UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — The Digital Blueprint for Ease of Doing Business

Q1. Among the digital platforms NSWS, MCA21, GeM, UPI, Udyam and GSTN, how many became operational in the calendar year 2016?

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

Q2. The Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN), part of India's digital EoDB stack, functions under which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue)
  • B. Ministry of Corporate Affairs
  • C. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • D. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

Q3. With reference to the National Single Window System (NSWS), consider the following statements: 1. It was soft-launched in September 2021. 2. It was developed by the DPIIT along with Invest India. 3. It integrates approvals across 32 Central Departments and 32 State Governments. 4. It functions solely under the administrative control of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It was soft-launched in September 2021.
  2. It was developed by the DPIIT along with Invest India.
  3. It integrates approvals across 32 Central Departments and 32 State Governments.
  4. It functions solely under the administrative control of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 1 and 4

Q4. With reference to the National Single Window System (NSWS) and its predecessor arrangements, consider the following statements: 1. It offers a 'Know Your Approval (KYA)' advisory module to help investors identify the approvals they require. 2. Industrial Entrepreneur Memorandum (IEM) services were migrated to NSWS from the earlier G2B portal. 3. It provides access to over 7,435 Central and 698 State approvals. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It offers a 'Know Your Approval (KYA)' advisory module to help investors identify the approvals they require.
  2. Industrial Entrepreneur Memorandum (IEM) services were migrated to NSWS from the earlier G2B portal.
  3. It provides access to over 7,435 Central and 698 State approvals.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 was piloted and is administered by which one of the following?

  • A. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (Ministry of Commerce & Industry)
  • B. Ministry of Law and Justice
  • C. Ministry of Corporate Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Finance

Q6. With reference to the Jan Vishwas decriminalisation reforms, consider the following statements: 1. The 2023 Act decriminalised 183 provisions across 42 Central Acts. 2. The provisions decriminalised by the 2023 Act were administered by 19 Ministries/Departments. 3. The follow-up Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025 proposed decriminalising 288 provisions. 4. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025 was introduced in the Lok Sabha by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The 2023 Act decriminalised 183 provisions across 42 Central Acts.
  2. The provisions decriminalised by the 2023 Act were administered by 19 Ministries/Departments.
  3. The follow-up Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025 proposed decriminalising 288 provisions.
  4. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025 was introduced in the Lok Sabha by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. With reference to the Udyam Registration system for MSMEs, consider the following statements: 1. It functions under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. 2. Registration is free of cost and paperless. 3. It has automatic integration with the Income Tax (ITR) and GSTIN databases. 4. Registration is mandatory only for large enterprises and is not available to micro units. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. It functions under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
  2. Registration is free of cost and paperless.
  3. It has automatic integration with the Income Tax (ITR) and GSTIN databases.
  4. Registration is mandatory only for large enterprises and is not available to micro units.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q8. With reference to the chronology of MSME registration reforms, consider the following statements: 1. The Udyam Registration Portal was launched in 2020. 2. It replaced the earlier Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum (UAM). 3. The Udyam Assist Platform for Informal Micro Enterprises was launched in 2023. 4. The Udyam Registration Portal was launched in the same year that the GST regime came into force. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Udyam Registration Portal was launched in 2020.
  2. It replaced the earlier Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum (UAM).
  3. The Udyam Assist Platform for Informal Micro Enterprises was launched in 2023.
  4. The Udyam Registration Portal was launched in the same year that the GST regime came into force.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 4 only

Q9. Within the IndiaStack architecture, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) — the real-time payments layer used to reduce transaction friction for businesses — is operated by which one of the following?

  • A. National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
  • B. Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
  • C. Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
  • D. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

Q10. In the context of the launch of the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), the abbreviation 'DGS&D' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals
  • B. Directorate General of Foreign Trade
  • C. Directorate General of Trade Remedies
  • D. Department of Government Spending and Disbursement

Q11. With reference to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and its governance, consider the following statements: 1. It was launched by the NPCI in 2016 under the regulatory oversight of the RBI. 2. It has been recognised by the IMF as the world's largest real-time payment system. 3. It is regulated by the SEBI, while the NPCI provides regulatory oversight. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It was launched by the NPCI in 2016 under the regulatory oversight of the RBI.
  2. It has been recognised by the IMF as the world's largest real-time payment system.
  3. It is regulated by the SEBI, while the NPCI provides regulatory oversight.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. With reference to the MCA21 project, consider the following statements: 1. It was launched in 2006 as a Mission Mode Project under the National e-Governance Plan. 2. It functions under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. 3. In addition to corporate filings, MCA21 also processes Goods and Services Tax (GST) returns. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It was launched in 2006 as a Mission Mode Project under the National e-Governance Plan.
  2. It functions under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
  3. In addition to corporate filings, MCA21 also processes Goods and Services Tax (GST) returns.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3