UPSC CSE Prelims CSAT (Paper II) previous year questions on Percentage and Ratio (Quantitative Ability), asked from 2011–2026, with answers. There are 62 questions in this post. Attempt each question, then click Show Answer to check.
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1] Suppose x, y and z are variables taking positive real numbers as their possible values. It is given that y is directly proportional to x² and x is inversely proportional to z. For z = 7/25, the values of x and y are 5 and 50, respectively. If y = 98, what is z equal to? [2026/30]
(a) 1/7
(b) 1/5
(c) 5/7
(d) 1
Show Answer
Ans: (b) 1/5
2] A person saves 10% of his salary every month. If his salary increases by 12% and the expenditure increases by 10%, then what will be the change in his saving per month? [2026/43]
(a) 20% increase
(b) 30% increase
(c) 03% decrease
(d) 02% decrease
Show Answer
Ans: (b) 30% increase
3] The ratio of male to female workers in two companies A and B is 13 : 10 and 7 : 5, respectively. If both the companies have the same number of female workers, then what is the ratio of the total number of workers in A to those in B? [2026/58]
(a) 24 : 23
(b) 23 : 24
(c) 18 : 17
(d) 27 : 18
Show Answer
Ans: (b) 23 : 24
4] Three partners A, B and C entered into a business. A invested one-third of the capital for one-third duration. B invested one-fourth of the capital for one-fourth duration. C invested the remaining capital for the whole duration. Out of a profit of ₹17,000, how much profit will C get? [2026/78]
(a) ₹12,000
(b) ₹10,000
(c) ₹12,500
(d) ₹10,750
Show Answer
Ans: (a) ₹12,000
5] Team X scored a total of N runs in 20 overs. Team Y tied the score in 10% less overs. Had team Y’s average run rate (runs per over) been 50% higher, the scores would have been tied in 12 overs. How many runs were scored by team X? [2025/9]
(a) 72
(b) 144
(c) 216
(d) Cannot be determined
Show Answer
Ans: (d) Cannot be determined
6] The price (p) of a commodity is first increased by k%; then decreased by k%; again increased by k%; and again decreased by k%. If the new price is q, then what is the relation between p and q? [2025/10]
(a) p(10⁴ − k²)² = q × 10⁸
(b) p(10⁴ − k²)² = q × 10⁴
(c) p(10⁴ − k²) = q × 10⁴
(d) p(10⁴ − k²) = q × 10⁸
Show Answer
Ans: (a) p(10⁴ − k²)² = q × 10⁸
7] The petrol price shot up by 10% as a result of the hike in crude oil prices. The price of petrol before the hike was ₹90 per litre. A person travels 2200 km every month and his car gives a mileage of 16 km per litre. By how many km should he reduce his travel if he wants to maintain his expenditure at the previous level? [2025/17]
(a) 180 km
(b) 200 km
(c) 220 km
(d) 240 km
Show Answer
Ans: (b) 200 km
8] Two persons P and Q enter into a business. P puts rupees 14,000 more than Q, but P has invested for 8 months and Q has invested for 10 months. If P’s share is rupees 400 more than Q’s share out of the total profit of rupees 2,000, what is the capital contributed by P? [2024/25]
(a) Rupees 30,000
(b) Rupees 26,000
(c) Rupees 24,000
(d) Rupees 20,000
Show Answer
Ans: (a) Rupees 30,000
9] P’s salary is 20% lower than Q’s salary which is 20% lower than R’s salary. By how much percent is R’s salary more than Ps salary? [2024/26]
(a) 48.75%
(b) 56.25%
(c) 60.50%
(d) 62-25%
Show Answer
Ans: (b) 56.25%
10] A number is mistakenly divided by 4 instead of multiplying by 4. What is the percentage change in the result due to this mistake? [2024/27]
(a) 25%
(b) 50%
(c) 72.75%
(d) 93.75%
Show Answer
Ans: (d) 93.75%
11] In an examination, 80% of students passed in English, 70% of students passed in Hindi and 15% failed in both the subjects. What is the percentage of students who failed in only one subject? [2024/28]
(a) 15%
(b) 20%
(c) 25%
(d) 35%
Show Answer
Ans: (b) 20%
12] A person buys three articles P, Q and R for rupees 3330. If P costs 25% more than R and R costs 20% more than Q, then what is the cost of P? [2024/47]
(a) Rupees 1,000
(b) Rupees 1,200
(c) Rupees 1,250
(d) Rupees 1,350
Show Answer
Ans: (d) Rupees 1,350
13] The increase in the price of a certain item was 25%. Then the price was decreased by 20% and then again increased by 10%. What is the resultant increase in the price? [2022/20]
(a) 5%
(b) 10%
(c) 12.5%
(d) 15%
Show Answer
Ans: (b) 10%
14] When 70% of a number x is added to another number y, the sum becomes 165% of the value of y. When 60% of the number x is added to another number z, then the sum becomes 165% of the value of z. Which one of the following is correct? [2022/60]
(a) z < x < y
(b) x < y < z
(c) y < x < z
(d) z < y < x
Show Answer
Ans: (a) z < x < y
15] Two candidates X and Y contested an election. 80% of voters cast their vote and there were no invalid votes. There was no NOTA (None of the above) option. X got 56% of the votes cast and won by 1440 votes. What is the total number of voters in the voters list? [2022/64]
(a) 15000
(b) 12000
(c) 9600
(d) 5000
Show Answer
Ans: (a) 15000
16] A pie chart gives the expenditure on five different items A, B, C, D and E in a household. If B, C, D and E correspond to 90°, 50°, 45° and 75° respectively, then what is the percentage of expenditure on item A? [2022/70]
(a) 112/9
(b) 125/6
(c) 155/9
(d) 250/9
Show Answer
Ans: (d) 250/9
17] In a class, 60% of students are from India and 50% of the students are girls. If 30% of the Indian students are girls, then what percentage of foreign students are boys? [2021/9]
(a) 45%
(b) 40%
(c) 30%
(d) 20%
Show Answer
Ans: (d) 20%
18] A boy plays with a ball and he drops it from a height of 1.5 m. Every time the ball hits the ground; it bounces back to attain a height 4/5th of the previous height. The ball does not bounce further if the previous height is less than 50 cm. What is the number of times the ball hits the ground before the ball stops bouncing? [2021/16]
(a) 4
(b) 5
(c) 6
(d) 7
Show Answer
Ans: (b) 5
19] A student appeared in 6 papers. The maximum marks are the same for each paper. His marks in these papers are in the proportion of 5: 6: 7: 8: 9: 10. Overall he scored 60%. In how many number of papers did he score less than 60% of the maximum marks? [2021/30]
(a) 2
(b) 3
(c) 4
(d) 5
Show Answer
Ans: (b) 3
20] An amount of money was distributed among A, B and C in the ratio p : q : r.
Consider the following statements:
1. A gets the maximum share if p is greater than (q + r).
2. C gets the minimum share if r is less than (p + q).
Which of the above statements is/are correct? [2021/70]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
Ans: (a) 1 only
21] A pie diagram shows the percentage distribution of proteins, water, and other dry elements in the human body. Given that proteins correspond to 16% and water corresponds to 70%. If both proteins and the other dry elements correspond to p% then what is the central angle of the sector representing p on the pie diagram? [2021/74]
(a) 54°
(b) 96°
(c) 108°
(d) 120°
Show Answer
Ans: (c) 108°
22] If the price of an article is decreased by 20% and then the new price is increased by 25%, then what is the net change in the price? [2021/78]
(a) 0
(b) 5% increase
(c) 5% decrease
(d) Cannot be determined due to insufficient data.
Show Answer
Ans: (a) 0
23] A person bought a car and sold it for Rs. 3,00,000. If he incurred a loss of 20%, then how much did he spend to buy the car? [2020/40]
(a) Rs. 3, 60,000
(b) Rs. 3, 65,000
(c) Rs. 3, 70,000
(d) Rs. 3, 75,000
Show Answer
Ans: (d) Rs. 3, 75,000
24] A shop owner offers the following discount options on an article to a customer:
1. Successive discounts or 10% and 20%, and then pay a service tax of 10%
2. Successive discounts of 20% and 10%, and then pay a service tax of 10%
3. Pay a service tax or 10% first, then successive discounts of 20% and 10%
Which one of the following is correct? [2020/47]
(a) 1 only is the best option for the customer.
(b) 2 only is the best option for the customer.
(c) 3 only is the best option for the customer.
(d) All the options are equally good for the customer.
Show Answer
Ans: (d) All the options are equally good for the customer.
25] In adult Population of a city, 40% men and 30% women are married. What is the percentage of married adult population if no man marries more than one woman and no woman marries more than one man; and there are no widows and widowers? [2020/55]
(a) 33
(b) 34
(c) 34
(d) 35%
Show Answer
Ans: (c) 34
26] A sum of Rs. 2,500 is distributed among X, Y and Z in the ratio 1/2: 3/4: 5/6. What is the difference between the maximum share and the minimum share? [2020/57]
(a) Rs. 300
(b) Rs. 350
(c) Rs. 400
(d) Rs. 450
Show Answer
Ans: (c) Rs. 400
27] As a result of 25% hike in the price of rice per kg, a person is able to purchase 6 kg less rice for Rs. 1,200. What Was the Original price of rice per kg? [2020/70]
(a) Rs. 30
(b) Rs. 40
(c) Rs. 50
(d) Rs. 60
Show Answer
Ans: (b) Rs. 40
28] A person X can complete 20% of work in 8 days and another person y can complete 25% of the same work in 6 days. If they work together, in how many days will 40% of the work be completed? [2020/71]
(a) 6
(b) 8
(c) 10
(d) 12
Show Answer
Ans: (a) 6
29] A and B are two heavy steel blocks. If B is placed on the top of A, the weight increases by 60%. How much weight will reduce with respect to the total weight of A and B, if B is removed from the top of A? [2019/11]
(a) 60%
(b) 45.5%
(c) 40%
(d) 37.5%
Show Answer
Ans: (d) 37.5%
30] When a runner was crossing the 12 km mark, she was informed that she had completed only 80% of the race. How many kilometres was the runner supposed to run in this event? [2019/16]
(a) 14
(b) 15
(c) 16
(d) 16.5
Show Answer
Ans: (b) 15
31] Raju has Rs. 9000 with him and he wants to buy a mobile handset; but he finds that he has only 75% of the amount required to buy the handset. Therefore, he borrows 2000 from a friend. Then [2019/17]
(a) Raju still does not have enough amount to buy the handset.
(b) Raju has exactly the same amount as required to buy the handset.
(c) Raju has enough amount to buy the handset and he will have 500 with him after buying the handset.
(d) Raju has enough amount to buy the handset and he will have 1000 with him after buying the handset.
Show Answer
Ans: (a) Raju still does not have enough amount to buy the handset.
32] All members of a club went to Mumbai and stayed in a hotel. On the first day, 80% went for shopping and 50% went for sightseeing, whereas 10% took rest in the hotel Which of the following conclusion(s) can be drawn from the above data? [2019/31]
1. 40% members went for shopping as well as sightseeing.
2. 20% members went for only shopping.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
Ans: (a) 1 only
33] In a school, 60% students play cricket. A student who does not play cricket, plays football. Every football player has got a two-wheeler. Which of the following conclusions cannot be drawn from the above data?
1. 60% of the students do not have two-wheelers.
2. No cricketer has a two-wheeler.
3. Cricket players do not play football.
Select the correct answer using the code given below: [2019/32]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Ans: (d) 1, 2 and 3
34] The ratio of a two-digit natural number to a number formed by reversing its digits is 4:7. The number of such pairs is [2019/33]
(a) 5
(b) 4
(c) 3
(d) 2
Show Answer
Ans: (b) 4
35] Rakesh had money to buy 8 mobile handsets of a specific company. But the retailer offered very good discount on that particular handset. Rakesh could buy 10 mobile handsets with the amount he had. What was the discount the retailer offered? [2019/39]
(a) 15%
(b) 20%
(c) 25%
(d) 30%
Show Answer
Ans: (b) 20%
36] A student has to get 40% marks to pass in an examination. Suppose he gets 30 marks and fails by 30 marks, then what are the maximum marks in the examination? [2018/41]
(a) 100
(b) 120
(c) 150
(d) 300
Show Answer
Ans: (c) 150
37] A shopkeeper sells an article at Rs. 40 and gets X% profit. However, when he sells it at Rs. 20, he faces same percentage of loss. What is the original cost of the article? [2018/57]
(a) Rs. 10
(b) Rs. 20
(c) Rs. 30
(d) Rs. 40
Show Answer
Ans: (c) Rs. 30
38] If there is a policy that 1/3rd of population of a community has migrated every year from one place, to some other place, what is the leftover population of that community after the sixth year, if there is no further growth in the population during this period? [2017/12]
(a) 16/243rd part of the population
(b) 32/243rd part of the population
(c) 32/729th part of the population
(d) 64/729th part of the population
Show Answer
Ans: (d) 64/729th part of the population
39] Gopal bought a cell phone and sold it to Ram at 10% profit. Then Ram wanted to sell it back to Gopal at 10% loss. What will be Gopal’s position if he agreed? [2017/20]
(a) Neither loss nor gain
(b) Loss 1%
(c) Gain 1 %
(d) Gain 0.5%
Show Answer
Ans: (c) Gain 1 %
40] P = (40% of A) + (65% of B) and Q = (50% of A) + (50% of B), where A is greater than B. In this context which of the following statements is correct? [2017/30]
(a) P is greater than Q.
(b) Q is greater than P.
(c) P is equal to Q.
(d) None of the above can be concluded with certainty.
Show Answer
Ans: (d) None of the above can be concluded with certainty.
41] In a city, 12% of households earn less than Rs. 30,000 per year, 6% households earn more than Rs. 2,00,000 per year, 22% households earn more than Rs.1,00,000 per year and 990 households earn between Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 1,00,000 per year. How many households earn between Rs.1,00,000 and Rs.2,00,000 per year? [2017/32]
(a) 250
(b) 240
(c) 230
(d) 225
Show Answer
Ans: (b) 240
42] There is a milk sample with 50% water in it. If 1/3rd of this milk is added to equal amount of pure milk, then water in the new mixture will fall down to [2017/37]
(a) 25%
(b) 30%
(c) 35%
(d) 40%
Show Answer
Ans: (a) 25%
43] The average rainfall in a city for the first four days was recorded to be 0.40 inch. The rainfall on the last two days was in the ratio of 4 : 3. The average of six days was 0.50 inch. What was the rainfall on the fifth day? [2017/68]
(a) 0.60 inch
(b) 0.70 inch
(c) 0.80 inch
(d) 0.90 inch
Show Answer
Ans: (c) 0.80 inch
44] The monthly incomes of X and Y are in the ratio of 4 : 3 and their monthly expenses are in the ratio of 3:2. However, each saves Rs. 6,000 per month. What is their total monthly income? [2017/74]
(a) Rs. 28,000
(b) Rs. 42,000
(c) Rs. 56,000
(d) Rs. 84,000
Show Answer
Ans: (b) Rs. 42,000
45] Anita’s mathematics test had 70 problems carrying equal marks i.e., 10 arithmetic, 30 algebra and 30 geometry. Although she answered 70% of the arithmetic, 40% of the algebra and 60% of the geometry problems correctly, she did not pass the test because she got less than 60% marks. The number of more questions she would have to answer correctly to earn a 60% passing marks is: [2016/30]
(a) 1
(b) 5
(c) 7
(d) 9
Show Answer
Ans: (b) 5
46] In a class, there are 18 very tall boys. If these constitute three-fourths of the boys and the total number of boys is two-thirds of the total number of students in the class, what is the number of girls in the class? [2016/31]
(a) 6
(b) 12
(c) 18
(d) 21
Show Answer
Ans: (b) 12
47] The monthly average salary paid to all the employees of a company was Rs. 5000. The monthly average salary paid to male and female employees was Rs. 5200 and Rs. 4200 respectively. Then the percentage of males employed in the company is [2016/33]
(a) 75%
(b) 80%
(c) 85%
(d) 90%
Show Answer
Ans: (b) 80%
48] Two numbers X and Y are respectively 20% and 28% less than a third number Z. By what percentage is the number Y less than the number X? [2016/37]
(a) 12%
(b) 10%
(c) 9%
(d) 8%
Show Answer
Ans: (b) 10%
49] The total emoluments of two persons are the same, but one gets allowances to the extent of 65% of his basic pay and the other gets allowances to the extent of 80% of his basic pay. The ratio of the basic pay of the former to the basic pay of the latter is: [2016/52]
(a) 16 : 13
(b) 5 : 4
(c) 7 : 5
(d) 12 : 11
Show Answer
Ans: (d) 12 : 11
50] A person allows 10% discount for cash payment from the marked price of a toy and still he makes a 10% gain. What is the cost price of the toy which is marked Rs. 770? [2016/80]
(a) Rs. 610
(b) Rs. 620
(c) Rs. 630
(d) Rs. 640
Show Answer
Ans: (c) Rs. 630
51] In a test, a candidate attempted only 8 questions and secured 50% marks in each of the questions. If he obtained a total of 40% in the test and All questions in the test carried equal marks, how many questions were there in the test? [2015/15]
(a) 8
(b) 10
(c) 15
(d) 16
Show Answer
Ans: (b) 10
52] In a town, 45% population read magazine A, 55% read magazine B, 40% read magazine C, 30% read magazines A and B, 15% read magazines B and C, 25% read magazines A and C; and 10% read all the three magazines. What percentage do not read any magazine? [2015/31]
(a) 10%
(b) 15%
(c) 20%
(d) 25%
Show Answer
Ans: (c) 20%
53] The proportion of expenditure on various items by two families A and B arc represented in the following Bar Charts: [2015/59]
|
|
|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Family A Total Expenditure Rs. 20,000 per month
Family B Total Expenditure Rs. 1,00,000 per month
From these charts, we can conclude that
(a) Family A spent more money on food than Family B.
(b) Family B spent more money on food than Family A.
(c) Family A and Family B spent the same amount on food.
(d) The expenditure on food by Family A and Family B cannot be compared
Show Answer
Ans: (c) Family A and Family B spent the same amount on food.
54] The monthly incomes of Peter and Paul are in the ratio of 4 : 3. Their expenses are in the ratio of 3 : 2. If each saves 6,000 at the end of the month, their monthly incomes respectively are (in Rs.) [2015/70]
(a) 24,000 and 18,000
(b) 28,000 and 21,000
(c) 32,000 and 24,000
(d) 34,000 and 26,000
Show Answer
Ans: (a) 24,000 and 18,000
55] Candidates in a competitive examination consisted of 60% men and 40% women. 70% men and 75% women cleared the qualifying test and entered the final test where 80% men and 70% women were successful.
Which of the following statements is correct? [2015/80]
(a) Success rate is higher for women.
(b) Overall success rate is below 50%.
(c) More men cleared the examination than women.
(d) Both (a) and (b) above are correct.
Show Answer
Ans: (c) More men cleared the examination than women.
56] A gardener increased the area of his rectangular garden by increasing its length by 40% and decreasing its width by 20%. The area of the new garden [2014/20]
(a) has increased by 20%.
(b) has increased by 12%.
(c) has increased by 8%.
(d) is exactly the same as the old area.
Show Answer
Ans: (b) has increased by 12%.
57] If Sohan, while selling two goats at the same price, makes a profit of 10% on one goat and suffers a loss of 10% on the other [2014/23]
(a) he makes no profit and no loss.
(b) he makes a profit of 1%.
(c) he suffers a loss of 1%.
(d) he suffers a loss of 2%
Show Answer
Ans: (c) he suffers a loss of 1%.
58] Out of a total of 120 musicians in a club, 5% can play all the three instruments, guitar, violin and flute. It so happens that the number of musicians Who can play any two and only two of the above instruments is 30. The number of musicians who can play the guitar alone is 40. What is the total number of those who can play violin alone or flute alone? [2014/24]
(a) 45
(b) 44
(c) 38
(d) 30
Show Answer
Ans: (b) 44
59] As per agreement with a bank, a businessman had to refund a loan in some equal instalments without interest. After paying 18 instalments he found that 60 percent of his loan was refunded. How many instalments were there in the agreement? [2014/49]
(a) 22
(b) 24
(c) 30
(d) 33
Show Answer
Ans: (c) 30
60] Out of 120 applications for a post, 70 are male and 80 have a driver’s license. What is the ratio between the minimum to maximum number of males having driver’s license? [2013/63]
(a) 1 to 2
(b) 2 to 3
(c) 3 to 7
(d) 5 to 7
Show Answer
Ans: (c) 3 to 7
61] There are 100 students in a particular class. 60% students play cricket, 30% student play football and 10% students play both the games. What is the number of students who play neither cricket nor football? [2011/42]
(a) 25
(b) 20
(c) 18
(d) 15
Show Answer
Ans: (b) 20
62] In a group of persons, 70% of the persons are male and 30% of the persons are married. If two sevenths of males are married, what fraction of the females is single? [2011/50]
(a) 2/7
(b) 1/3
(c) 3/7
(d) 2/3
Show Answer
Ans: (d) 2/3
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