Passage

Directions for the following 6 (six) items : Read the information given below and answer the six items that follow. A, B, C and D are students. They are studying in four different cities, viz., P, Q, R and S (not necessarily in that order). They are studying in Science college, Arts college, Commerce college and Engineering college (not necessarily in that order), which are situated in four different States, viz., Gujarat, Rajasthan, Assam and Kerala (not necessarily in that order). Further, it is given that— (i) D is studying in Assam (ii) Arts college is located in city S which is in Rajasthan (iii) A is studying in Commerce college (iv) B is studying in city Q (v) Science college is located in Kerala

Which one of the following statements is correct?

(a) Engineering college is located in Assam. ✓ UPSC's answer
(b) City Q is situated in Assam.
(c) C is studying in Kerala.
(d) B is studying in Gujarat.

Why the answer is (a)

• From (ii), Arts college is in city S, which is in Rajasthan.

• From (v), Science college is in Kerala.

• From (i), D is studying in Assam. Since Arts is in Rajasthan and Science is in Kerala, D cannot be in Arts or Science colleges.

• From (iii), A is in Commerce college. A cannot be in Assam because D is in Assam, and each student is in a different city/state.

• The remaining colleges are Engineering and Commerce. The remaining states are Assam and Gujarat (since Rajasthan has Arts and Kerala has Science).

• D is in Assam. D cannot be in Commerce (A is in Commerce). Therefore, D must be in Engineering college.

• Thus, Engineering college is located in Assam.

Why the other options are wrong

(b) City Q is situated in Assam.: City Q is where B is studying, but B is not in Assam because D is in Assam and each student is in a different city.
(c) C is studying in Kerala.: C is studying in Gujarat, not Kerala, because Kerala hosts the Science college and C is not in Science (A is Commerce, D is Engineering, B is Arts).
(d) B is studying in Gujarat.: B is studying in Arts college, which is located in Rajasthan, not Gujarat.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2018, held on 3 June 2018. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.