CSIR-CRRI JSA key terms

A form of reasoning where a conclusion is drawn from two given or assumed premises, each sharing a common term. Questions often ask which conclusion logically follows.

A statement in a logical argument that is assumed to be true and serves as a basis for drawing a conclusion. In syllogisms, there are usually two premises.

A diagram using overlapping circles to represent sets and their relationships. Useful for solving syllogism and set-based reasoning problems by visualizing inclusions and exclusions.

A type of reasoning problem that describes family relationships using words like father, sister, or uncle, and asks you to determine how two people are related.

A blood relation problem where relationships are represented by symbols or codes (e.g., A + B means A is father of B). You must decode the symbols to answer.

Problems involving movement in cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) and turns. You track positions to find final direction or distance from start.

A sequence of numbers, letters, or figures following a pattern. You identify the rule and find the missing or next term. Common patterns include arithmetic, geometric, and alternating.

A comparison between two pairs of items based on a shared relationship. For example, 'book is to reading as fork is to eating.' You must find the pair with the same relationship.

A reasoning task where you identify the odd item out from a group based on a common property shared by the others. Also called odd-one-out.

A puzzle where words or phrases are written in a code according to a rule, and you must either encode a new word or decode a given code using the same rule.

A puzzle where you place people around a table or in a row based on clues about their positions relative to each other. Requires careful logical deduction.

A logical reasoning problem that presents a set of conditions and asks you to determine a unique arrangement or assignment. Common types include scheduling and grouping.

A sequence of numbers where the difference between consecutive terms is constant. For example, 2, 5, 8, 11 (common difference 3).

A sequence where each term after the first is found by multiplying the previous term by a fixed non-zero number called the common ratio. Example: 3, 6, 12, 24.

A way of expressing a number as a fraction of 100. Used in many quantitative problems such as profit/loss, discount, and data interpretation.

A ratio compares two quantities by division; a proportion states that two ratios are equal. Used in problems involving mixtures, scales, and sharing.

The sum of a set of values divided by the number of values. Also called arithmetic mean. Frequently tested in problems involving ages, scores, and speeds.

Interest calculated only on the principal amount, not on accumulated interest. Formula: SI = (P × R × T)/100, where P is principal, R is rate, T is time.

Interest calculated on the principal plus any previously earned interest. Formula: A = P(1 + R/100)^T. Grows faster than simple interest.

Business calculations determining gain or loss. Profit = Selling Price - Cost Price; Loss = Cost Price - Selling Price. Often expressed as a percentage of cost price.

A reduction in the marked price of an item, usually expressed as a percentage. Discount = Marked Price - Selling Price.

Problems involving the rate at which individuals or machines complete a task. If a person can do a job in n days, their one-day work is 1/n.

A variation of time and work problems involving filling or emptying tanks through pipes. Inlet pipes fill, outlet pipes empty; rates are combined accordingly.

Problems relating distance, speed, and time using the formula Distance = Speed × Time. Includes relative speed, trains, and boats and streams.

In a right-angled triangle, the square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the other two sides: a² + b² = c². Used in direction sense and geometry.

The branch of geometry dealing with measurement of lengths, areas, and volumes of shapes like circles, triangles, cylinders, and spheres.

The process of analyzing data presented in tables, charts, or graphs to answer questions. Requires calculation and comparison skills.

A word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word. For example, 'happy' and 'joyful' are synonyms.

A word that has the opposite meaning of another word. For example, 'hot' and 'cold' are antonyms.

A phrase whose meaning cannot be understood from the literal meanings of its individual words. For example, 'break the ice' means to initiate conversation.

A group of words that functions as a unit in a sentence but does not contain both a subject and a verb. Examples: 'in the morning', 'very quickly'.

A vocabulary exercise where you replace a phrase or clause with a single word. For example, 'one who loves books' becomes 'bibliophile'.

A grammar exercise where a sentence is divided into parts, and you must identify the part containing a grammatical error, if any.

The grammatical rule that the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number (singular/plural) and person. For example, 'She runs' vs. 'They run'.

Voice indicates whether the subject performs the action (active) or receives it (passive). Example: 'The cat chased the mouse' (active) vs. 'The mouse was chased by the cat' (passive).

Direct speech quotes the exact words spoken; indirect speech reports them without quotation marks, often changing pronouns and tenses. Example: He said, 'I am tired' becomes He said that he was tired.

The ability to read a passage and understand its main idea, details, inferences, and vocabulary. Typically tested with multiple-choice questions.

The supreme law of India, adopted in 1949 and effective 1950. It lays down the framework of fundamental political principles, rights, and duties.

Basic human rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India to all citizens, such as equality, freedom of speech, and protection of life and personal liberty.

The system of local self-government in rural India, established by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992. It involves Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis, and Zila Parishads.