UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Economic Survey highlights uneven distribution of secondary schools

Q1. With reference to the education chapter of the Economic Survey 2025-26, consider the following statements regarding school education in India: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. About 17% of rural schools offer secondary education, compared with about 38% of urban schools.
  2. The Net Enrolment Ratio (NER) at the secondary level is reported at 52.2%.
  3. The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) at the secondary stage (Grades IX–XII) is 68.5.
  4. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 was amended in 2025 to extend its coverage up to Grade XII.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, highlighted in the Economic Survey 2025-26, proposes to set up the Adhishthan as an apex Commission supported by how many independent Councils?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five

Q3. In the context of the Economic Survey 2025-26 reporting a secondary-level Net Enrolment Ratio (NER) of 52.2%, what does 'Net Enrolment Ratio' precisely measure?

  • A. Total enrolment in secondary classes expressed as a percentage of the total population of the country
  • B. Enrolment in secondary classes (Grades IX–X) of students belonging to the official secondary school-age group, expressed as a percentage of the population of that age group
  • C. Number of secondary schools per 1,000 population in the relevant catchment area
  • D. Share of students completing Grade X within the prescribed age band, expressed as a percentage of those who entered Grade I

Q4. The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, flagged in the Economic Survey 2025-26, proposes to repeal which of the following statutes in their entirety?

  • A. Only the University Grants Commission Act, 1956
  • B. The University Grants Commission Act, 1956 and the All India Council for Technical Education Act, 1987 only
  • C. The University Grants Commission Act, 1956; the All India Council for Technical Education Act, 1987; and the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993
  • D. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 along with the University Grants Commission Act, 1956

Q5. Which one of the following is the principal integrated Centrally Sponsored Scheme — recognised in the Economic Survey 2025-26 — that covers school education from pre-primary up to senior secondary stage?

  • A. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
  • B. Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan
  • C. Samagra Shiksha
  • D. PM SHRI Schools