UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Parliamentary panel seeks committee on urban infrastructure

Q1. The Urban Challenge Fund is to be deployed across defined thematic components. Consider the following: 1. Cities as Growth Hubs 2. Creative Redevelopment of Cities 3. Water and Sanitation 4. Affordable Housing for All Which of the above is/are correctly identified as component(s) of the Urban Challenge Fund?

  1. Cities as Growth Hubs
  2. Creative Redevelopment of Cities
  3. Water and Sanitation
  4. Affordable Housing for All
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. Into how many thematic components is the Urban Challenge Fund divided?

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

Q3. In the context of the Urban Challenge Fund, what does the stipulated ceiling of '25 per cent' precisely refer to?

  • A. The maximum share of the cost of a bankable project that the Fund itself will finance
  • B. The minimum share of project cost that must be raised through municipal bonds
  • C. The Centre's share in the centre–state funding ratio of the Fund
  • D. The proportion of cities eligible to receive assistance under the Fund

Q4. Prior to the 2026 parliamentary recommendation for a new committee, which body had produced the most recent national-level comprehensive assessment of India's urban infrastructure investment requirements?

  • A. The High Powered Expert Committee (HPEC), 2011
  • B. NITI Aayog, 2022
  • C. The Fifteenth Finance Commission
  • D. The Second Administrative Reforms Commission