enhancing their workplace value through redirection to more fulfilling roles.
Option 1 contradicts the passage (humans would still do creative tasks). Option 2 focuses only on redundancy, missing the author's optimistic core message. Option 4 is incorrect—the passage explicitly notes previous technologies also "stoked concerns of job losses."
Therefore, Option 3 accurately captures the passage's central argument about enhanced human value through task redirection, making Option 3 the correct answer.
Related Topics in CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test)
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Inference & Conclusion in UPSC CSE PRELIMS