At the outset means at the beginning. This answer is correct because the expression has a fixed figurative meaning in English. In an SSC idiom question, students should match the whole phrase with its accepted meaning rather than translate each word separately.

• Classroom example: At the outset can refer to a situation involving at the beginning.
• Story example: A writer may use At the outset when describing a situation involving at the beginning.
• Exam example: When a sentence contains At the outset, choose the meaning “at the beginning.”