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Rajnath Singh stumps IAS officer trainees with ‘simple’ math puzzle, only one gets it right

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was speaking at the valedictory ceremony of the 100th Common Foundation Course when he paused mid-speech and posed a question.

2 min readNew DelhiDec 2, 2025 12:33 PM IST

Rajnath Singh maths question to IAS officers

Singh urged the young officers to appreciate the responsibility that comes with public service

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh surprised a hall full of IAS probationers at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie when he decided to test them with a simple-looking maths puzzle. What unfolded, however, turned into an unexpectedly rare moment at the academy.

Singh was speaking at the valedictory ceremony of the 100th Common Foundation Course on November 29, when he paused mid-speech and posed a question. “A person had so much money that he gave half to A, one-third to B, and the remaining amount of 100 was given to C. Tell me the total amount,” he said. At first, the trainees assumed it was an easy one. But the silence that followed told a different story.

Even after Singh repeated the question, the room remained still. A few seconds later, one officer finally ventured an answer: “300.” Singh smiled gently and replied, “Wrong, try again.” Another few seconds passed before a voice from the crowd called out, “600.” This time, Singh immediately reacted: “Who said 600?” When the trainee identified themselves, the minister nodded approvingly and confirmed, “Yes, this is correct.”

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Using this light moment to drive home a larger point, Singh urged the young officers to appreciate the responsibility that comes with public service. He reminded them that civil servants, like soldiers, must stay alert and prepared for unexpected challenges.

He also highlighted how coordinated action can change outcomes, citing “Operation Sindoor” as “a brilliant example of civil-military fusion where the administrative machinery worked seamlessly with the Armed Forces to communicate vital information and build public confidence.”