UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — NITI Aayog Releases Policy Report on ‘School Education System in India: Temporal Analysis and Policy Roadmap for Quality Enhancement’

Q1. With reference to the NITI Aayog policy report 'School Education System in India: Temporal Analysis and Policy Roadmap for Quality Enhancement' (May 2026), which one of the following best describes 'PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024' that was used as a primary data source for the report?

  • A. A sample-based national learning assessment of school students conducted by PARAKH, the national assessment centre established under NCERT pursuant to NEP 2020
  • B. An annual household-based citizen survey of children's foundational reading and arithmetic skills conducted by the NGO Pratham
  • C. The unified school information management system that captures real-time enrolment, teacher and infrastructure data of every recognised school in India
  • D. An international large-scale student assessment conducted jointly with OECD member states in which India formally participates every three years

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding India's school education system as per the UDISE+ 2024-25 Report and the NITI Aayog policy report (2026) on school education: 1. India has more than 14 lakh recognised schools serving over 24 crore students. 2. The total number of school teachers in the country has crossed the 1-crore mark for the first time in 2024-25. 3. The Pupil-Teacher Ratio at the Foundational, Preparatory, Middle and Secondary levels is each better than the 1:30 ratio recommended by NEP 2020. 4. The share of government schools in total student enrolment has risen between 2005 and 2024-25. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. India has more than 14 lakh recognised schools serving over 24 crore students.
  2. The total number of school teachers in the country has crossed the 1-crore mark for the first time in 2024-25.
  3. The Pupil-Teacher Ratio at the Foundational, Preparatory, Middle and Secondary levels is each better than the 1:30 ratio recommended by NEP 2020.
  4. The share of government schools in total student enrolment has risen between 2005 and 2024-25.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Q3. With reference to the Indian school-education sector, the term 'UDISE+', frequently cited in the NITI Aayog policy report (2026) on school education, refers to which one of the following?

  • A. An online, school-level Management Information System on school education, developed and maintained by the Department of School Education & Literacy, that captures data on infrastructure, teachers and enrolment for every recognised school in India
  • B. A national sample-based competency assessment of students in Grades 3, 6 and 9 conducted by PARAKH under NCERT
  • C. An integrated Direct Benefit Transfer platform under Samagra Shiksha for routing scholarships and uniform grants to school students
  • D. An index released annually by NITI Aayog that ranks States and Union Territories on the quality of school education outcomes

Q4. In the context of school education reforms under NEP 2020, what does the acronym 'PARAKH' stand for?

  • A. Performance Appraisal, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development
  • B. Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development
  • C. Pedagogical Assessment, Research and Analysis of Knowledge for Higher Development
  • D. Programme for Assessment, Reform and Advancement of Knowledge in Holistic Habitats

Q5. The National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat) Mission, launched in pursuance of NEP 2020, is implemented through which one of the following?

  • A. NITI Aayog, under its Education Vertical, in coordination with State Governments
  • B. National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), through its PARAKH unit
  • C. Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, under the Samagra Shiksha scheme
  • D. Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, through the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan

Q6. With reference to the changes brought about by the Constitution (Eighty-Sixth Amendment) Act, 2002, consider the following statements: 1. Prior to this amendment, the obligation of the State to endeavour to provide free and compulsory education to children until they completed the age of fourteen years was contained in a Directive Principle of State Policy. 2. The amendment substituted Article 45 to direct the State to provide for early childhood care and education for all children below the age of six years. 3. The amendment inserted a Fundamental Duty enjoining the State to provide opportunities for education to all children between the ages of six and fourteen years. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Prior to this amendment, the obligation of the State to endeavour to provide free and compulsory education to children until they completed the age of fourteen years was contained in a Directive Principle of State Policy.
  2. The amendment substituted Article 45 to direct the State to provide for early childhood care and education for all children below the age of six years.
  3. The amendment inserted a Fundamental Duty enjoining the State to provide opportunities for education to all children between the ages of six and fourteen years.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. Which one of the following Constitutional Amendment Acts was the first to make the right to free and compulsory education for children a Fundamental Right enforceable under Part III of the Constitution of India?

  • A. The Constitution (Forty-Second Amendment) Act, 1976
  • B. The Constitution (Seventy-Third Amendment) Act, 1992
  • C. The Constitution (Eighty-Sixth Amendment) Act, 2002
  • D. The Constitution (Ninety-Third Amendment) Act, 2005

Q8. Which one of the following is the nodal implementing authority for the Samagra Shiksha Scheme at the Union level?

  • A. Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education
  • B. Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education
  • C. NITI Aayog
  • D. Ministry of Women and Child Development

Q9. PARAKH, which conducted the Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024, was established as a national standard-setting and assessment body in pursuance of which one of the following?

  • A. Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009
  • B. National Education Policy, 2020
  • C. Samagra Shiksha Scheme, 2018
  • D. NIPUN Bharat Mission, 2021

Q10. The PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 conducted by NCERT assessed students of how many grades/classes?

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

Q11. With reference to the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), through which one of the following instruments was it formally established to replace the erstwhile Planning Commission?

  • A. A Resolution of the Union Cabinet
  • B. An Act of Parliament
  • C. A Constitutional Amendment under Article 280A
  • D. An Executive Order of the President of India under Article 77

Q12. With reference to the Governing Council of NITI Aayog, consider the following: 1. Chief Ministers of all the States 2. Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories without legislature 3. The Chief Justice of India 4. The Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog Which of the above is/are correctly identified as members of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog?

  1. Chief Ministers of all the States
  2. Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories without legislature
  3. The Chief Justice of India
  4. The Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4