UPSC Insta–DART (Daily Aptitude and Reasoning Test) 24 Feb 2026

In recent decades, several countries have reported impressive and sustained increases in their national income. Yet, in many such cases, these gains have been accompanied by modest improvements in school completion rates, uneven access to healthcare, and persistent underemployment. Much of the expansion has been driven by a narrow set of capital-intensive industries that contribute substantially to output but absorb relatively little labour. At the same time, rising regional imbalances and widening income differentials have become more visible in official statistics. Interestingly, despite higher aggregate growth, consumption demand in large sections of the population has remained subdued.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the corollary to the above passage?

With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

1. The composition and pattern of growth matter for its social outcomes.
2. Employment generation is an important channel through which growth affects living standards.
3. Aggregate income statistics alone are sufficient to judge economic progress.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

In many spheres today, decisions are expected to be made quickly and revised just as rapidly. Digital platforms reward immediacy, and institutions increasingly measure efficiency by the time taken to respond rather than by the durability of outcomes. At the same time, a growing number of public policies, corporate strategies, and technological deployments are being reconsidered or reversed within short spans, often after unforeseen consequences come to light. Review committees, regulatory corrections, and judicial interventions have become routine features of governance and administration. Curiously, despite faster processes and quicker turnarounds, uncertainty in long-term outcomes appears to have increased rather than diminished.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the corollary to the above passage?

With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

1. The quality of decisions cannot be judged only by how quickly they are made.
2. Frequent policy reversals indicate possible shortcomings in initial decision-making.
3. Slower processes always produce better and more reliable outcomes.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

Two pipes fill a cistern in 2 hours and 6 hours respectively, while a third pipe drains it in 3 hours. All three are opened together when the cistern is full. How long to make it completely full?