UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Bridging Digital Divide

Q1. Which of the following is the designated implementing agency for the BharatNet project?

  • A. Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL)
  • B. Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT)
  • C. Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL)
  • D. Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL)

Q2. In which year was the Amended BharatNet Programme (with a design-build-operate-maintain model) approved?

  • A. 2011
  • B. 2015
  • C. 2023
  • D. 2024

Q3. Under which statute was the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) restructured into the Digital Bharat Nidhi?

  • A. Information Technology Act, 2000
  • B. Indian Telegraph Act, 1885
  • C. Telecommunications Act, 2023
  • D. Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023

Q4. Approximately how many Public Data Offices (Wi-Fi hotspots) had been on-boarded under the PM-WANI framework as of late November 2025?

  • A. About 2.15 lakh
  • B. About 3.91 lakh
  • C. About 5.18 lakh
  • D. About 6.39 lakh

Q5. The Digital India programme is implemented under which of the following as its nodal ministry?

  • A. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
  • B. Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications
  • C. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)
  • D. NITI Aayog

Q6. In which year were 5G services formally launched in India?

  • A. 2020
  • B. 2021
  • C. 2022
  • D. 2023