UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Credible, creditable

Q1. The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), which is being scaled up as ISM 2.0 under the Union Budget 2026-27, was originally launched in which year?

  • A. 2019
  • B. 2020
  • C. 2021
  • D. 2023

Q2. In the context of the Union Budget 2026-27, the initiative 'Biopharma SHAKTI' is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A central sector scheme providing universal health insurance coverage to biopharma sector workers and clinical trial volunteers.
  • B. A ₹10,000 crore programme over five years to develop India as a global hub for biologics and biosimilars, with new/upgraded NIPERs and over 1,000 accredited clinical trial sites.
  • C. A production-linked incentive scheme exclusively for the manufacture of generic active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and key starting materials.
  • D. A bilateral pharmaceutical cooperation initiative between India and the United States to mitigate the impact of new tariffs on Indian drug exports.

Q3. India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, announced in the Union Budget 2026-27, will be operationalised under the administrative aegis of which Union Ministry?

  • A. Ministry of Science and Technology
  • B. Ministry of Heavy Industries
  • C. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
  • D. Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Q4. As per the Union Budget 2026-27, how many States have been identified for the development of dedicated Rare Earth Corridors?

  • A. 3
  • B. 4
  • C. 5
  • D. 7

Q5. With reference to the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), consider the following statements comparing ISM 1.0 with ISM 2.0 announced in the Union Budget 2026-27: 1. ISM 1.0 was launched in 2021 with its primary focus on fiscal incentives for semiconductor fabrication facilities (fabs) and display manufacturing units. 2. ISM 2.0 extends the policy focus beyond fabs to semiconductor equipment, materials, full-stack Indian IP, and supply-chain resilience. 3. Unlike ISM 1.0, ISM 2.0 will be administered by the Department of Science and Technology instead of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. ISM 1.0 was launched in 2021 with its primary focus on fiscal incentives for semiconductor fabrication facilities (fabs) and display manufacturing units.
  2. ISM 2.0 extends the policy focus beyond fabs to semiconductor equipment, materials, full-stack Indian IP, and supply-chain resilience.
  3. Unlike ISM 1.0, ISM 2.0 will be administered by the Department of Science and Technology instead of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3