UPSC Prelims 2026 · CSAT Paper 2 · Set DMathematicsQ 50 / 80

UPSC Prelims 2026 CSAT Paper 2 — Question 50

Question

In a recruitment process, the selection of candidates is based on their performance in three components. The weightages of the components 1, 2 and 3 are 0.2, 0.3 and 0.5, respectively. Use the data given below and find the cutoff score if exactly three candidates are to be selected: Candidate 1: Score in component 1 = 5, component 2 = 4, component 3 = 6 Candidate 2: Score in component 1 = 4, component 2 = 6, component 3 = 5 Candidate 3: Score in component 1 = 3, component 2 = 2, component 3 = 8 Candidate 4: Score in component 1 = 9, component 2 = 4, component 3 = 3 Candidate 5: Score in component 1 = 8, component 2 = 8, component 3 = 2

(a)5.1
(b)5.2
(c)5.3
(d)5.4

UnlockIAS answer: (a)5.1

Solution

Weighted scores: C1 = 5.2, C2 = 5.1, C3 = 5.2, C4 = 4.5, C5 = 5.0. To select exactly the top three (C1, C2, C3 at 5.2, 5.1, 5.2), the cutoff must be 5.1.

UnlockIAS expert key, prepared 24 May 2026 and cross-verified by re-deriving the answer — this is our key, not the official UPSC provisional key (awaited).

Section

Mathematics

Topic Reference

Numeracy — Weighted average

Official UPSC key still awaited

UPSC has announced (PIB Release 2262441, 18 May 2026) that the provisional answer key for CSE Prelims 2026 will be released “soon after Exam”. Until then, use the CSAT score calculator for your qualifying-status estimate, and join the per-question discussion below.

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Official Notification

PIB Release 2262441

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