Which of the following conclusions are valid? 1. Sport is more than just games; it is a way of life. 2. Sport can help mitigate the problems of seclusion among the young. 3. Earning laurels in sport can help one secure a job on the basis of an assigned quota. 4. Standard corporate sector skills cannot be learnt through sport. Select the answer using the code given below.
- (a) 1 and 3 only
- (b) 2 and 4 only
- (c) 1, 2 and 4
- (d) 1, 2 and 3 ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• Statement 1 is valid because the passage explicitly states that sport is 'not just about winning medals' and should be seen as 'a way of life'.
• Statement 2 is valid because the passage notes that children are 'inactive and rarely leave the house' (seclusion) and that sport can 'help tackle these problems'.
• Statement 3 is valid because the passage mentions 'getting jobs through a sports quota' as a recognized aspect of sport, implying that success in sport can lead to such employment.
• Statement 4 is invalid because the passage lists 'time management, fitness, teamwork, coordination' as skills learned from sport, which are standard corporate sector skills.
• Therefore, statements 1, 2, and 3 are valid, while statement 4 is incorrect, making option (d) the correct answer.
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 and 3 only
- Option (a) is incorrect because it excludes statement 2, which is valid as the passage links sport to tackling the issue of children rarely leaving the house.
- (b) 2 and 4 only
- Option (b) is incorrect because it includes statement 4, which is invalid as the passage lists corporate skills like teamwork and time management as learnable through sport, and excludes statement 1.
- (c) 1, 2 and 4
- Option (c) is incorrect because it includes statement 4, which is invalid as the passage explicitly states that sport teaches skills like teamwork and time management.
Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026, held on 24 May 2026. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.