UPSC had conducted Civil service and Forest service (combined) preliminary exam aka CSAT-2014, on 24th August 2014. Here are the scanned copies of Booklet no.”C” for both papers:
In above PDF files, the text is searchable and copy-able, so you can cut-paste-search it anywhere for discussion, google-ing. For example, if you want to find out which passage was lifted from which newspaper/googlebook?


- Detailed Analysis and Topicwise Answerkeys with explanations (for all sets), coming soon.
- You’re most welcome to provide your inputs, answers, observation, analysis and experience in the comments below.
- If you want to discuss then discuss MCQs, (and not cut-offs.) Everyone who had prepared sincerely, and did not risk too much negative marking, he/she has a fair chance of clearing prelims.
- Internet user sample size too short to make any predictions. So don’t lose blood pressure, if Mr.X, Y or Z says he ticked more MCQs than you.
Courtesy: An old friend Mahitosh Kumar Singh for providing the question papers.

Bongo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
q.42, C booklet
6 cards, upside 1′s. it is giving ans d (nt possible)
but it can be, let
1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1,
1st, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1
2nd 2, 1, 1,1,1,2 (change 2,3,4,6th)
3rd 2,2,2,2,2,2 (change 2,3,4,5th)
ans = 3 (a)
m i rgt ????
testfund anskey giving aption D :(
yes the answer is A obviously…why do you even doubt it…you just solved it…even i got A
thanks
thanks buddy. i hv also marked a .
yes the right option is A
absolutely r8t buddy..
haan,… u r right…..
Yes, not possible
Friends I wud b getting 136 in paper 1 (shankar ias key) and 133 in paper 2 (testfunda key).is there any chance . Kindly tell
full chance h
q.42, C booklet
6 cards, upside 1′s. it is giving ans d (nt possible)
but it can be, let
1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1,
1st, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1
2nd 2, 1, 1,1,1,2 (change 2,3,4,6th)
3rd 2,2,2,2,2,2 (change 2,3,4,5th)
ans = 3 (a)
testfund anskey giving aption D :(
m i rgt ????
Sorry bro but ur 2nd step is wrong.
111111
1st step 222211
2nd step 221122
3rd 112222
And so on. u’ll always have 11 left:) :(
Na Bhai. Tera nhi hoga.. Appear for 2015..
Bhai, 136 and 133, tumhare charan kahaan hai…phid diya bhai
no decision making …big surprise …surely UPSC baddest THUG of asia pacific..!!!
Mrunal… provide the answer keys of CSAT as well. If I am not wrong last year you did not give the answer keys of Paper 2. I don’t trust any answer keys other than yours.
Sir, aapka weapon Economic survey kuch kaam nahi aaya…!!!
barbad ho gaye sir.
Kaam toh tumhari medieval history bhi nahi aayi…….
Gyan leta chal balak….. Dosh naa do kisi ko….. Agar khud padhna hota.. Toh shyad padhta tak nahi the eco survey
bhai dosh nahi de raha hun kisi ko. I also appreciate mrunal work on eco survey. They will be immensely useful for mains & indirectly for prelims also.
guar aur coalbed methane wala question nahin aya kya???
aur baaki jo padha hua tha usme se kya aya??
bilkul sahi kaha……
Non planned expenditure … Sirjee ke vdo lecture mein padha tha. Kaam aaya. Gaur gum. Baaki is baar ek jagah ke knowledge se question solve karna muskil tha…u need to be open eyed to your surrounding. Jaise planting trees wala….hindu mein padha tha. Coincident hai ki main bhi gond hoon….ek question ghar kaa as gaya :p
Want to sell my books!
(Surinder singh, spectrum,
Bipan Chandra, as no use for upsc coz its ecology exam!!.) Even faithful laxmikant was also out of flavour!
Too generalistic paper…GK oriented! Culture!
And paper2 was too easy n Decision making died…some csat questions repeated from 2012 n 13 paperss…
I m getting 197 is there any chance acc to CL key
Congrates u selected for KBC
No chance richa
leave prep.
Aptitude Q-49 is taken from CAT-2006 Paper. Solution is Arithmetic Series.
Sir, this countdown is not helping sir
Any idea about cut off Guys?
can we file a case against upsc for misleading us..giving false information..they told 1 st paper was of gs..but they gave us environment paper…:(
;-) ;-) ;-) lolz…
Phat kay char ho chuki hai Mrunal Sir
Kyun.nahi.aaya?? shale gas k ques r verbatim from mrunal
Other ques of paper where discussed in diff section
I respect mrunal
If we r nt clearing,its our fault
it is back breaking for mrunal too.from last few months he is more concentrating on number and ranking.
I agreee…… last day, I just devoted in mugging uo the stupid stats n ranking, wish could have revised more of culture!!!
mrunal is not coming to your house and requesting you to follow his work..you are doing it by your own free will..what you don’t realise is that his articles can be made used for mains too..and those who have done eco survey properly can spend more time for other topics in the mains… and the exam you are preparing for my friend is the toughest exam of the country, unlike school and collage exams which are predictable this one is bound to be unpredictable…hope mrunal will keep contributing in success of many a candidate who follow his work
Who asked you to mug-up “stupid statistics”? No one can help you If you can’t even read the disclaimers.
buddy he never told rankings will be asked … if he knew that culture wud have been asked so much then he wudnt be here helpin us all .. appreciate the efforts and stop criticising …i am gettin just 204 total so i wont qualify for sure but how can mrunal have any contribution to anyones low score ???? … lack of all round preparation and not being prepared for the unexpected have led to the downfall of many like you and me so kindly do some self evaluation as well
guys, mrunal is doing for us only. hats off to him….thing is that UPSC is always in mood of backbreaking, so if all round preparation is lacking (for Paper1) and speed is not there (for paper 2), then it can cost ‘any’ time….what I realize is extensive study and giving lots of mock papers in real classroom environment is key
Guys getting around 225 for GN category,mains chance??
No chance
everyone will be surprised thistime for sure
cuttoff will be around 250
1.5 lakh more candidates this time that too veterans (who get chance due to increase in age limit)
Mrunal bhai….. & other….
Yeh paper kya tha…. Does anyone need to burn midnight oil for this paper ?
what is the expected cut off guys….will it be like 2011 i.e 198?
Upar he rahega…..
I think it will be around 200…
128+150 by cl solution. Didnt go much into details of the solution. Hope its safe score n more this time no looking back frm interview provided i score well in mains this time.
Definitely Bravo! Good lucks
My score coming around 230 :( not sure
Ho jayega madam aapka bhi…. Satya-vachan hain humare
God bless you for your Satya vachan…..
230 is safe, this wasn’t an ice cream paper…neither 1 nor 2. Guar was to b asked last year , asking it this time was a torture. Upsc should not make ertwhile current as conventional as then there will no end of syllabus . I dunno wat made me turn my last year currents notes a night before so i knew it was shale gas , it was just my luck.
related to guar mrunal had clearly mentioned about shale and guar just before exam day… any way goos score and best of luck for mains
ohk, may b, never been thru any article of mrunal, though i heard its good but m much preoccupied. srry if this guar thing was not that torturous as i assumed it to be
“….asking about Guar in 2014..is a torture”….WOW that’s the statement of the year. I say it’s violation of human rights.
“I say it’s violation of human rights”
ramji constitutional country rahega ki nahi ab ye desh .. Pre k answers bhi to correct karne pad jayenge ab to , HELL MAN!! bura hua
Hi Neha, can you please provide me the CL site jahan se aapne Paper 2 ke answers check kiye…? TIA
Its career launcher, just google it. They will ask you to register, I had to as I wanted to check it at my earliest. Now many people hav shared the solution on Google drive or Dropbox, u may get it frm there too.
Oops I missed, it’s in today’s hindu page 3 too. Best wishes.. liked the courtesy “aapne”
Mine is coming….121 Nd 136
next year ki tayari karo usmen bhi ase hi phodna ………all the best and gud luck from me
how did you prepare for prelims…an aspirant for 2015
UPSC CSE 2014 1st attempt getting only 30+ 100=130 prepairing for 2015
Rashmi..give ur mail I’d..
s,saransh46@gmail.com
its rashsahay4@gmail.com
Can you mail me your study plan Rohit? My email- “narasimhadontineni@gmail.com”
CONGRATS ON UR EFFORT :) CAN U PLEASE SEND UR STUDY PLAN TO ME ALSO..
IT LL BE OF MUCH HELP for MY NEXT ATTEMPT.. MAIL ID is parthiban.kalimuthu@yahoo.com
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE :) :)
Will send as soon as possible
hey Rohit.. can u send me ur study plan too..
my id is : ankitpandey.01@gmail.com
hi Rohit,
Could you plz send your strategy to my mail id also? My id is write2yash.varma@gmail.com
Did u qulify for interview last year?
Mere to CL ke solution key se paper-1 me 94.67 aur paper 2 me 150 aa rahe hain
total 244.75 bana,
shayad cutoff thoda neechi rahe,
waise jaani kitni chahiye cut-off ?
how did you prepare for prelims…an aspirant for 2015
Provide me too…@—
Ankiitshrivastav@gmail.com
Provide me too
Neha ..did u appear for interview…last year…great marks..I think..ur marks in the GS paper is the highest one…
Please send me also ravikumar221294@gmail.com.Its should be really helpful
yup AP Singh board
@neha
Mam Please send it to me too
Email id- surajraghuvanshi26@gmail.com
s.saransh46@gmail.com… please forward it to me too
pls mail me ur study plan
yougeshrana@gmail.com
Hello Neha,
Please send me your plan at info@pixelarge.com
Many thanx :)
Hi please send it to me as well.. naveenpalvai64@gmail.com
need some guidance. Could please e mail me also
Pls..Kindly send it to me as well..!! Thank you.. :)
hey congratulations and get best of the results in future :) if you get some time then do enlighten me with your study plans and more importantly , tips and guidance as well. waiting…….
I have only 2or3 hour per day I think it is not inough to studay (for KAS) what is your suggession
What was ur mains/interview score ? i assuming that u didnt made to final list… if u made it …. then don’t bother
yes i didnt, 20 short ..
I was short by 12 marks….
hope we both make that leap this time
study plan to me also….onnuii@yahoo.co.in
Hi Neha, congrats on your prelims…. i dint have enough time in paper 2….. i would like to ask the study plan of yours ….. i feel it will help-full for the further studies email id : monster.srikanth@gmail.com
Hi Neha, i would also like to have ur study plan ,, could u please mail me this is my id sathya7tech@gmail.com,, thanks in advance:-)
what should be the study plan. send me at piyushpcs@yahoo.com
Hi neha.
Can you pls mail me also that study plan ? My id istopi7466@gmail.com
Thank you.
Plz send me also…
My email id- Yashcsias@gmail.com
Plz Neha, send me too
My email ID is – upsccsat2014@gmail.com
Neha pls mail me.. My id- harshu6392@gmail.com..
k guys sure wil send u that mail, i dunno hw much it will help u but this the way i prepared.
just gimme smtym as m busy changing PROFILE of my room frm pre to mains :P so once m done with it wil mail u all. by that time i suggest u finish economy frm sriram’s ias ( wrd by wrd ) and get use to the ncert books.
@Neha – Kindly forward me your study plan too.
please send ur study plan at cutenehasukla@gmail.com
Miss Neha,
Mail me as well….
naveen@shekhar.us
Hey Neha, please mail me a copy as well at:
anantmittal2@gmail.com
dear neha,please mail me too @ rahulsood38@yahoo.in
Thanx
Regards!
Hello Neha,
Plz mail me as well
abhi0128@gmail.com
thanks in advance
syed_ferozsfa@yahoo.com
pls send to me also neha
Hi Neha,
Plz send me also at neelu.nr11@gmail.com
n good luck..
Neha.Pls mail me the study plan @ bangar.rahul@gmail.com
Please send me as well Mam. My email id is ravi191119@gmail.com.
Thanks in advance :)
Pls mail me @ sjayavasanth@gmail.com.thanks in advance.
Dear Neha,
consider me too in the list.
thanks
at astha.iisc@gmail.com
please also send me the study plan. my email id is priya06m56@gmail.com
hi neha and priya pls mail me also study plan my email id is pradeep.bits0124@gmail.com
Send me too once u reset ur room :) rahulgaurav.du@gmail.com
pls neha send to me also. plsss
mail me the same …………..i need a path or strategy to start with very desperately………..asap plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz dreamdarewin1@gmail.com
Hey, mind forwarding it to me as well? Thanks!
Hey, mind forwarding it to me as well? To sanjay_tcf@outlook.com. Thanks!
@neha Mam Please send it to me too
email id sujeetsharawat.stayfixdm@gmail.com
mgupta218@gmail.com
with any notes for main i got 230 with out any coaching
plz neha provide me with ur study schedule n sources too thanks …
my id mishra.shipra007@gmail.com
pls mail me ur study plan
thnks
pls mail me ur study plan
thanks
its rashsahay4@gmail.com
Send me also the study plan. Thsnk u.
Hi Neha Mam
Please send me the study plan too…
pankajvatsa07@gmail.com
CONGRATS ON UR EFFORT :) CAN U PLEASE SEND UR STUDY PLAN TO ME ALSO..
IT LL BE OF MUCH HELP for MY NEXT ATTEMPT.. MAIL ID is parthiban.kalimuthu@yahoo.com
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE :) :)
Hi Neha Ji…I am an aspirant for 2015, this time i have attempted, but I am getting only 51+147 = 198. I don’t think there will be a chance this time..
Your marks are very good and exceptionally well. All the best for Mains Madam.
Can you please forward me your time time/plan to me also…it will be very greatful…
Dont waste your year
Hi Neha Ji….my mail id: srinu923@gmail.com, thanks again…
please mail me also…thanku..ashishsingh9292@yahoo.com
Ur optional subject
public admn
ji aapko pura ek din study plan bejne kaa kaam hein:) all the best:)
send it study plan plz
hey… congrats for ur wonderful performance..
can u send me ur study plan.. it will be of great help.. my id is : ankitpandey.01@gmail.com
me too..plz..anilshah3193@rediffmail.com
provide me too… sachin797456@gmail.com
Any idea about tentative date of result declaration…….
usually they declared around 60 days after prelims but given the little time between prelims & mains, I think it’ll be somewhere near mid-Oct.
.
@ MANGESH SHINDE … ARE YOU PREPARING FOR MAHARASHTRA PSC ALSO ???
kya mrunal 5 ghante hue nahi and you put mains mout ka mahina clock. :) Appreciate your effort, appreciate everything you did for us. thanks a lot.
Just for time pass :)
Articles from News paper/book/pdf in CSAT
1. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/creating-wealth-without-justice/article756923.ece
2. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/guest-writer/from-disinvestment-to-privatisation/articleshow/5526178.cms
3. http://dspace.wbpublibnet.gov.in:8080/jspui/bitstream/10689/11625/4/Chapter2_160-200p.pdf
4. http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Layout/Includes/ETNEW/ArtWin.asp?From=Archive&Skin=ETNEW&BaseHref=ETM/2009/06/05&ViewMode=HTML&EntityId=Ar02701&AppName=1
5. http://indiabudget.nic.in/es2009-10/chapt2010/chapter02.pdf
6. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/multimedia/archive/00952/EconomicSurvey_2012_952357a.pdf
7. http://dst.gov.in/scientific-programme/NMSHE_June_2010.pdf
Thanks a lot Mrunal……..your articles on environment helped a lot! Plus economic survey was justt Superb
Iused to hate Economics, but now M LUVIN IT :)
KUDOS
Same here…economics used to give me nightmare…but not anymore
mam i still am not confident in economics, aiming for 2015 .. any tips how to exactly get off with economics phobia and get started again.
and do i have to maintain short notes for economics ncerts..
thankyou.pls do reply.
Complete Mrunal Economics… more than enough ..
Thanks.
Sir for question 72 in set A..most of the non official key is mentioning as B but if cytoplasmic sterility is done how can it lead transgenic crops…..even if genitic material of plastids are used it don’t come up to transgenic….
It can only be if combination of genes is done
Sir pls clarify
Dear, Transgenes are not possible in male sterility and gene silencing. For these question none will be answer. As i am working in this aspects. Male sterility is useful development of hybrid seeds becoz of non-functional pollen grains so functional pollen grains of particular crop will be used to develop hybrids. In case of gene silencing possible but option is not there (ans 3 only) but not commercially used. these technique useful to silence the expression of particular character (traits) eg tomato Flavrsavr Tomato. it is not transgenic technique. Take example any particular trait controlled by particular protein they will use this technique to suppress the expression of that protein here they will add transgenes. aonther option is given budding and grafting it is not at all correct. Ans is None.
yes i too think so and here may be people confused with genetic engineering and transgenetic engineering….for later keeping in mind t also think none is the answer
AS A PhD FELLOW IN BIOTECH I CAN SAY IT WAS A TWISTED QUE WITH NONE AS A ANSWER
http://www.birac.nic.in/cfp_view.php?id=19
See INTRODUCTION->priority areas for agriculture-> point 7 clearly says gene silencing and cytoplasmic male starilty use in transgenic crops.
Dear, u have misunderstood question is to develop trangenic crops not raising of transgenic crops between difference is there sorry both are wrong becoz i am working these aspects
Nice point raised. Appreciated.
Yes samething i also saying option 3 only but this answer is not there so it is none
94 and 130……..upsc taken revenge.
56 + 138 = 194….Gen…Please advise on my chances of clearing prelims 2014 :
a. zero percent
b. 0-10%
c. 10-20%
d. above 20%
its OPTION (E) 100PERCENT
Those who are getting 220+ safe bet and 240 + for forest . . . i was trying to plug in got severe shock, so unless i use FRLS (Fill Ruptured Lacunae for all Subjects ie Flame Retardant Low Smoke) cable for supply, i wont catch up the the proper rating required. This is all destiny So much of study and all in vain if u stayed as to be Level 3 player in polity and economy and Level 0/1 asked and Level 0/1 player in environment and geography Level 2/3 asked. Those moment is still crushing my head. Literally i was sweeping buttoned up sweat on filthy government school’s holed up benches, from my forehead after Paper II was over and felt like some one sneaked inside my mind having stolen Agni IV with nuclear war head. Literally no Strait walk but One thing is for sure News Papers must be galloped with all ancillary (Map, history, and Revision (for which i was having like no time (look like looser talk :P ) as office timing 9.30 to 6 )) products. Finished the day with family and little son scratching my pant’s papa jhula jhulana hai. han beta app bhi Jhulo . . . . Story never ends because there are only 200 hundred seats for staggering >50,000 serious candidates. listen Gullal’s mast song Yarrra oooo maulla . . . . :) Sing it it will relieve and those engrezi murga’s can scream Jesus of suburbia. tc i love all my not so failed Indians because we are more than billion to get from so little available, share love share hatred . . best remedy for all sort ! jai Hind
I think upsc wale ab mrunal bhai ko bhi follow karte hai…ranking and stat ka queation hi nahi aaya…
Koi bhi strategy kaam na aayi, ab kisi bhi topper ki strategy nahi follow karni hai, tauba tauba. DP jate jate shock de gaya. Mooaa kahi beth kar has raha hoga. Paper 2 me jo kheraat ke marks milte the decision lene me wo bhi lut gaye.
bro sabki apni strgy hoti hai….jo success ho gya vo hero h…study apne acrding kro..kisi or k acrding nhi..best of luck
Please clarify following questions..,
Questions. Predicted answer.
1. No-Confidence motion is not mentioned in Constitution of India and Can be introduced only in Lok sabha. I think both a and b
2. Bombay Natural History Society. I think 2 and 3.
3. Continental Drift and Glacial cycles. I think both a and b.
4. Bat, Bear and Rodent hibernation phenomenon. I think None.
5. Planning in India. I think all.
6. A constitutional Government. I think Neither
7. Sales tax. I think d.
8. Statutory Reserve Requirement. I think b.
‘
Please provide valuable input.
Kallesha….no confidence motion can be done in state legislature too!
In “Planning” q, they mention only planning and that too in apostrophe.All the given options are directly,indirectly involved in planning.Had it been state legislature i would have ticked even that.Planning here was used in general sense n had no specificity.
Regarding hibernation-bat,bear,rodent= bear- i vaguely remember that some polar bears go in hibernation and appear with the advent of warm period to prey. Bat, I think they do.An old video on discovery had some stuff! not sure.
No confidence= Ministers are responsible only to lok sabha.If it is introduced in RS it will be sheer entertainment!
Continental drift and glacial cycles=Glacial Cycles-no doubt. Continental drift- ques is about Evolution of organism-evolution of indian tribes, african n Australian aborigines-+ other flora n fauna-as these land masses moved in diff climatic zones.
Constitutional gov- I think both-ours is one.It explicitly mentions both innumerable times.Other constitutional gov in world-i cant find one without the two options.
Sales tax- I also think D, just bcoz sales tax. Didnt give a 2nd thought.
Statutory res= Option 1 n 2 is correct. 4 is correct as CRR wants banks to.But 3 spread rayta! This forced me to mark B. CL says option D is right.
Ibadat Khana= Few sites mention D as correct. I marked c. NCERT Cl XII part II-Pg 251 ,2nd para. First 4 lines seems to be proving D right but further it says that Akbar religious views matured as he queried views of SCHOLARS of diff religious…..Also the word nobles in option d ruins option d.
yes there is a difference between ‘nobles’ and ‘scholars’ and room also does the part
Buddy …your explanation of answer options is good. How much you getting?…
all three animals will undergo hybernation.
no …4 me all hai,, bat bear and rodent ,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibernation
ST (Central Sales Tax) is governed by Central Sales Tax Act, 1956. This tax is governed by a single central act, though the chargeability is state specific.so d can’t be the ans