UPSC had conducted Civil service and Forest service (combined) preliminary exam aka CSAT-2015, on 23th August 2014. Here are the scanned copies of Booklet no.”B” for both paper 1 (GS) and Paper 2 (Aptitude):
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: Mr. Brijesh D.Patel from SPIPA, Ahmedabad for providing the question papers.
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thank you sir.
sir plz cut off bata dijiye
420…Happy ? Now discuss MCQs if u want…..You’d be banned here already if I were to be a moderator
Shouldn’t the tax-gdp ratio answer be none of the above ?
You can not be sure of inequitable distribution if the ratio decreases
It may or may not
Any views?
i completely agree. would appreciate if Mrunal could shed some light.
Same thing here.
I guess both of us wrong! :/
This ratio is the total government tax collections divided by the country’s GDP. Some countries, like Sweden, have a high tax-to-GDP ratio (as high as 54%). Other countries, like India, have a low ratio. When tax revenues grow at a slower rate than the GDP of a country, the tax-to-GDP ratio drops. Taxes paid by individuals and corporations often account for the majority of tax receipts, especially in developed countries.
THEN WHAT IS THE FINAL CONCLUSION? BOTH ARE CORRECT??????
I agree totally..because Tax can be direct and indirect…it’s not mentioned separately there. And indirect tax is not progressive hence is not distributive in principle….so one can’t really be sure whether increased overall tax means increased distribution. But …i judged it to be risky and hence didn’t attempt the question but now i think i should have…
http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/tax-to-gdp-ratio-may-be-biggest-casualty-of-rising-prices/734856/
Thak you abhiii
The tax-GDP ratio is calculated on nominal size of the economy. So if the economy grows by around 9 per cent and inflation by 10 per cent, nominal GDP would be 19 per cent, making it difficult to raise the tax-GDP ratio. A low tax to GDP ratio indicates lower economic development and less equitable distribution of wealth.
http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/tax-to-gdp-ratio-may-be-biggest-casualty-of-rising-prices/734856/
now my question is if economic development is slow economic growth also slow,right? then both options in gdp/tax ratio question is true na?
Transfer of income by the government is done from high income groups to low income groups through taxation, so there will be less equitable distribution of national income. So i think the answer is only 2.
Consider that the tax is 10% and there are 10 people with Rs 100 income each. So tax collection = Rs 100.
Now consider that 9 have Rs 0 income while last 1 have Rs 1000 income. So Tax collection = Rs 100 again.
It doesn’t say about progressive or regressive taxation. So ambiguity is there. Therefore, incorrect.
As for the tax GDP ratio in a slowing economy, many may fall out of tax bracket as they will lose jobs. So, that’s correct.
A low tax to GDP ratio indicates lower economic development and less equitable distribution of wealth.
I think tax to gdp ratio does not talk about the distribution. As per NCERT class 12 economics, we cannot use GDP as a measure of welfare because it a country’s GDP only indicates the total value of goods and services produced, it is not concerned with who produces it. Therefore the total GDP of a country might be concentrated in the hands of a few people. So it does not indicate of any distribution of wealth.
Sir I am from sc category and this year I am getting 100 marks as per sriram ias coaching answer.
What’s my chance to clear and please tell me what would be the expected cutoff for sc category this year.
Anyone please help me out.
You won’t clear it.
don’t worry mate ..you will sail through safely…start preparing for mains. All the best …jyaada logon se mat poocho ..kisi ko kuch nahin maloom ..but 100 is totally safe. Ab jyada dimaag mat lagao cut off ke prediction main and ekdum ghus kar start kar do preparation
Im also from SC category, getting 110-116 according to various keys…yesterday i was completely disappointed with my performance…but today morning talk to few friends who has been in this area from last 3-4 years…100+ is very safe friend…without wasting time, start preparing for mains…will start from tomorrow after chalk out a plan…all the best
100 should be decent enough to sail you through prelims as you mentioned to be from SC category.
Bhai
2-3 din mast araam kar aur fir lag ja mains ke lie
Bhai 2-3 din mast araam kar aur fir lag ja mains ke lie
A big thanks. ur lecture has helped me a lot for economics.
I am inclined to agree on that.
any guess on cut off. i m getting 100/ general category
105- 110 may be the cut off mark for General Category..
Itna sannata kyu hai??
Koi equatorial counter current vaala aur gdp growth vaala question bhi discuss kar lo
Can anyone idea about upsc age reduction
Question in g c leong study that book
I think 100 may be sufficient score.
Observation & experience::
The easy questions were really easy.
Others were – difficult or confusing.
But paper was comparatively easy…
For me:
My first attempt at age 21.
Took risk of negative marking in some questions…
But after the 7 months of preparation, I was able to attempt just 39 questions…
Let’s see, what happens!
Better luck next time!
..
And mrunal Ji,
Thanks for economics.
I’m putting a csat quest… ;-)
“laxmikanth : polity”
“Mrunal: economics”
“Rajtanil: geography”
:) :)
As mentioned by Mrunal, I did the disastrous mistake of risking too much of negative marking. In my previous two attempts I got 127 and 129 in GS paper 1. This time too flowing with confidence I attempted 98 qs but (wohi hua jiska darr tha!) I m getting somewhere between 100 – 108 marks after researching all the questions from all sources (just in hope k shayad cute aur qs theek ho jayein :P). So absolutely no need to panic if you attempted less, accuracy and of course score is what really matters. From past three years i m observing, good candidates usually have scores in GS ranging from 100 to 130. UPSC pre is a consistent test, so we can expect cutoff to lie somewhere around 105 (which makes me land in pitiable boundary position). Anyways, lets wait for Mrunal’s analysis.
Hi I am getting 106 after checking from many sources, similar situation as yours. I guess many ppl are getting above 100. Lets still hope ofr the best !
mine too gettin only 106….
cud i clear.
my case is of classic safe strategy but guess what…now falling in 100-108 range…no chances of fluctuations etc. in my case….attempted only 65…wrote mains last year…now i don know how to start preparation with such low score when everybody else is claiming 120 plus…and if i don prepare, we know wat gonna happen…so many gray areas in mains…and only 115 days in mains…have to finish writing my doctoral thesis also…agar start karo to worst case scenario me 45 days waste honge and agar nahi ki to best case scenario me life waste ho jayegi….classical dilemma…those who are confident at 100, plz tell me how do they gather courage to start knowing fully well their fair chances of failing.
tax – gdp –> none of the above
congress socialist party –> none
IORARC –> none
Yr mrunal kinkich to respect kar lo bande ne saaf saaf likha hai “no cut off” discussion and you people are doing contrary
Bhai question discuss kar lo plz
Panchayti raj vaale ka isn’t the “FUNDAMENTAL ” objective of panchayti raj is decentralization and people’s participation only.
yup… Panchayati Raj decentralization and people’s participation only.
what about Parliamentary System of Governance?
There are broadly 2 types of government on the basis of relationship between Executive & Legislature-
1. Parliamentary ( Executive is part of legislature & responsible to the legislature). Eg- INDIA, UK
2. Presidential ( Executive is not a part of legislature & hence not responsible to it). Eg- USA
*though there is also a 3rd category- Semi Presidential Government ( not imp. for this question).
So answer is D ( COM responsible to LokSabha)
PS- Getting 87-95, ST category. Going to prepare for mains.
I also feel the same
I have also marked only these two as correct
political accountability was not “fundamental reason”
also, financial thing is not guaranteed as it is not necessary for the state to allow panchayats with the power to have access to financial resources directly. it is under voluntary provisions and not compulsory
Point is that what is the FUNDAMENTAL REASON for democratic decentralization? Ans: To ensure political accountability. It is now done through, bottom-up, demand-driven approach, which all comes from PRIs. Also, the structure of PRIs, and direct democracy, does ensure Political accountability.
There are broadly 2 types of government on the basis of relationship between Executive & Legislature-
1. Parliamentary ( Executive is part of legislature & responsible to the legislature). Eg- INDIA, UK
2. Presidential ( Executive is not a part of legislature & hence not responsible to it). Eg- USA
*though there is also a 3rd category- Semi Presidential Government ( not imp. for this question).
So answer is D ( COM responsible to LokSabha)
PS- Getting 87-98, ST category. Going to prepare for mains.
Same here.. since financial mobilization is not compulsory, it depends upon state..
but what about political accountability???
I have also marked the same. but somewhere I have accountable administration and not political accountability. let’s see
means i have read accountable admin in their objective
CSP one you are right
Tax-gdp i think it should be none of the above but none of the bogus coaching vaala say so
Iorc did not mark
I also think so
what is the chance –
minimum-105
maximum–115
general category…..
mains ki prepare kru ya na kru…..ki KUKA movement padhu
Sir plz post a guide to qualify ras 2013 reexam as per 2013 paper base plz sir plz ……
its totally different game as far as ras is concerned……join test series in jaipur…and stay focus on rajasthan gk…..!!
same here need some help. if u r in jaipur ? which material u r referring. it is great to have guidance for that.
I too completely agree..
Yes Nikhil. I do agree with you. Fundamental to yahi do samjh aate hain — Decentralized & People’ Participation.
Par kuch answer keys baki ko bhi add kar rahe hain…No idea !!!
Swinging somewhere b/w 104 to 120 as per Coaching’s Key kripa.
It also involves establishment of state finance commissions and distribution of funds to panchayat levels.. so financial mobilisation is included as well
Com is reaponsible to lok sabha
Direct election vagera to presidential system me bhi hai
@ravi there is a link of a google book doing rounds in forum ias where this panchayati raj vaala question has been asked verbatim as asked in today’s paper and answer is people’s participation and decentralisation only
Don’t know how much reliable that link is
aapka optional pub-ad hai?
Thanx a lot mrunal sir from the bottom of my heart….. It was almost impossible w/o ur lectures to learn economics and confidently solve them in upsc CSP exam……
Koti koti pranaam!!
Guys what about growth rate and GDP one
GDP has always increased in last decade as the growth rate has never been in negative
Isn’t it a simple math thing
I guess the answer should be 2 only
What do you guys think?
IMO the key word in that question is “steadily increased” the fact rate of growth has increased but not steadly, it increased steadly till 2009 when it peaked, and after the global downturn it increased but for every other year it was less than the previous year, so it was not a steady increase each year.
Therefore answer should be neither (d), but then we can only know later if that is correct or not
Agreed… but I ticked the wrong one i.e bot
2008-9 real gdp decreased
the ans should be ONLY 2. because in first statement says “the RATE OF GROWTH of gdp” has increased STEADILY in the last decade. but the rate has not increased throughout the decade like.. 4%, 5% , 6%,7% etc.. so the first statement is about the RATE of growth and not just growth. hence statement 1st is wrong. even sriram answer key says b-only only 2 correct.
exactly bhai
@hari
bhai cso jo gdp calculate karta hai vo constatnt price pe hi karta hai that is adjusted for inflation and that is real GDP and I have never seen a negative growth rate in independent India , so that means the total value of GDP has always increased and not , yes there are fluctuation in growth rates but not in GDP.
sorry means rate of real gdp growth rate 2008-9
i am not good in economics.. i will be grateful if u explain me how come growth rate fluctuated even if gdp has always increased..
this has nothing to do with economics per se. It is simple maths….suppose you are going to From place A to place B. If you start from A towards B, distance will always increase but speed may first increase and then decrease. The rate of growth of GDP is speed here and GDP is distance. Hope that clears it.
GDP has increased….no doubt about that….but does it increased steadily? in 2008-09 it was bit dropped then again rise. so there is the confusion. there remains the trick?
moreover, it mentioned in the question ‘at market price’ while prior to 2011, india used to adopt GDP at factor cost….so answer is confusing between option B or D.
Thanks a lot mrunal sir rajtanil mam..
Sir your question about Buddha have come..again dis yr
@om
Nai bro history hai
P.s i dont know why my replies are getting displayed as separate comment
Ok sir…aapke kitne ban rhe hain total?
mein bhi history lena chahta hu….aapne coaching li hai sir?
Bhai,Same happened with me..
But this is My first attempt…I am getting 100-108 range after solving 98.
Mrunal sir,is any chances of me?
Thank you so much mrunal for providing these questions…greAat job…we did know :P
Tax-gdp -> none of the above is correct. Now God knows how coaching honchos will interpret the ques.
I ve doubt regd the GDP of india at market price for last decade as Gdp was calculated at Factor cost and market price gdp data is updated from 2011 onwards. Does “market price” has a significance.