UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Dr Jitendra Singh says, “Anusandhan National Research Foundation" (ANRF) is democratising research funding, launches ₹200-crore MAHA Water Mission to support StartUps

Q1. Under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023, who is the ex-officio President of the Governing Board of the ANRF?

  • A. The Prime Minister of India
  • B. The Union Minister of Science and Technology
  • C. The Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India
  • D. The Union Minister of Education

Q2. Which of the following is the administrative department for the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)?

  • A. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
  • B. Department of Science and Technology
  • C. Department of Biotechnology
  • D. Department of Higher Education

Q3. With reference to the recently launched MAHA Water Mission, consider the following statements:

  1. It is jointly funded by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation and the Ministry of Jal Shakti with a projected outlay of ₹200 crore over five years.
  2. Unlike grants under the erstwhile Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), the consortia eligible under this Mission may include startups, MSMEs and industry partners alongside universities and national laboratories.
  3. The Mission is implemented exclusively through public-sector national laboratories, with private entities permitted only as field-validation partners.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. In the context of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), the acronym 'MAHA' used in initiatives such as the recently launched MAHA Water Mission refers to which one of the following?

  • A. Mission for Accelerated Hydrological Action
  • B. Missions for Advancement in High-impact Areas
  • C. Multidisciplinary Action on Hydro-resources and Agriculture
  • D. Major Anchor Hubs for Applied research

Q5. With reference to the mission-mode verticals launched under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), consider the following statements:

  1. The Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant (PMECRG) and the MAHA-EV Mission were launched together as the first two initiatives of ANRF.
  2. The MAHA MedTech Mission is being implemented by ANRF in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
  3. The MAHA Water Mission has an outlay of ₹200 crore and is jointly funded by ANRF and the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
  4. ANRF's announced mission-mode verticals cover Electric Vehicles, Drones, Medical Technology, 6G and Water.
  • A. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. The acronym 'SERB', a statutory body of 2008 that was repealed and subsumed into the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, stands for which one of the following?

  • A. Science and Engineering Research Board
  • B. Strategic Engineering and Research Bureau
  • C. Scientific Education and Research Body
  • D. Science, Engineering and Resource Board

Q7. With reference to the Jal Jeevan Mission of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, which one of the following best describes its primary objective?

  • A. Providing Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household
  • B. Ensuring sustainable management of groundwater in identified over-exploited blocks
  • C. Abatement of pollution and rejuvenation of the River Ganga and its tributaries
  • D. Universal coverage of piped water supply in statutory towns and AMRUT cities

Q8. Within the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Jal Jeevan Mission is operationalised by which one of the following?

  • A. Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation
  • B. Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation
  • C. National Mission for Clean Ganga
  • D. Central Water Commission

Q9. With reference to India's research and development (R&D) funding ecosystem, consider the following statements:

  1. 1. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) was established under the ANRF Act, 2023, which repealed the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) Act, 2008.
  2. 2. The Prime Minister of India is the ex-officio President of the Governing Board of ANRF.
  3. 3. ANRF is the administrative responsibility of the Ministry of Education, acting through the University Grants Commission.
  4. 4. According to the Department of Science and Technology, in 2020-21 the Private Sector Industry contributed more than 50% to India's Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD).
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q10. Which of the following are NOT among the five priority thematic areas of the ANRF–Ministry of Jal Shakti MAHA Water Mission launched in 2026?

  1. Water resource assessment and sustainable management
  2. Desalination and wastewater treatment
  3. Water use efficiency and circular economy
  4. Water-energy nexus
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only