UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — ₹3,400 crore allocated to schemes for six minorities

Q1. With reference to the Union Budget 2026-27 allocations to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Ministry's overall Budget Estimate for 2026-27 of about ₹3,400 crore is marginally higher than its Budget Estimate for 2025-26.
  2. The allocation to the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM-VIKAS) scheme in BE 2026-27 was increased relative to its BE 2025-26.
  3. The combined allocation to the Quami Waqf Board's Taraqqiati Scheme and the Sahari Waqf Sampati Vikas Yojana in BE 2026-27 is more than double its Revised Estimate for 2025-26.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. Which one of the following ministries is the nodal ministry for the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM-VIKAS) scheme?

  • A. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
  • B. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
  • C. Ministry of Minority Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Education

Q3. With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM-VIKAS) scheme, which one of the following statements best describes its scope?

  • A. It is a Central Sector Scheme that converges five erstwhile skilling and empowerment schemes of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, targeting skill development, women's entrepreneurship/leadership and educational support for school dropouts among the six notified minority communities.
  • B. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme on a 60:40 Centre–State cost-sharing basis providing pre-matric and post-matric scholarships exclusively to students from the six notified minority communities.
  • C. It is a Central Sector Scheme implemented through State Waqf Boards for digitalisation of Waqf records and commercial development of urban Waqf properties.
  • D. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme providing interest subvention on education loans availed by minority students for higher and professional courses abroad.

Q4. The six religious communities currently notified as 'minority communities' by the Union Government for the purposes of central government schemes are notified under which one of the following?

  • A. Article 30(1) of the Constitution of India
  • B. Section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992
  • C. Section 3 of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955
  • D. A resolution of the Sachar Committee, 2006

Q5. Among the following schemes administered by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, which one received the largest budgetary allocation in the Union Budget 2026-27?

  • A. Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM-VIKAS)
  • B. Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for minorities
  • C. Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for minorities
  • D. Quami Waqf Board's Taraqqiati Scheme