A shopkeeper employs a delivery boy and gives him a motorcycle for home delivery. For every delivery, the boy is given ₹ 5. At the end of the day, he also gets ₹ 2 for every kilometre of the distance covered in the day. The boy wants to earn more than ₹ 500 a day, but does not want to travel more than 100 km. Which of the following numbers of deliveries would definitely meet his target?
- (a) 80
- (b) 85
- (c) 90
- (d) The question cannot be answered due to insufficient data ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• Daily earnings = 5 × deliveries + 2 × kilometres, and he rides at most 100 km. The distance he actually covers is not given.
• If the distance is small, 80 deliveries give about ₹400 and 90 give about ₹450, both below ₹500. They exceed ₹500 only if he rides more than 50 km or 25 km respectively.
• None of the numbers offered is certain to meet the target without knowing the distance.
• So the question cannot be answered due to insufficient data: (d).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 80
- 80 deliveries earn ₹400 plus distance pay; they exceed ₹500 only if he rides more than 50 km.
- (b) 85
- 85 deliveries earn ₹425 plus distance pay; they exceed ₹500 only if he rides more than 37·5 km.
- (c) 90
- 90 deliveries earn ₹450 plus distance pay; they exceed ₹500 only if he rides more than 25 km.
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.