Profit and Loss PYQs for UPSC (2011-2024) | Solved Questions & PDF Download

Master Profit and Loss concepts for UPSC with solved Previous Year Questions (PYQs) from 2011 to 2024. This comprehensive guide provides detailed solutions, shortcut formulas, and a free downloadable PDF to help you crack all types of profit and loss problems in UPSC CSAT.

Why Profit and Loss Matters in UPSC CSAT?

Profit and Loss questions are consistently asked in UPSC CSAT (Paper II) to test:

· Your ability to calculate percentages and ratios

· Understanding of business mathematics

· Skills in solving real-world financial problems

This page covers all profit and loss PYQs with smart calculation techniques.

Year-Wise Profit and Loss PYQs (2011-2024)

Q1. If Sohan, while selling two goats at the same price, makes a profit of 10% on one goat and suffers a loss of 10% on the other [CSAT 2014]

(a) He makes no profit and no loss.

(b) He makes a profit of 1%.

(d) He suffers a loss of 2%.

Given that,

Sohan, while selling two goats at the same price, makes a profit of 10% on one goat and suffers a loss of 10% on the other

Now,

Selling price of goats be 100

Total price = 200

Cost price of first goat

Selling price = 110/100 X cost price

CP x (110/100) = 100

CP = 1000/11

Cost price of second goat

CP = 1000/9

Total cost price = 1000/11 + 1000/9 = 20000/99

Thus CP > SP

So, % of loss = [(20000/99) - 200]/ (20000/99) = 1% loss

Hence option (c) is correct

Q2. The monthly incomes of Peter and Paul are in the ratio of 4: 3. Their expenses are in the ratio of 3: 2. If each saves Rs. 6000 at end of the month, their monthly incomes respectively are (in Rs.) [CSAT 2015]

(a) 24000 and 18000

(b) 28000 and 21000

(d) 34000 and 26000

Solution:

Given that,

The monthly incomes of Peter and Paul are in the ratio of 4: 3.

Their expenses are in the ratio of 3: 2.

Each save Rs. 6000 at end of the month

Now,

Let income be I and expenses be E

Income = 4I : 3I

Expenses = 3E : 2E

4I - 3E = 6000.....(i)

3I - 2E = 6000.....(ii)

Thus by solving the equation (i) and (ii)

I = E = 6000

Therefore, income of peter = 4 x 6000 = 24000

Income of Paul = 3 x 6000 = 18000

Hence option (a) is correct

Q3. A person allows a 10% discount for cash payment from the marked price of a toy and still he makes a 10% gain. What is the cost price of the toy which is marked Rs. 770? [CSAT 2016]

(a) Rs. 610

(b) Rs. 620

(d) Rs. 640

Solution:

Given that,

A person allows a 10% discount for cash payment from the marked price of a toy and still he makes a 10% gain.

Marked price of toy = Rs.770

Now,

Let cost price be 100m

Marked price = 100 + 10% = 110m

Cost price = 100 - 10% = 90m

Ratio of MP : CP = 110m : 90m = 11m : 9m

11m = 770 ; m = 70

Cost price = 70 x 9 = Rs.630

Hence option (c) is correct

Q4. Gopal bought a cell phone and sold it to Ram at 10% profit. Then Ram wanted to sell it back to Gopal at 10% loss. What will be Gopal's position if he agreed? [CSAT 2017]

(a) Neither loss nor gain

(b) Loss 1%

(d) Gain 0.5%

Solution:

Given that,

Gopal bought a cell phone and sold it to Ram at 10% profit.

Then Ram wanted to sell it back to Gopal at 10% loss.

Now,

Let the CP be 100a

SP for Gopal = (110/100) x 100a = 110a

SP for Ram = (90/100) x 110a = 99a

Profit % = [(100a - 99a)/100a] x 100 = 1%

Hence option (c) is correct

Q5. A shopkeeper sells an article at Rs. 40 and gets X% profit. However, when he sells it at Rs. 20, he faces same percentage of loss. What is the original cost of the article? [CSAT 2018]

(a) Rs. 10

(b) Rs. 20

(d) Rs. 40

Solution:

Given that,

A shopkeeper sells an article at Rs. 40 and gets X% profit.

He sells it at Rs. 20, he faces same percentage of loss.

Now,

Let CP be P

[P x (100 + X)]/100 = 40

100P + XP = 4000.....(i)

[P x (100 - X)]/100 = 20

100P - XP = 2000.....(ii)

P = 30

Thus CP = Rs.30

Hence option (c) is correct

Q6. A person bought a car and sold it for Rs. 3,00,000. If he incurred a loss of 20%, then how much did he spend to buy the car? [CSAT 2020]

(a) Rs. 3,60,000

(b) Rs. 3,65,000

(d) Rs. 3,75,000

Solution:

Given that,

A person bought a car and sold it for Rs. 3,00,000.

He incurred a loss of 20%

Now,

SP = Rs. 3,00,000

Loss % = 20%

CP = SP X 100/ (100-loss)

CP = (300000 x 100)/80 = Rs. 375000

Hence option (d) is correct

Q7. What percent of water must be mixed with honey so as to gain 20% by selling the mixture at the cost price of honey? [CSAT 2024]

(a) 20%

(b) 10%

(d) 4%

Solution:

Given that,

Gain = 20%

Now,

Let the honey be 100 ml and Cost = Rs.1/ml

Thus Cost price = Rs.100

For 20% gain the S.P must be Rs. 120

Difference = Rs. 120 - Rs. 100 = Rs. 20

Thus 20 ml of water must be added

Therefore,

% addition of water in honey = (20/100) x 100 = 20% addition

Hence option (a) is correct

Q8. A person buys three articles P, Q and R for Rs. 3,330. If P costs 25% more than R and Rcosts 20% more than Q, then what is the cost of P? [CSAT 2024]

(a) Rs. 1,000

(b) Rs. 1,200

(d) Rs. 1,350

Solution:

Given that,

Total cost of articles P, Q and R = Rs. 3330

P cost = 25% of R + R = 125% of R

R cost = 120% of Q

Now,

Total cost = Rs. 3330

R = (120/100) x Q = 6Q/5......(i)

P = (125/100) x R = 5R/4……..(ii)

P = (5 x 6Q)/(4 x 5) = 3Q/2 (Putting the value of R from equation (i)).....(ii)

P + Q + R = 3330

(3Q/2) + (6Q/5) + Q = 3330

37Q/10 = 3330

Q = Rs. 900

R = Rs. 1080

P + 900 + 1080 = 3330

P = 3330 - 1980 = Rs. 1350

Hence option (d) is correct

ANSWER KEY

1. C
2. A
3. C
4. C
5. C
6. D
7. A
8. D

Download Profit and Loss PYQs PDF

✔️ Download the complete set of Profit and Loss PYQs (2011-2024) with solutions in PDF format.
✔️ Click Here to Download PDF

FAQs on Profit and Loss for UPSC

1. How many profit and loss questions appear in CSAT?

Typically 2-3 questions annually in CSAT Paper II.

2. What are the most common profit and loss problems?

· Successive profit/loss (30%)

· Discount and marked price (25%)

· False weight problems (20%)

· Partnership profit sharing (15%)

· Percentage change problems (10%)

3. Any quick calculation tips?

✔️ For successive changes, use net percentage formula
✔️ For false weights, use direct proportion method
✔️ Always assume CP=100 for percentage problems
✔️ Remember selling price is key in all calculations

Conclusion

Mastering Profit and Loss PYQs can secure you easy marks in CSAT. This page provides:
✅ All PYQs from 2011-2024
✅ PDF with 50+ solved problems
✅ Time-saving calculation methods

For more UPSC resources, visit iassetu.com.

Internal Links:

· UPSC CSAT Quantitative Aptitude Guide

· Percentage Calculation Shortcuts

· Data Interpretation PYQs