UPSC Prelims 2022 · CSAT
Question 64: Basic Numeracy
Two candidates X and Y contested an election. 80% of voters cast their vote and there were no invalid votes. There was no NOTA (None of the above) option. X got 56% of the votes cast and won by 1440 votes. What is the total number of voters in the voters list?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).
X got 56% and Y 44% of the votes cast, so the margin is 12% of the votes cast = 1440. Votes cast = 1440 ÷ 0.12 = 12000. These are 80% of the voters on the list, so the list has 12000 ÷ 0.8 = 15000 voters. Check: 80% of 15000 is 12000; X gets 6720 and Y gets 5280, a margin of 1440.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Correct: 12000 votes cast is 80% of 15000.
- (b) 12000 is the number of votes cast, not the voters on the list.
- (c) 9600 is 80% of 12000, which applies the percentage in the wrong direction.
- (d) 5000 would give a margin far below 1440.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2022, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.