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Read the following… (Class 12 English SQP 2026-27, Q2)

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EnglishCBSE Class 12 · Sample paper, session 2026-27 · 10 marks · Reading comprehension

CBSE Class 12 English sample paper 2026-27: question 2

From the official CBSE sample question paper for 2026-27, section A, question 2, for 10 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q2 · 10 marks · Reading comprehensionCompetency-basedReading (unseen passages)

Read the following passage carefully.

1. A recent study on the growth of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) provides an insightful glimpse into how everyday financial habits are changing across the country. The first study tracks the volume of transactions over four Octobers.

2. In October 2021, UPI processed 4.21 billion payments—a number that already reflected a growing preference for digital transactions. By October 2022, this figure rose to 7.30 billion, suggesting that more people were discovering the convenience of transferring money with just a tap on their phones. The momentum continued into October 2023, when volumes touched 11.40 billion, and by October 2024, the platform reached an impressive 16.58 billion transactions.

3. The second study traces the value of these transactions, revealing a similar pattern of rising confidence. In October 2021, UPI transactions were worth ₹7.71 lakh crore. A year later, the value climbed to ₹12.11 lakh crore, indicating that users were comfortable using the platform for higher-value payments as well. This trust deepened in October 2023, with the value rising to ₹17.15 lakh crore, and peaked in October 2024, reaching ₹23.49 lakh crore.

4. Together, the two studies tell a human story—one of a country steadily shifting from cash to digital payments. The rising numbers suggest that UPI is no longer limited to tech-savvy users; it has reached shops, homes, workplaces, and even small roadside vendors. With QR codes becoming familiar sights and smartphones becoming more accessible, people now pay for groceries, services, transport, and bills through quick digital transfers.

5. The studies also hint at a broader change in mindset. As digital payments become routine, users appear more confident that these systems are secure, reliable, and easier to manage than handling cash. This transition has supported small businesses, reduced the need for physical currency, and encouraged more people to participate in formal financial systems.

6. Overall, the four-year data captures a simple yet powerful trend: UPI has grown from being a convenient payment option to becoming an essential part of daily financial life for millions of Indians.

Source: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2079544&reg=3&lang=2 [333 words]

Answer the following questions based on the given passage.

  1. I

    What was the purpose of tracking the four-year growth of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI)? (paragraph 1)

    1. (A)To analyse the technical infrastructure supporting digital banking systems
    2. (B)To understand changes in payment behaviour among different user groups
    3. (C)To determine the number of vendors using smartphone-based payments
    4. (D)To compare patterns of digital transactions with traditional cash practices
    1 mark
  2. II

    Analyse whether the percentage growth in the total value of UPI transactions is greater than, less than, or roughly the same as the percentage growth in the number of transactions. State your choice and briefly justify your answer with reference to paragraph 2.

    1 mark
  3. III

    Which of the following statements best describes the overall pattern with reference to paragraph 3?

    1. (A)Both the number of transactions and the total value of transactions increase steadily over the four years.
    2. (B)The number of transactions increases, but the total value of transactions decreases year after year.
    3. (C)The total value of transactions increases, but the number of transactions stays almost unchanged.
    4. (D)Both the number of transactions and the total value of transactions decrease after an initial increase.
    1 mark
  4. IV

    Paragraph 4 mentions that UPI is used in ‘shops, homes, workplaces, and even small roadside vendors’.
    What does this suggest about the nature of UPI adoption?

    1. (A)Dependence on organised commercial establishments
    2. (B)Widespread adoption across formal and informal settings
    3. (C)Usage limited to digitally advanced urban spaces
    4. (D)Usage restricted to specific consumer groups
    1 mark
  5. V

    Evaluate the impact of UPI’s expansion into formal financial systems on small business owners, with reference to the paragraph 5. (Answer in about 40 words)

    2 marks
  6. VII

    Fill in the blank with the correct option from those given in brackets.
    UPI’s usage by small roadside vendors primarily suggests that digital payment systems in India have become ________. (inclusive / exclusive / marginal)

    1 mark
  7. VIII

    Rohan prefers to carry almost no cash and pays for groceries and transport using his phone. Using information from Paragraph 3 and the charts, explain giving two reasons why UPI is a more suitable option for him in 2024 than it might have been in 2021. (Answer in about 40 words).

    2 marks

Figure in the paper: The passage refers to 'the charts' (two studies: volume and value of UPI transactions over four Octobers), but no chart is visible in the provided pages; data are given in the text. See it in the official paper.

Source: official sample paper from cbseacademic.nic.in (PDF). See it in the full Sample paper 2026-27.

Hints

Open one hint at a time and try again before the next.

Hint 1

For II, compare how many times each quantity multiplied from 2021 to 2024.

Hint 2

Divide 16.58 by 4.21 and 23.49 by 7.71. Which ratio is larger?

Hint 3

Volume grew about 3.9 times but value only about 3 times, so value growth is less than volume growth.

Step-by-step solution

Each step shows the marks it earns, as an examiner would award them. Checked by an independent re-solve from the question paper.

Verified: two independent solves agree and the official marking scheme matchesChecked 2026-11-01

  1. (I) B. The data were tracked to understand changes in payment behaviour among different user groups, i.e. how everyday financial habits are changing.

    1 mark

  2. (II) Less than. Number of transactions: 4.21 → 16.58 billion, about 3.9 times (about 294% growth). Value: ₹7.71 → ₹23.49 lakh crore, about 3 times (about 205% growth). So the percentage growth in value is less than the percentage growth in the number of transactions. (Identification ½ + justification ½)

    1 mark

  3. (III) A. Both the number and the total value of transactions increase steadily over the four years.

    1 mark

  4. (IV) B. Use in shops, homes, workplaces and roadside vendors shows widespread adoption across formal and informal settings.

    1 mark

  5. (V) UPI's expansion has benefited small business owners to a large extent. It gives them digital transaction records, easier tracking of income and less reliance on cash, which draws them into formal financial systems. The extent of benefit, however, depends on digital literacy and access to technology. (Judgement 1 + justification 1)

    2 marks

  6. (VI) C. The policy framework governing digital payment systems is not discussed in the passage.

    1 mark

  7. (VII) inclusive. Use by small roadside vendors shows that digital payments reach the informal sector too, not just a few users.

    1 mark

  8. (VIII) (1) Value rose from ₹7.71 lakh crore (2021) to ₹23.49 lakh crore (2024), showing greater user confidence that UPI is secure and reliable, even for larger payments. (2) Volume rose from 4.21 to 16.58 billion, showing much wider acceptance in everyday settings like groceries and transport, so Rohan can manage without cash. (1+1)

    2 marks

Answer: I: B; II: less than (volume ≈294% vs value ≈205%); III: A; IV: B; V: large positive impact (records, income tracking, less cash), limited by digital literacy and access; VI: C; VII: inclusive; VIII: greater trust shown by rising value, and wider acceptance shown by rising volume

Where the marks are

  • I: B (1 mark)
  • II: 'less than', with the growth multiples computed from the figures (1 mark)
  • III: A (1 mark)
  • IV: B (1 mark)
  • V: judgement on extent plus logical justification (2 marks)
  • VI: C (1 mark)
  • VII: inclusive (1 mark)
  • VIII: any two reasons supported by data (2 marks)

Revise the chapter

  • Chapter: Reading (unseen passages)

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