Question 1 · Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation (QA & DI) · 2025
MCQ
Common Description:
The plots below depict and compare the average monthly incomes(in Rs. ’000) of males and females in ten cities of India in the years 2005 and 2015. The ten cities, marked A-J in the records, are of different population sizes. For a fair comparison, to adjust for inflation, incomes for both the periods are scaled to 2025 prices.
Each red dot represents the average monthly income of females in a particular city in a particular year, while each blue dot represents the average monthly income of males in a particular city in a particular year. The gender gap for a city, for a particular year, is defined as the absolute value of the average monthly income of males, minus the average monthly income of females, in that year.
In which city did the gender gap, in terms of 2025 prices, change the least, from 2005 to 2015, in terms of percentage?
Step-by-Step Solution
Key idea: This is a scatter plot comparative analysis question, recognizable because it requires calculating the percentage change of a derived metric (gender gap) across two time periods.
Step 1: Understand the definition of the gender gap. It is the absolute difference between the average monthly income of males and females in a given year, scaled to 2025 prices.
Step 2: For each city, extract the scaled male and female incomes for 2005 and 2015 from the plot.
Step 3: Calculate the gender gap for 2005 (Gap2005=∣M2005−F2005∣) and for 2015 (Gap2015=∣M2015−F2015∣).
Step 4: Calculate the percentage change in the gender gap from 2005 to 2015 using the formula: Gap2005∣Gap2015−Gap2005∣×100.
Step 5: Compare these percentage changes across the given options (J, I, D, E, C). City E shows the smallest relative difference between its 2005 and 2015 gaps, resulting in the lowest percentage change.
Answer: E
Question 2 · Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation (QA & DI) · 2025
MCQ
Common Description:
The plots below depict and compare the average monthly incomes(in Rs. ’000) of males and females in ten cities of India in the years 2005 and 2015. The ten cities, marked A-J in the records, are of different population sizes. For a fair comparison, to adjust for inflation, incomes for both the periods are scaled to 2025 prices.
Each red dot represents the average monthly income of females in a particular city in a particular year, while each blue dot represents the average monthly income of males in a particular city in a particular year. The gender gap for a city, for a particular year, is defined as the absolute value of the average monthly income of males, minus the average monthly income of females, in that year.
Rs.100 in 2025 is worth Rs. 60 in 2015 prices, and Rs. 25 in 2005 prices. Based on the given plots, which of the following statements, about the unscaled incomes, i.e., the incomes before scaling to 2025 prices, CANNOT be correct?(All statements refer to people represented in the given plots.)
- A.
Average unscaled income for both genders increased in all 10 cities from 2005 to 2015
- B.
Average unscaled income of women was about Rs. 15,000 in 2015 in City H
- C.
Average unscaled income of men in City E increased by about 140% from 2005 to 2015
- D.
Average unscaled income of women in City G increased by about 120% from 2005 to 2015
- E.
The unscaled gender gaps reduced in all 10 cities from 2005 to 2015
Step-by-Step Solution
Key idea: This is a logical deduction question involving inflation adjustment, recognizable because it provides scaling factors and asks which statement about "unscaled" incomes CANNOT be correct, allowing for a mathematical proof of impossibility without needing exact chart values.
Step 1: Understand the scaling factors. All incomes in the plot are scaled to 2025 prices.
- 100 in 2025 = 60 in 2015. So, Unscaled2015=Scaled2025×0.6.
- 100 in 2025 = 25 in 2005. So, Unscaled2005=Scaled2025×0.25.
Step 2: Apply this to the gender gap. Let the scaled gender gap in 2025 prices be G.
- The unscaled gap in 2015 is 0.6×G.
- The unscaled gap in 2005 is 0.25×G.
Step 3: Compare the two unscaled gaps. Since 0.6>0.25, the unscaled gap in 2015 is strictly greater than the unscaled gap in 2005 (assuming G>0).
Step 4: Evaluate the options. The statement "The unscaled gender gaps reduced in all 10 cities from 2005 to 2015" claims that the 2015 gap is smaller than the 2005 gap. This contradicts our mathematical deduction that the 2015 gap must be larger.
Step 5: Therefore, this statement is mathematically impossible and CANNOT be correct.
Answer: E
Question 3 · Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation (QA & DI) · 2022
MCQ
Common Description:
Read the following scenario and answer the THREE questions that follow.
The given candlestick chart depicts the prices of a particular stock over 10 consecutive days. A candlestick comprises of a rectangular box pieced by a line. The top and bottom ends of the line respectively indicate the maximum and minimum prices of the stock on that day, while the horizontal edges of the rectangle correspond
to the stock's opening and closing prices. If the rectangle is white, the opening price is lower than the closing price, but if the rectangle is black, then it is the other way around.
Using the above information, answer the questions that follow:
What is the highest magnitude of change over two consecutive days(for example,Day 1 → Day 3 or Day 5 → Day 7), in the maximum price touched by the stock during the 10-day period(choose the closest amongst the options given)?
- A.
60
- B.
70
- C.
80
- D.
50
- E.
40
Step-by-Step Solution
Key idea: This is a candlestick chart data extraction question, recognizable because it requires calculating the absolute difference between the maximum prices (upper wicks) of specific days.
Step 1: Understand the anatomy of the candlestick. The "maximum price touched" is the very top of the upper wick (the highest point of the entire candle structure).
Step 2: Interpret the phrase "over two consecutive days (for example, Day 1 -> Day 3)". This means we are looking for the absolute difference between the maximum price of Day i and Day i+2.
Step 3: Extract the maximum price (top of the upper wick) for all 10 days from the chart.
Step 4: Calculate the absolute difference for all valid pairs: |Day 1 - Day 3|, |Day 2 - Day 4|, ..., |Day 8 - Day 10|.
Step 5: Identify the highest magnitude among these calculated differences. Based on the chart's data, the maximum difference is 70.
Answer: B
Question 4 · Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR)
MCQ
Read the following excerpt and answer the question that follows.
Stupidity is frequently conflated with a lack of raw intelligence, yet history is replete with highly intelligent individuals committing catastrophic errors of judgment. This occurs because intelligence—the capacity to process information and construct complex rationalizations—can actually abet stupidity when the underlying conceptual framework is flawed. A brilliant mind equipped with obsolete paradigms will simply generate more sophisticated, yet equally distorted, justifications for its misapprehensions, a phenomenon known as pernicious rationalization.
According to the passage, why might a highly intelligent person be particularly susceptible to 'stupidity' as defined by the author?
- A.
They lack the brute willpower required to update their cognitive tools to fit new phenomena.
- B.
Their processing power allows them to construct elaborate defenses for fundamentally flawed conceptual frameworks.
- C.
They tend to rely on outdated strategies from their youth, mistaking past success for universal applicability.
- D.
They are more likely to ignore empirical evidence in favor of abstract, theoretical models.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key idea: This is a detail-oriented inference question testing the precise definition of 'stupidity' versus 'intelligence'.
Step 1: Locate the definition of stupidity in the text. It is defined as having a "flawed underlying conceptual framework" or "obsolete paradigms", not a lack of IQ.
Step 2: Find the mechanism linking intelligence to stupidity. The text states intelligence "can actually abet stupidity" because it allows the mind to "construct complex rationalizations" and "generate more sophisticated... justifications".
Step 3: Match this mechanism to the options. Option B perfectly captures the idea that high processing power (intelligence) is used to build "elaborate defenses" (complex rationalizations) for "flawed conceptual frameworks" (obsolete paradigms).
Answer: B
Question 5 · Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR)
MCQ
Read the following excerpt and answer the question that follows.
In a large-scale experiment involving West African entrepreneurs, researchers compared the efficacy of cognitive skills training (focusing on finance, accounting, and marketing) against character skills training (focusing on proactive behavior, resilience, and networking). While cognitive training improved basic business practices, character training yielded significantly higher profit growth, particularly for women. The findings suggest that in resource-constrained environments, the psychological capacity to navigate ambiguity and persist through setbacks supersedes technical business knowledge.
Which of the following inferences is most strongly supported by the findings of the experiment described in the passage?
- A.
The ability to adapt and persevere in the face of challenges is a more critical driver of entrepreneurial success in certain contexts than formal business acumen.
- B.
Technical business knowledge is entirely redundant for entrepreneurs operating in developing economies.
- C.
Character skills training is universally more effective than cognitive training, regardless of the economic context.
- D.
Women entrepreneurs inherently possess greater character skills than their male counterparts, leading to higher profit margins.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key idea: This is an inference question based on empirical findings. You must draw a conclusion that is strictly bounded by the conditions mentioned in the text.
Step 1: Identify the core finding. Character training (proactive behavior, resilience) led to higher profit growth than cognitive training (finance, accounting).
Step 2: Identify the boundary conditions. The passage explicitly states this occurred in "resource-constrained environments" and notes the effect was "particularly for women".
Step 3: Evaluate the options against these findings and boundaries.
- Option A correctly abstracts "resilience" (character) as a critical driver superseding "formal business acumen" (cognitive), and uses the cautious phrase "in certain contexts" to respect the "resource-constrained" boundary.
- Option B uses "entirely redundant", which is too extreme (the text says cognitive training "improved basic business practices").
- Option C uses "universally", ignoring the specific "resource-constrained" context.
- Option D assumes an "inherent" biological or psychological difference, whereas the passage only notes the training was particularly effective for women.
Answer: A
Question 6 · Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR)
MCQ
Read the passage carefully and answer the question that follows.
The classical model of rational choice posits a unified agent who deliberates, chooses, and acts in accordance with a stable hierarchy of values. Modern psychology, conversely, presents the self as a committee of competing impulses, where 'decision-making' is less a sovereign act than a negotiated settlement among visceral systems. Yet, both models share a hidden assumption: that the locus of agency resides entirely within the individual skull. This internalism obscures the extent to which our decisions are scaffolded by external structures—social norms, institutional architectures, and linguistic practices—that do not merely influence choices but constitute the very space of possible deliberation. When we debate whether humans are 'rational actors' or 'biased processors,' we remain trapped in a shared individualist ontology. A truly adequate account of decision-making would need to recognize that the unit of analysis is not the isolated mind but the person-in-context, whose agency is distributed across biological, social, and material ecologies. Neither the unified soul nor the fragmented brain can serve as the sole foundation for understanding human choice.
Based on the passage, the author would MOST likely agree with which of the following assessments of the debate between classical and modern models of decision-making?
- A.
The classical model is superior because it preserves the notion of moral responsibility that the modern model eliminates.
- B.
The modern model is more scientifically accurate, even though it fails to account for social scaffolding.
- C.
Both models are flawed because they share an individualist premise that ignores the constitutive role of external contexts.
- D.
The debate is unresolvable because classical philosophy and modern psychology use fundamentally incompatible definitions of rationality.
- E.
The solution lies in integrating the classical hierarchy of values with the modern understanding of visceral impulses.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key idea: This is a Synthesis / Author's Position question requiring identification of a meta-critique. The author isn't choosing sides but rejecting the shared foundation of both sides.
Step 1: Map the argument structure.
- View A (Classical): Unified agent, stable values.
- View B (Modern): Fragmented self, competing impulses.
- Pivot ("Yet, both models share..."): Both are internalist/individualist.
- Author's Thesis: Agency is distributed/person-in-context; neither A nor B suffices alone.
Step 2: Evaluate options against the thesis.
- A & B pick sides. The author explicitly rejects choosing ("Neither... can serve as sole foundation"). Eliminate.
- E suggests integration of A+B. But the author says the shared premise is the problem, not just the lack of combination. Integration still keeps the individualist ontology. Eliminate.
- D claims incompatibility. The author claims they share a hidden assumption (compatibility in error). Eliminate.
- C correctly identifies the shared flaw ("individualist premise") and the missing element ("external contexts").
Step 3: Verify wording. "Constitutive role" matches "constitute the very space of possible deliberation." "Shared individualist premise" matches "share a hidden assumption... internalism."
Answer: C
Question 7 · Decision Making (DM) · 2023
MCQ
Common Description:
Bharat Business School(BBS), a premier business school, was renowned for the quality education it provided.
Its faculty, known for their domain area expertise and excellence in teaching, competed with each other for a better student feedback. Of late, the institute was nding it di cult to upgrade its course content with rapidly changing global business scenario. The di culties multiplied when the school realized that some of senior faculty would retire on regular basis, starting in the near future. To overcome these di culties, BBS decided to recruit young faculty in all the departments(e.g., Economics, Finance, Marketing, HRM, Production etc).
When the Dean- Academics scanned the applications, she found three distinct types of aspirants viz.(i) A type candidates who were very good teachers, competent at teaching the courses taught by existing faculty members;(ii) B type candidates who were average teachers, competent at creating and teaching new courses that would complement existing courses, taught by the current faculty;(iii) C type candidates were not-so-good teachers, willing to teach any course BBS required.
Note1: A course is termed complementary when it covers latest content and complements existing courses offered by a department.
Note2: Each department decides the suite of courses to be offered.
Given the above context, which of the following options will be the BEST recruitment decision for BBS?
- A.
Hire B type candidates so that all types of courses can be offered to students
- B.
Don’t recruit and request the existing faculty to develop complementary courses
- C.
Hire C type candidates, as they can teach any course
- D.
Hire A type candidates unconditionally and allow them to teach courses taught by the existing faculty
- E.
Hire A type candidates on a condition that they will have to develop complementary courses.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key idea: This is a "best strategic decision" question. We must balance maintaining current quality with solving the core problem (outdated content).
Step 1: Identify the core problems. BBS is "finding it difficult to upgrade its course content" and senior faculty are retiring.
Step 2: Analyze candidate types.
- A type: Very good teachers, competent at teaching existing courses.
- B type: Average teachers, competent at creating/teaching new courses.
- C type: Not-so-good teachers.
Step 3: Evaluate the goal. We need the "BEST recruitment decision" to solve the content upgrade problem while maintaining the school's renowned quality.
Step 4: Test Option E: "Hire A type candidates on a condition that they will have to develop complementary courses." This is brilliant. It secures top-tier teaching talent (A type) to maintain quality, but the condition forces them to address the school's critical weakness (developing new, complementary courses). It gets the best of both worlds.
Step 5: Check other options. Hiring B type for all courses (Option A) compromises teaching quality. Not recruiting (Option B) ignores the retirement crisis. Hiring C type (Option C) ruins quality. Hiring A type unconditionally (Option D) fails to solve the content upgrade problem, as they will just teach existing courses.
Answer: E
Question 8 · Decision Making (DM) · 2023
MCQ
Common Description:
Bharat Business School(BBS), a premier business school, was renowned for the quality education it provided.
Its faculty, known for their domain area expertise and excellence in teaching, competed with each other for a better student feedback. Of late, the institute was nding it di cult to upgrade its course content with rapidly changing global business scenario. The di culties multiplied when the school realized that some of senior faculty would retire on regular basis, starting in the near future. To overcome these di culties, BBS decided to recruit young faculty in all the departments(e.g., Economics, Finance, Marketing, HRM, Production etc).
When the Dean- Academics scanned the applications, she found three distinct types of aspirants viz.(i) A type candidates who were very good teachers, competent at teaching the courses taught by existing faculty members;(ii) B type candidates who were average teachers, competent at creating and teaching new courses that would complement existing courses, taught by the current faculty;(iii) C type candidates were not-so-good teachers, willing to teach any course BBS required.
Note1: A course is termed complementary when it covers latest content and complements existing courses offered by a department.
Note2: Each department decides the suite of courses to be offered.
Suppose the Dean- Academics wanted to reduce future con icts and political maneuvering to ensure harmony among faculty.
Which of the following options will BEST reduce con icts and politicking amongst the faculty?
- A.
Hire B type candidates to teach complementary courses
- B.
Hire C type candidates and allow them to teach all types of courses
- C.
Hire A type candidates to teach existing courses and ask existing faculty to teach new courses
- D.
Hire A type candidates, and let the new as well as existing faculty offer same courses
- E.
Hire B type candidates and allow them to teach all kinds of courses
Step-by-Step Solution
Key idea: This is a "minimize conflict" decision-making question. We must choose a hiring strategy that avoids direct competition with existing faculty.
Step 1: Identify the source of potential conflict. Existing faculty "competed with each other for a better student feedback" and teach the existing courses.
Step 2: Analyze the candidate types.
- A type: Very good teachers, but they teach existing courses. This creates direct competition with current faculty for student feedback, leading to high conflict.
- B type: Average teachers, but competent at creating/teaching new, complementary courses.
- C type: Not-so-good teachers, willing to teach anything.
Step 3: Evaluate the goal. The Dean wants to "reduce future conflicts and political maneuvering".
Step 4: Match candidate to goal. Hiring B type candidates to teach complementary courses means they operate in a new space. They do not compete with existing faculty for the same students or feedback on the same courses. This creates harmony and adds value (new courses) without stepping on toes.
Step 5: Check other options. Allowing A type to teach existing courses (or the same courses) guarantees conflict. C type compromises quality.
Answer: A
Question 9 · Decision Making (DM)
MCQ
An NGO sources rice from three suppliers: X, Y, and Z. The NGO evaluates them on three parameters: Cost (C), Freshness (F), and Reliability (R), each scored out of 10. The final sustainability score is calculated as:
Score = w₁C + w₂F + w₃R
where w₁, w₂, w₃ are the weights for each parameter.
The scores for the three suppliers are:
Supplier X: C = 8, F = 6, R = 7
Supplier Y: C = 6, F = 8, R = 5
Supplier Z: C = 5, F = 7, R = 9
It is known that:
- The weight for Reliability is twice the weight for Cost (w₃ = 2w₁).
- Supplier Z has the highest final score.
- Supplier X has a higher final score than Supplier Y.
Rank the suppliers in descending order of their final sustainability score.
- A.
Z > X > Y
- B.
Z > Y > X
- C.
X > Z > Y
- D.
Y > Z > X
- E.
Cannot be determined uniquely
Step-by-Step Solution
Key idea: This is a reverse-engineering question, recognizable because it gives partial information about weights and rankings and asks you to deduce the full ranking. The core pattern is to set up inequalities from the given rankings and solve for the weight relationships.
Step 1: Express scores in terms of weights. Let w₁ = w, w₃ = 2w, and w₂ = k.
Score_X = 8w + 6k + 7(2w) = 8w + 6k + 14w = 22w + 6k
Score_Y = 6w + 8k + 5(2w) = 6w + 8k + 10w = 16w + 8k
Score_Z = 5w + 7k + 9(2w) = 5w + 7k + 18w = 23w + 7k
Step 2: Use the constraint "Z has the highest score." Score_Z > Score_X: 23w + 7k > 22w + 6k → w + k > 0. This is always true since weights are positive.
Step 3: Use the constraint "X has a higher score than Y." Score_X > Score_Y: 22w + 6k > 16w + 8k → 6w > 2k → k < 3w.
Step 4: Verify the ranking. Since w + k > 0 and k < 3w, we have Score_Z > Score_X > Score_Y. The ranking is Z > X > Y.
Common trap: Students often assume weights are equal or try to find exact values instead of using inequalities.
Answer: A
Question 10 · General Knowledge (GK) · 2024
MCQ
Who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023?
- A.
Barack Obama
- B.
Shirin Ebadi
- C.
Narges Mohammadi
- D.
Maria Ressa
- E.
Center for Civil Liberties
Step-by-Step Solution
Key idea: This is a factual recall question about the World Chess Championship 2024.
Step 1: Identify the event. The World Chess Championship 2024 was held in Singapore.
Step 2: Identify the contenders. The match was between the incumbent champion Ding Liren (China) and the challenger Gukesh Dommaraju (India).
Step 3: Determine the outcome. Gukesh Dommaraju defeated Ding Liren to become the youngest ever World Chess Champion.
Answer: Ding Liren
Question 11 · General Knowledge (GK)
MCQ
With reference to the Indian sports awards framework, consider the following statements:
- The 'Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar' is awarded to entities like academic institutions, sports control boards, and corporate houses for their contribution to sports development.
- The 'Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy' is awarded annually to the overall top-performing university in inter-university tournaments.
- For the 'Dhyan Chand Award', the sportsperson must have retired for at least six years from active competition.
- The 'Arjuna Award' is given for outstanding performance in sports and games over a period of four years at the international level.
Which of the above statements are correct?
- A.
1, 2 and 3 only
- B.
2, 3 and 4 only
- C.
1, 2 and 4 only
- D.
1, 3 and 4 only
Step-by-Step Solution
Key idea: This is a factual verification question, recognisable because it tests precise knowledge of the criteria and categories of Indian sports awards.
Step 1: Evaluate Statement 1. The Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar is indeed awarded to entities (not individuals) for their contribution to sports development. (True)
Step 2: Evaluate Statement 2. The MAKA Trophy is awarded to the overall top-performing university in inter-university tournaments. (True)
Step 3: Evaluate Statement 3. For the Dhyan Chand Award, the sportsperson must have retired for at least four years (not six years) from active competition. (False)
Step 4: Evaluate Statement 4. The Arjuna Award is given for outstanding performance over a period of four years at the international level. (True)
Step 5: Conclude that statements 1, 2, and 4 are correct.
Answer: C
Question 12 · General Knowledge (GK)
MCQ
Consider the following statements regarding India's performance at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games:
- India achieved its highest-ever single Games medal tally of 29 medals at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
- Sumit Antil successfully defended his Paralympic gold medal in the Men's Javelin Throw F64 event.
- India won its first-ever Paralympic medal in the sport of Shooting at the 2024 Paris Games.
- The Indian contingent's medal haul at the 2024 Paris Paralympics comprised 7 gold, 9 silver, and 13 bronze medals.
Which of the above statements are correct?
- A.
1, 2 and 3 only
- B.
2, 3 and 4 only
- C.
1, 3 and 4 only
- D.
1, 2 and 4 only
Step-by-Step Solution
Key idea: This is a factual verification question, recognisable because it tests precise recall of recent historic milestones in Paralympic sports.
Step 1: Evaluate Statement 1. India won 29 medals at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, surpassing its previous best of 19 medals at the Tokyo 2020 Games. (True)
Step 2: Evaluate Statement 2. Sumit Antil won gold in the Men's Javelin Throw F64 event, successfully defending his Tokyo 2020 title. (True)
Step 3: Evaluate Statement 3. India had already won its first-ever Paralympic medals in Shooting at the Tokyo 2020 Games (e.g., Manish Narwal, Singhraj). Therefore, it was not the "first-ever" in 2024. (False)
Step 4: Evaluate Statement 4. The exact medal breakdown for India at the 2024 Paris Paralympics was 7 gold, 9 silver, and 13 bronze, totaling 29. (True)
Step 5: Conclude that statements 1, 2, and 4 are correct.
Answer: D