UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Survey raises concerns over unconditional cash transfers

Question 1

With reference to recent state government welfare programmes in India, consider the following schemes:
1. Ladli Behna Yojana of Madhya Pradesh
2. Rythu Bandhu of Telangana
3. Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana of Maharashtra
4. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) schemes as discussed in the Economic Survey 2025-26?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

2 and 4 only

Answer

1, 2, 3 and 4

Question 2

The Economic Survey 2025-26, which warned that the proliferation of unconditional cash transfers by States poses risks to sovereign borrowing costs, was authored under the supervision of which one of the following Chief Economic Advisers?

Accepted Answer

V. Anantha Nageswaran

Answer

Arvind Subramanian

Answer

Krishnamurthy V. Subramanian

Answer

Sanjeev Sanyal

Question 3

In the context of the Economic Survey 2025-26's discussion on State welfare schemes, the term 'Unconditional Cash Transfer' (UCT) is most accurately described as:

Accepted Answer

A direct monetary payment to identified beneficiaries that imposes no condition on how the money is used or on any behavioural requirement

Answer

A cash payment made only on fulfilment of behavioural conditions such as school attendance, health check-ups or work participation

Answer

A subsidy delivered to beneficiaries in kind through the Public Distribution System and later monetised at market prices

Answer

A loan extended by State governments to poorer households at concessional interest rates against future wages

Question 4

According to the Economic Survey 2025-26, by approximately how many times did the number of States implementing unconditional cash transfer schemes increase between FY 2022-23 and FY 2025-26?

Accepted Answer

Five-fold

Answer

Two-fold

Answer

Three-fold

Answer

Ten-fold

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Survey raises concerns over unconditional cash transfers

Q2. The Economic Survey 2025-26, which warned that the proliferation of unconditional cash transfers by States poses risks to sovereign borrowing costs, was authored under the supervision of which one of the following Chief Economic Advisers?

Q3. In the context of the Economic Survey 2025-26's discussion on State welfare schemes, the term 'Unconditional Cash Transfer' (UCT) is most accurately described as:

Q4. According to the Economic Survey 2025-26, by approximately how many times did the number of States implementing unconditional cash transfer schemes increase between FY 2022-23 and FY 2025-26?