UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — $10 Billion to 190 Billion Bioeconomy: India’s Science Story touches New Heights in 12 Years says Dr Jitendra Singh

Question 1

Which one of the following is the principal implementing agency for the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment) Policy, 2024, under the Department of Biotechnology?

Accepted Answer

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)

Answer

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

Answer

Technology Development Board (TDB)

Answer

National Research Development Corporation (NRDC)

Question 2

With reference to the 'BioEnablers' envisaged under the BioE3 Policy, 2024 as distinct from one another, consider the following statements:
1. Bio-AI Hubs are designed to power data-driven research and AI-informed predictive analytics for biomanufacturing.
2. Biofoundries are intended to provide integrated facilities for early scaling-up of proof-of-concept developments by academia, SMEs and industries.
3. Biomanufacturing Hubs are restricted to funding academic basic research and explicitly exclude startups and SMEs from access.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 3

As per the official figures cited in 2025–26, approximately how many biotech start-ups support India's bioeconomy?

Accepted Answer

About 11,800

Answer

About 2,500

Answer

About 5,000

Answer

About 25,000

Question 4

In which year was the establishment of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) announced by the Government of India?

Accepted Answer

2020

Answer

2018

Answer

2019

Answer

2022

Question 5

IN-SPACe, the single-window nodal agency for authorising space activities by non-governmental private entities in India, functions under the administrative control of which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

Department of Space, under the Prime Minister's Office

Answer

Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology

Answer

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

Answer

Defence Research and Development Organisation, Ministry of Defence

Question 6

With reference to lunar exploration, which one of the following countries became the first in the world to achieve a soft-landing of a spacecraft in the south polar region of the Moon?

Accepted Answer

India

Answer

United States of America

Answer

Russia

Answer

China

Question 7

The Chandrayaan-3 mission, which successfully soft-landed on the Moon in August 2023, was executed exclusively under which one of the following organisations of the Government of India?

Accepted Answer

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under the Department of Space

Answer

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

Answer

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

Answer

Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe)

Question 8

Under Mission Mausam, which one of the following institutions is the lead agency for weather observations, public services, decision support systems and dissemination?

Accepted Answer

India Meteorological Department (IMD)

Answer

Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM)

Answer

National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF)

Answer

Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)

Question 9

Mission Mausam, the central sector scheme to augment the Doppler Weather Radar network and enhance forecasting, is operationalised by which one of the following Union Ministries?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Earth Sciences

Answer

Ministry of Science and Technology

Answer

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Answer

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

Question 10

With reference to the Department of Biotechnology, the term 'Biotech-KISAN' most precisely refers to which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

A scientist-farmer partnership programme working on a hub-and-spoke model to deliver location-specific biotechnological solutions, implemented pan-India including Aspirational Districts in collaboration with ICAR

Answer

A credit-linked subsidy scheme administered through NABARD for farmers cultivating genetically modified crops approved by GEAC

Answer

A specialised Kisan Credit Card variant issued exclusively to agri-biotech entrepreneurs incubated by BIRAC

Answer

A statutory regulatory mechanism for licensing transgenic seed varieties to farmer producer organisations under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

Question 11

Under the amended Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy for the space sector (notified after the Indian Space Policy, 2023), what is the maximum FDI permitted under the Automatic Route for 'Launch Vehicles and associated systems/subsystems' and 'Creation of Spaceports'?

Accepted Answer

49%

Answer

26%

Answer

74%

Answer

100%

Question 12

With reference to the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy on the space sector as amended after the Indian Space Policy, 2023, consider the following activities and the maximum FDI permitted under the Automatic Route:
1. Satellites — Manufacturing and Operation: up to 74%
2. Launch Vehicles and associated systems/subsystems: up to 49%
3. Manufacturing of components and sub-systems for satellites: up to 100%
4. Creation of Spaceports for launching and receiving spacecraft: up to 100%
Which of the above pairs is/are NOT correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

4 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

2 and 4 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3 only

Question 13

With reference to the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy, 2024, consider the following statements regarding its identified thematic sectors:
1. Smart proteins and functional foods is one of the thematic sectors.
2. Precision biotherapeutics is one of the thematic sectors.
3. Semiconductor fabrication and photonics is exclusively listed as a thematic sector.
4. Carbon capture and utilization is one of the thematic sectors.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 4 only

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2, 3 and 4 only

Answer

1, 2, 3 and 4

Question 14

The BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy, 2024 for fostering high performance biomanufacturing is implemented under the aegis of which one of the following Union Ministries?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Science and Technology

Answer

Ministry of Earth Sciences

Answer

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Answer

Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — $10 Billion to 190 Billion Bioeconomy: India’s Science Story touches New Heights in 12 Years says Dr Jitendra Singh

Q1. Which one of the following is the principal implementing agency for the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment) Policy, 2024, under the Department of Biotechnology?

Q3. As per the official figures cited in 2025–26, approximately how many biotech start-ups support India's bioeconomy?

Q4. In which year was the establishment of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) announced by the Government of India?

Q5. IN-SPACe, the single-window nodal agency for authorising space activities by non-governmental private entities in India, functions under the administrative control of which one of the following?

Q6. With reference to lunar exploration, which one of the following countries became the first in the world to achieve a soft-landing of a spacecraft in the south polar region of the Moon?

Q7. The Chandrayaan-3 mission, which successfully soft-landed on the Moon in August 2023, was executed exclusively under which one of the following organisations of the Government of India?

Q8. Under Mission Mausam, which one of the following institutions is the lead agency for weather observations, public services, decision support systems and dissemination?

Q9. Mission Mausam, the central sector scheme to augment the Doppler Weather Radar network and enhance forecasting, is operationalised by which one of the following Union Ministries?

Q10. With reference to the Department of Biotechnology, the term 'Biotech-KISAN' most precisely refers to which one of the following?

Q11. Under the amended Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy for the space sector (notified after the Indian Space Policy, 2023), what is the maximum FDI permitted under the Automatic Route for 'Launch Vehicles and associated systems/subsystems' and 'Creation of Spaceports'?

Q14. The BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy, 2024 for fostering high performance biomanufacturing is implemented under the aegis of which one of the following Union Ministries?