UPSC Insta–DART (Daily Aptitude and Reasoning Test) 23 Aug 2025

All pages from page 31 onwards were added. A mistake occurred as one page number ($) was added twice. The incorrect total came out to be 6320. The number $ satisfies:

Statement 1: $ is an odd number and a perfect square
Statement 2: $ leaves remainder 1 when divided by 3 and 4

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the Statements and the Question?

Urban air pollution in India has reached critical levels, with major cities regularly exceeding safe limits for particulate matter. While vehicular emissions and industrial activity are major contributors, seasonal crop residue burning and construction dust also play significant roles. Government responses, including stricter emission standards, public transport expansion, and temporary bans on certain activities, have had limited long-term impact due to poor enforcement and lack of coordinated planning. Public awareness is rising, but lifestyle changes and community participation remain insufficient. Lasting improvement will require integrated policies combining regulation, urban planning, clean energy adoption, and citizen engagement, ensuring that short-term measures are aligned with long-term sustainability goals.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?

Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

1. Air quality management requires a combination of regulatory action, technological solutions, and public cooperation.
2. Temporary bans and seasonal restrictions are enough to achieve long-term air quality improvement.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

In recent years, investigative journalism in India has faced increasing constraints from defamation suits, sedition charges, and strategic lawsuits filed by powerful interests. While the press enjoys constitutional protection, the slow pace of legal proceedings and the high cost of defence often compel journalists to retract or soften reports. Such pressures foster self-censorship, especially in smaller media houses lacking legal resources. Internationally, some democracies have enacted anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) laws to protect journalists from harassment through litigation. In India, however, the absence of similar safeguards leaves critical reporting vulnerable, threatening the press’s role as a watchdog of democracy.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea of the above passage?

Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

1. Absence of protective legal frameworks can lead to self-censorship in journalism.
2. Anti-SLAPP laws in other democracies have completely eliminated harassment of journalists.

Select the correct answer using the code given below: