2022 Prelims Paper 2 UPSC Question Paper

Directions for the following 4 (four) items:
Read the following passage and answer the items that follow. Your answers to these items should be based on the passage only.

Passage-1
For two or three generations past, ever increasing numbers of individuals have been living as workers merely, not as human beings. An excessive amount of labour is rule today in every circle of society, with the result that man's spiritual element cannot thrive. He finds it very difficult to spend his little leisure in serious activities. He does not want to think; or he cannot even if he wants to. He seeks not self-improvement, but entertainment which would enable him to be mentally idle and to forget his usual activities. Therefore, the so-called culture of our age is dependent more on cinema than on theatre, more on newspapers, magazines and crime stories than on serious literature.

The passage is based on the idea that

Passage-2
The demographic dividend, which has begun in India and is expected to last another few decades, is a great window of opportunity. The demographic dividend is basically a swelling in the working age population, which conversely means that the relative ratio of very young and very old will, for a while, be on the decline. From the experience of Ireland and China, we know that this can be a source of energy and an engine of economic growth. The demographic dividend tends to raise a nation's savings rate since in any nation, it is the working age population that is the main saver. And since the savings rate is an important driver of growth, this should help elevate our growth rate. However, the benefits of demographic dividend depend on the quality of the working age population. And this implies bringing back the importance of education, acquisition of skills and human capital.

Which of the following would invariably happen in a country, when the demographic dividend has begun to operate?
1. The number of illiterate people will decrease.
2. The ratio of very old and very young will decrease for a while.
3. Population growth rate will quickly stabilize,
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

With reference to the passage, which of the following inferences can be drawn?
1. Demographic dividend is an essential condition for a country to rapidly increase its economic growth rate.
2. Promotion of higher education is an essential condition for a country. for its rapid economic growth.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Five friends P. Q, X, Y and Z purchased notebooks. The relevant information is given below:
1. Z purchased 8 notebooks more than X did.
2. P and Q together purchased 21 notebooks.
3. O purchased 5 notebooks less than P did.
4. X and Y together purchased
5. P purchased 5 notebooks more than X did.
If each notebook is priced ₹40, then what is the total cost of all the notebooks?

Six persons A, B, C, D, E and P are sitting equidistant from each other around a circular table (facing the centre of the table).
Consider the Question and two Statements given below :
Question: Who is sitting on the immediate left of A?
Statement-1: B is sitting opposite to C and D is sitting opposite to E.
Statement-2: F is sitting on the immediate left of B
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the Question and the Statements?

Consider the Question and two Statements given below:
Question : What is the age of Manisha?
Statement-1: Manisha is 24 years younger than her mother.
Statement-2: 5 years later, the ages of Manisha and her mother will be in the ratio 3:5
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the Question and the Statements?

Six lectures A, B, C, D, E and F, each of one hour duration, are scheduled between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Consider the Question and two Statements given below:
Question: Which lecture is in the third period?
Statement-1: Lecture F is preceded by A and followed by C
Statement-2: There is no lecture after lecture B
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the Question and the Statements?