UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — NITI Aayog and JICA Sign Record of Discussions for Phase II of Japan - India Cooperative Actions towards SDGs in Aspirational Districts and Blocks

Q1. The Record of Discussions for Phase II of the Japan-India Cooperative Actions towards SDGs is operationalised on the Indian side through the Aspirational Districts and Blocks Programme Mission of which one of the following bodies?

  • A. Ministry of Rural Development
  • B. NITI Aayog
  • C. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
  • D. Ministry of Panchayati Raj

Q2. The Record of Discussions (RoD) signed for Phase II is best characterised primarily as which one of the following?

  • A. A legally binding bilateral treaty registered with the United Nations
  • B. A sovereign Japanese ODA loan agreement
  • C. A non-binding bilateral technical-cooperation arrangement
  • D. A multilateral grant agreement under the UN 2030 Agenda

Q3. Which one of the following is the main agency responsible for implementing Japan's bilateral Official Development Assistance — grants, ODA loans and technical cooperation — to partner countries including India?

  • A. JETRO
  • B. JBIC
  • C. MOFA
  • D. JICA

Q4. Regarding Japanese institutions associated with external economic and development cooperation, consider the following pairings: 1. JICA — implementing agency for Japan's bilateral ODA 2. JETRO — promotion of trade and investment 3. JBIC — financing of exports and overseas investment 4. MOFA — sole disbursing agency of Japan's bilateral ODA loans Which of the above is/are NOT correctly matched?

  1. JICA — implementing agency for Japan's bilateral ODA
  2. JETRO — promotion of trade and investment
  3. JBIC — financing of exports and overseas investment
  4. MOFA — sole disbursing agency of Japan's bilateral ODA loans
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q5. With reference to the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) and the Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP), consider the following statements: 1. ADP, launched in January 2018, covers 112 districts, while ABP, launched in January 2023, covers 500 blocks. 2. Both ADP and ABP are anchored by the Ministry of Rural Development. 3. ADP ranks districts on 49 Key Performance Indicators grouped under five socio-economic themes. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. ADP, launched in January 2018, covers 112 districts, while ABP, launched in January 2023, covers 500 blocks.
  2. Both ADP and ABP are anchored by the Ministry of Rural Development.
  3. ADP ranks districts on 49 Key Performance Indicators grouped under five socio-economic themes.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. The Aspirational Districts Programme has been described (including by the UNDP) as the world's largest initiative in which one of the following domains?

  • A. Results-based governance
  • B. Participatory budgeting
  • C. Digital public infrastructure
  • D. Fiscal decentralisation

Q7. The dedicated capacity-building/training module for functionaries under the Aspirational Blocks Programme has been hosted on which one of the following platforms?

  • A. DIKSHA
  • B. iGOT Karmayogi
  • C. UMANG
  • D. e-Gram Swaraj

Q8. Which one of the following is the flagship week-long programme associated with the Aspirational Blocks Programme for driving convergence and saturation of outcomes at the block level?

  • A. Sampoornata Abhiyan
  • B. Sankalp Saptaah
  • C. Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana
  • D. Sankalp Se Siddhi

Q9. Across how many thematic areas does the Phase II Japan-India cooperation project aim to strengthen policy frameworks and implementation systems in Aspirational Districts and Blocks?

  • A. Four
  • B. Five
  • C. Six
  • D. Eight

Q10. With reference to SDG localisation through the Phase II cooperation, consider the following statements: 1. Both the Aspirational Districts Programme and the Aspirational Blocks Programme serve as vehicles for localising the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. 2. 'Global Partnership' is a Phase II theme that does not figure among the original five socio-economic themes of the Aspirational Districts Programme. 3. The Aspirational Districts Programme drives 'Competition' among districts through a monthly delta ranking. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Both the Aspirational Districts Programme and the Aspirational Blocks Programme serve as vehicles for localising the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
  2. 'Global Partnership' is a Phase II theme that does not figure among the original five socio-economic themes of the Aspirational Districts Programme.
  3. The Aspirational Districts Programme drives 'Competition' among districts through a monthly delta ranking.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. With respect to bilateral development assistance, which one of the following correctly describes Japan's position vis-à-vis India?

  • A. Japan is the largest bilateral donor to India
  • B. Japan is India's largest multilateral creditor
  • C. Japan is the largest source of foreign direct investment into India
  • D. Japan is India's largest trading partner

Q12. With reference to the Phase II Record of Discussions on Japan-India Cooperative Actions towards SDGs, consider the following statements: 1. It was signed between NITI Aayog and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). 2. Unlike the earlier cooperation, Phase II extends support to both Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks. 3. Phase II is structured as a Japanese ODA loan extended to the Government of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It was signed between NITI Aayog and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
  2. Unlike the earlier cooperation, Phase II extends support to both Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks.
  3. Phase II is structured as a Japanese ODA loan extended to the Government of India.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3