UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — How far should governments go in using AI?

Q1. How many guiding 'sutras' (principles) are enshrined in the India AI Governance Guidelines released by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in November 2025?

  • A. Five
  • B. Six
  • C. Seven
  • D. Nine

Q2. Within the institutional architecture proposed by the India AI Governance Guidelines, 2025, the acronym 'AISI' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. AI Sectoral Implementation Initiative — a sector-wise rollout body under NITI Aayog
  • B. AI Safety Institute — a technical body for evaluations, standards and safety research
  • C. Artificial Intelligence Statistical Index — an indicator framework maintained by MoSPI
  • D. AI Strategic Investment Scheme — a venture financing window under DPIIT

Q3. Compare the India AI Governance Guidelines (2025) with NITI Aayog's 'Principles for Responsible AI' Approach Document (2021) and consider the following statements: 1. The 2025 Guidelines were issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, whereas the 2021 Approach Document was released by NITI Aayog. 2. Unlike the 2021 document, the 2025 Guidelines recommend enactment of a new dedicated 'AI Act' as the primary regulatory instrument. 3. The 2025 Guidelines propose specific institutional architectures such as the AI Governance Group (AIGG) and the AI Safety Institute (AISI), whereas the 2021 document confined itself to articulating broad ethical principles. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The 2025 Guidelines were issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, whereas the 2021 Approach Document was released by NITI Aayog.
  2. Unlike the 2021 document, the 2025 Guidelines recommend enactment of a new dedicated 'AI Act' as the primary regulatory instrument.
  3. The 2025 Guidelines propose specific institutional architectures such as the AI Governance Group (AIGG) and the AI Safety Institute (AISI), whereas the 2021 document confined itself to articulating broad ethical principles.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. The 'Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence' — the first global normative instrument on AI ethics — was adopted in November 2021 under the auspices of which one of the following?

  • A. The United Nations General Assembly
  • B. The General Conference of UNESCO
  • C. The Council of the OECD
  • D. The ITU Plenipotentiary Conference