Prelims CSAT (Paper II)Reading ComprehensionHigh-yield
Tone & Central Idea
स्वर और केंद्रीय विचार
Tone & Central Idea is part of the UPSC Prelims CSAT (Paper II) syllabus, under Reading Comprehension. It appeared in Prelims CSAT (Paper II) question papers in 4 of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 (2018, 2020, 2022, 2024). It is marked high-yield: a topic worth revising more than once.
What should you study in Tone & Central Idea?
- Author's tone — critical, appreciative, neutral, sarcastic
- Central idea vs supporting details
- Structure of argument in passage
- Multiple correct answer avoidance techniques
How often is Tone & Central Idea asked in UPSC Prelims?
Asked in 4 of 10 years, including 2 of the last 5. Highlighted years below are the ones it appeared in.
- 2016: not asked
- 2017: not asked
- 2018: asked
- 2019: not asked
- 2020: asked
- 2021: not asked
- 2022: asked
- 2023: not asked
- 2024: asked
- 2025: not asked
About the Prelims CSAT (Paper II) paper
CSAT is Prelims Paper II: 80 multiple-choice questions for 200 marks. It is qualifying — you need 33% to pass, and the marks do not count towards the cut-off. See all 24 Prelims CSAT (Paper II) topics.
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