UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Press Release

Q1. The Press Information Bureau (PIB), the nodal agency for disseminating government information to the media, functions exclusively as an attached office under which one of the following Union Ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
  • C. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
  • D. Ministry of Culture

Q2. Who is the single highest administrative head of the Press Information Bureau at its headquarters?

  • A. Director General
  • B. Principal Information Officer
  • C. Principal Director General (Media & Communication)
  • D. Additional Director General

Q3. With reference to the evolution of the Press Information Bureau, consider the following statements: 1. The publicity cell created in June 1919 functioned under the Home Department of the colonial government. 2. The cell was rechristened the 'Central Bureau of Information' towards the end of 1920. 3. J. Natarajan became the first Indian Principal Information Officer in 1941. 4. The organisation acquired its present name 'Press Information Bureau' in 1956. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The publicity cell created in June 1919 functioned under the Home Department of the colonial government.
  2. The cell was rechristened the 'Central Bureau of Information' towards the end of 1920.
  3. J. Natarajan became the first Indian Principal Information Officer in 1941.
  4. The organisation acquired its present name 'Press Information Bureau' in 1956.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 4 only

Q4. With reference to the early history of the Press Information Bureau, consider the following statements: 1. L.F. Rushbrook Williams, who headed the cell created in 1919, had earlier been associated with the Central Publicity Board. 2. The designation of the head changed to 'Director' when the Central Bureau of Information was formed around 1920. 3. The head's designation was changed from Director to 'Principal Information Officer' in 1938. 4. Sir Stanley Reed served as the first Principal Information Officer of the bureau. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. L.F. Rushbrook Williams, who headed the cell created in 1919, had earlier been associated with the Central Publicity Board.
  2. The designation of the head changed to 'Director' when the Central Bureau of Information was formed around 1920.
  3. The head's designation was changed from Director to 'Principal Information Officer' in 1938.
  4. Sir Stanley Reed served as the first Principal Information Officer of the bureau.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4

Q5. The fact-check unit empowered to flag information about the business of the Central Government as fake, false or misleading was conceptualised under which one of the following?

  • A. IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (as originally notified)
  • B. IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2023
  • C. IT (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information) Rules, 2009
  • D. Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Rules, 1994

Q6. Under the 2023 Amendment Rules, which Union Ministry is empowered to notify the fact-check unit of the Central Government?

  • A. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
  • B. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
  • C. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Law and Justice

Q7. The PIB Fact Check Unit was challenged principally as a violation of the fundamental right guaranteed under which Article of the Constitution?

  • A. Article 14
  • B. Article 19(1)(a)
  • C. Article 21
  • D. Article 19(1)(g)

Q8. Reasonable restrictions on the freedom of speech and expression can be imposed under Article 19(2) on how many specified grounds?

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

Q9. With reference to the core ministerial composition of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), consider the following: 1. Minister of Defence 2. Minister of Finance 3. Minister of External Affairs 4. Minister of Commerce and Industry Which of the above is/are correctly identified as core members of the CCS?

  1. Minister of Defence
  2. Minister of Finance
  3. Minister of External Affairs
  4. Minister of Commerce and Industry
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q10. Decisions of the Cabinet and its committees are officially communicated to the print and electronic media primarily through which one of the following?

  • A. Cabinet Secretariat
  • B. Press Information Bureau
  • C. Prime Minister's Office
  • D. Central Bureau of Communication

Q11. Which single agency is the Government of India's nodal multi-media advertising and outreach body formed by integrating the erstwhile DAVP, Directorate of Field Publicity and Song & Drama Division?

  • A. Press Information Bureau
  • B. Central Bureau of Communication
  • C. Directorate of Field Publicity
  • D. Press Council of India

Q12. In the context of the Press Information Bureau, the designation 'Principal Information Officer' (adopted in 1938) precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The officer designated by every public authority under Section 5 of the RTI Act, 2005 to receive information requests
  • B. The senior officer heading the government's official media and information dissemination apparatus
  • C. The presiding officer of the Press Council of India
  • D. The officer who accredits foreign correspondents to the Government of India