UPSC Insta–DART (Daily Aptitude and Reasoning Test) 20 Apr 2026

Many public institutions have begun using artificial intelligence systems to assist in evaluating applications for welfare schemes, educational scholarships, and employment benefits. These systems process large volumes of data to identify eligibility, detect inconsistencies, and reduce administrative delays. Advocates argue that algorithmic screening improves transparency and minimizes discretionary bias in decision-making.

At the same time, concerns have been raised regarding the limitations of such systems. Automated assessments often depend on historical data, which may reflect earlier social inequalities or incomplete records. Applicants with unconventional work histories, informal employment, or irregular documentation may face difficulties in being accurately assessed. Moreover, limited opportunities for human review can restrict individuals’ ability to clarify errors or contextual factors affecting their eligibility.

If digital evaluation mechanisms are expanded without adequate institutional safeguards, they may unintentionally reinforce exclusion rather than promote inclusive governance.

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

1. The use of algorithmic tools can influence access to public welfare schemes.
2. Historical data used in digital systems is always neutral and reliable.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

Which of the following can be most logically inferred from the passage?

1. Expanding digital evaluation systems without oversight may weaken inclusive governance.
2. Administrative efficiency alone is insufficient to ensure fairness in welfare delivery.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Large infrastructure projects such as highways, dams, and industrial corridors are often presented as essential drivers of economic growth and regional connectivity. By improving transportation networks and energy supply, these projects can stimulate investment, generate employment, and facilitate market integration. Governments therefore frequently prioritize such initiatives in their development strategies.

At the same time, concerns have been raised about their social and environmental implications. Land acquisition for large projects may displace local communities and disrupt traditional livelihoods. Ecological systems, including forests, wetlands, and river basins, may be altered in ways that are difficult to reverse. Moreover, compensation and rehabilitation measures are not always implemented effectively, leading to prolonged social grievances.

When economic objectives are pursued without adequate attention to social and environmental safeguards, infrastructure-led growth may produce uneven and contested outcomes.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical and rational message conveyed by the author of the passage?

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

1. Effective rehabilitation and compensation influence public acceptance of development projects.
2. Environmental changes caused by infrastructure projects are always short-term and reversible.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

Identify the missing word in the following sequence:

PERPENDICULAR, ERPENDICULA, RPENDICUL,?