UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — A crisis on wheels in Kerala

Q1. Under Kerala's Priyadarshini scheme, an eligible beneficiary boarding a notified bus is issued a "zero-value ticket." Which one of the following best describes its purpose?

  • A. It records the journey for KSRTC's passenger accounting while charging the traveller nothing
  • B. It is a prepaid smart travel card, loaded in advance by the beneficiary, that is debited at a nil fare
  • C. It is a monthly season pass issued only after online registration and income verification
  • D. It is a concessional half-fare ticket restricted to women above 60 years of age

Q2. With reference to Kerala's Priyadarshini free bus-travel scheme, consider the following statements: 1. Free travel is available to women and transgender persons. 2. The benefit is confined to ordinary KSRTC bus services and does not cover Superfast and AC services. 3. Availing the benefit requires prior online registration and submission of an income certificate. 4. There is no age limit for women beneficiaries. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Free travel is available to women and transgender persons.
  2. The benefit is confined to ordinary KSRTC bus services and does not cover Superfast and AC services.
  3. Availing the benefit requires prior online registration and submission of an income certificate.
  4. There is no age limit for women beneficiaries.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 1 and 3

Q3. The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) functions as an autonomous corporation under the administrative control of which one of the following?

  • A. The Transport Department of the Government of Kerala
  • B. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India
  • C. The Public Works Department of the Government of Kerala
  • D. The Local Self Government Department of the Government of Kerala

Q4. Consider the following statements comparing the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) with its antecedents and peers: 1. KSRTC was preceded by the Travancore State Transport Department set up during the princely State of Travancore. 2. KSRTC became an autonomous corporation in 1965 under the Road Transport Corporations Act, 1950. 3. Unlike Karnataka's State Road Transport Corporation, Kerala's KSRTC was constituted directly by a special Act of the State legislature rather than under the Road Transport Corporations Act, 1950. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. KSRTC was preceded by the Travancore State Transport Department set up during the princely State of Travancore.
  2. KSRTC became an autonomous corporation in 1965 under the Road Transport Corporations Act, 1950.
  3. Unlike Karnataka's State Road Transport Corporation, Kerala's KSRTC was constituted directly by a special Act of the State legislature rather than under the Road Transport Corporations Act, 1950.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. With reference to the findings of Kerala's 2026 fiscal status report on the State's public finances, consider the following statements: 1. KSRTC is among the top loss-making public sector enterprises in Kerala. 2. The State's total debt was of the order of ₹5.07 lakh crore. 3. The accumulated losses of Kerala's public sector units fell from about ₹78,851 crore to about ₹31,571 crore by 2025. 4. KSRTC, the Water Authority and the Electricity Board together accounted for a major share of the accumulated PSU losses. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. KSRTC is among the top loss-making public sector enterprises in Kerala.
  2. The State's total debt was of the order of ₹5.07 lakh crore.
  3. The accumulated losses of Kerala's public sector units fell from about ₹78,851 crore to about ₹31,571 crore by 2025.
  4. KSRTC, the Water Authority and the Electricity Board together accounted for a major share of the accumulated PSU losses.
  • A. 1 and 4
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3
  • D. 4 only

Q6. Kerala's liquidity stress in 2025 was reflected in the State remaining on "Ways and Means Advances" for a large part of the year. Such advances to a State Government are provided by which one of the following authorities?

  • A. The Reserve Bank of India
  • B. NITI Aayog
  • C. The Finance Commission
  • D. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India

Q7. With reference to the 2026 private bus operators' agitation in Kasaragod against the Priyadarshini scheme, consider the following statements: 1. Around 450 private buses stayed off the roads during a token strike. 2. The operators' federation demanded a diesel subsidy and recognition of private bus operation as an industry. 3. Several operators submitted "Form G" seeking temporary suspension of their services. 4. The operators' federation welcomed the scheme and sought its expansion to additional categories of passengers. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Around 450 private buses stayed off the roads during a token strike.
  2. The operators' federation demanded a diesel subsidy and recognition of private bus operation as an industry.
  3. Several operators submitted "Form G" seeking temporary suspension of their services.
  4. The operators' federation welcomed the scheme and sought its expansion to additional categories of passengers.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 3

Q8. During the Kasaragod protest, several private bus owners were reported to have "filed Form G." In Kerala's stage carriage regulatory practice, filing Form G signifies an application to:

  • A. Temporarily suspend or surrender the operation of a stage carriage permit
  • B. Register a fresh stage carriage permit for a new route
  • C. Claim a diesel subsidy from the State transport department
  • D. Report a road accident involving the vehicle to the Regional Transport Office

Q9. With reference to the Road Transport Corporations Act, 1950, consider the following statements: 1. The capital of a corporation may be jointly provided by the Central and the State Governments in a proportion agreed between them. 2. The Act extends to the whole of India. 3. A corporation under the Act is managed by a Board on which both the Central and the State Governments are represented. 4. The Act empowers only the Central Government to establish road transport corporations. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The capital of a corporation may be jointly provided by the Central and the State Governments in a proportion agreed between them.
  2. The Act extends to the whole of India.
  3. A corporation under the Act is managed by a Board on which both the Central and the State Governments are represented.
  4. The Act empowers only the Central Government to establish road transport corporations.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q10. At the Union level, the administration of the Road Transport Corporations Act, 1950 falls within the purview of which one of the following ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
  • B. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
  • C. Ministry of Heavy Industries
  • D. Ministry of Railways

Q11. Among the States' free bus-travel schemes for women, which one is generally described as the most extensive, having issued close to 500 crore free tickets at a cost exceeding ₹12,600 crore within about two years by mid-2025?

  • A. Karnataka's Shakti scheme
  • B. Tamil Nadu's Magalir Vidiyal Payanam
  • C. Delhi's Pink Ticket scheme
  • D. Kerala's Priyadarshini scheme

Q12. With reference to concepts in public transport finance, consider the following statements: 1. The farebox recovery ratio is the share of a transit system's operating expenses covered by passenger fare revenue. 2. Cross-subsidisation involves setting some fares below cost, financed by surpluses earned from other, higher-priced services. 3. Viability Gap Funding in India is administered by the Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance. 4. A farebox recovery ratio above 100% would indicate that fare revenue alone is unable to meet operating costs. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The farebox recovery ratio is the share of a transit system's operating expenses covered by passenger fare revenue.
  2. Cross-subsidisation involves setting some fares below cost, financed by surpluses earned from other, higher-priced services.
  3. Viability Gap Funding in India is administered by the Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance.
  4. A farebox recovery ratio above 100% would indicate that fare revenue alone is unable to meet operating costs.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2 only