Correct Answer: 21

Solution : Given that the average salary of all the associates in a team is Rs. 16,000.
Let the total number of associates be $n$.
⇒ Sum of salary of all the associates = $16000n$
Now, The average salary of 7 senior associates is Rs. 24,000.
⇒ Sum of salary of 7 senior associates = 24,000 × 7 = 1,68,000
Also, the average salary of the rest is Rs. 12,000.
Remaining associates = $n-7$
⇒ Sum of salary of remaining associates = 12000($n-7$)
We know that,
The sum of the salary of all the associates = the sum of the salary of 7 senior associates + the sum of the salary of the remaining associates
⇒ $16000n=168000+12000(n-7)$
⇒ $16000n=168000+12000n-84000$
⇒ $16000n-12000n=84000$
⇒ $4000n=84000$
⇒ $n=21$
Hence the correct answer is 21.