2026 CSAT, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2026 · CSAT

Question 47: Reading Comprehension

Passage · as printed by UPSC
Passage beginning “The key source of the battle…”Passage beginning “The key source of the battle…”

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. 1.Thermal power stations in Delhi were required to summarily shut down.
  2. 2.CNG supplies had to be assured once diesel vehicles were prohibited from plying.
  3. 3.The Supreme Court banned the use of coal across the National Capital Region.

Select the answer using the code given below.

a1 and 2
b3 only
c2 only
d2 and 3

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).

Only statement 2 is correct: once diesel buses were withdrawn, a dependable CNG supply had to be arranged. Statement 1 overstates: the plants were expected to either upgrade or close, not close outright, and follow-up was weak. Statement 3 confuses the actors: the court prohibited pet coke, while the coal ban came from the Delhi Government and was later widened to the whole NCR.

  • 1. Plants were to upgrade or close, not shut down at once.
  • 2. Withdrawing diesel buses required a dependable CNG supply.
  • 3. The court barred pet coke; the coal ban came from the Delhi Government.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) goes: it includes 1.

    What you needed to know: Plants were to upgrade or close, not shut down at once.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 3 is not correct, (b) and (d) go: each of them includes 3.

    What you needed to know: The court barred pet coke; the coal ban came from the Delhi Government.

Only (c) is left. You didn’t need statement 2.

This follows UPSC’s provisional key; the final key could change it.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Wrong: 1 turns an upgrade-or-close choice into an outright shutdown.
  • (b) Wrong: 3 credits the court with the coal ban, which the Delhi Government imposed.
  • (c) Right: only 2 is correct.
  • (d) Wrong: 3 is false.

Only the provisional key (27 May 2026) was found; the final key replaces it when found.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.