UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Rahul seeks students’ views on issues with the education system
Q1. The fifth and latest edition of 'Chhatron Ki Goonj', the student-outreach interaction convened by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, was scheduled to be held in which one of the following cities?
- A. Pune, in Maharashtra, which had hosted an earlier edition of the interaction
- B. Indore, in Madhya Pradesh, on 19 September 2026
- C. Kota, in Rajasthan, the country's best-known competitive-exam coaching hub
- D. Prayagraj, in Uttar Pradesh, a major centre for civil services aspirants
Q2. 'Chhatron Ki Goonj', recently in the news, is best described as which one of the following?
- A. A nationwide student-outreach exercise run by the Indian National Congress that documents grievances about the education system through city-wise interactions, an online feedback form and video messages
- B. A Ministry of Education initiative under the National Education Policy 2020 that collects student feedback on curriculum load through a dedicated national portal and video submissions
- C. A University Grants Commission scheme that requires every higher education institution to constitute a student grievance redressal cell and report complaints annually
- D. A federation of student unions of central universities that submits an annual memorandum on examination reform to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education
Q3. Consider the following bodies/committees with respect to the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha:
1. The committee that recommends to the President the appointment of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India
2. The Selection Committee for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners
3. The collegium that recommends the appointment of judges of the Supreme Court of India
4. The Selection Committee for the appointment of the Chairperson and Members of the Lokpal
In which of the above is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha correctly identified as a member?
- The committee that recommends to the President the appointment of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India
- The Selection Committee for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners
- The collegium that recommends the appointment of judges of the Supreme Court of India
- The Selection Committee for the appointment of the Chairperson and Members of the Lokpal
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 1, 2 and 4
- D. 3 only
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the office of the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament:
1. Under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, where no Leader of the Opposition has been recognised in the Lok Sabha, the leader of the single largest opposition party in the Rajya Sabha is deemed to be the Leader of the Opposition for the purposes of the Selection Committee.
2. Under the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977, the Leader of the Opposition is the leader in that House of the opposition party having the greatest numerical strength, recognised as such by the Chairman in the case of the Council of States and by the Speaker in the case of the House of the People.
3. No member was recognised as the Leader of the Opposition by the Speaker in the 17th Lok Sabha, whereas the office has been held in the 18th Lok Sabha since June 2024.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, where no Leader of the Opposition has been recognised in the Lok Sabha, the leader of the single largest opposition party in the Rajya Sabha is deemed to be the Leader of the Opposition for the purposes of the Selection Committee.
- Under the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977, the Leader of the Opposition is the leader in that House of the opposition party having the greatest numerical strength, recognised as such by the Chairman in the case of the Council of States and by the Speaker in the case of the House of the People.
- No member was recognised as the Leader of the Opposition by the Speaker in the 17th Lok Sabha, whereas the office has been held in the 18th Lok Sabha since June 2024.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q5. As per the Schedule to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, in a school having classes I to V with 91 to 120 children admitted, what is the minimum number of teachers to be appointed?
- A. Two
- B. Three
- C. Four
- D. Six
Q6. Consider the following pairs relating to education governance in India:
1. Free and compulsory education for children of the age of six to fourteen years as a fundamental right — Article 21A, inserted by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002
2. Admission of at least 25 per cent of the strength of class I in unaided schools to children of weaker sections and disadvantaged groups from the neighbourhood — Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act, 2009
3. Pupil-teacher ratio of 30:1 at the primary level — the Schedule to the RTE Act, 2009
4. Placing of education in the Concurrent List of the Seventh Schedule — the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1978
Which of the above pairs is/are NOT correctly matched?
- Free and compulsory education for children of the age of six to fourteen years as a fundamental right — Article 21A, inserted by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002
- Admission of at least 25 per cent of the strength of class I in unaided schools to children of weaker sections and disadvantaged groups from the neighbourhood — Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act, 2009
- Pupil-teacher ratio of 30:1 at the primary level — the Schedule to the RTE Act, 2009
- Placing of education in the Concurrent List of the Seventh Schedule — the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1978
- A. 1 and 4
- B. 2 and 3
- C. 3 only
- D. 4 only
Q7. The Committee constituted in June 2017 to draft the policy that was eventually released as the National Education Policy 2020 was chaired by which one of the following?
- A. Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation
- B. Shri T. S. R. Subramanian, former Cabinet Secretary to the Government of India
- C. Prof. Yashpal, former Chairman of the University Grants Commission
- D. Dr. K. Kasturirangan, former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation
Q8. As envisaged in the National Education Policy 2020, which one of the following is to be the single apex body for the entire higher education sector, other than medical and legal education?
- A. The National Higher Education Regulatory Council, which is to carry out light-but-tight regulation of institutions
- B. The General Education Council, which is to frame expected learning outcomes and graduate attributes
- C. The Higher Education Commission of India, within which four independent verticals are to function
- D. The Higher Education Grants Council, which is to disburse funds to higher education institutions
Q9. Under the Rajasthan Coaching Centres (Control and Regulation) Bill, 2025, which one of the following correctly states the coverage of the expression 'coaching centre'?
- A. Any institute imparting coaching for a competitive examination, irrespective of the number of students, with one registration covering all its branches in the State
- B. An institute coaching more than fifty students, where hostel or residential facilities are provided along with classroom instruction
- C. An institute coaching more than two hundred and fifty students for engineering or medical entrance examinations, other than schools affiliated to a recognised board
- D. An institute coaching more than one hundred students for any study programme, competitive examination or academic support, each branch requiring separate registration
Q10. Consider the following statements comparing the regulation of coaching centres by the Union Government and by Rajasthan:
1. The Union Ministry of Education's Guidelines for Regulation of Coaching Centres were issued in 2024 and sent to States and Union Territories for consideration by way of an appropriate legal framework.
2. While the Union guidelines only suggested registration of coaching centres, the Rajasthan legislation makes registration valid for three years and requires each branch of a centre to register separately.
3. Rajasthan enacted its Coaching Centres (Control and Regulation) legislation in 2023, that is, before the Union Ministry of Education issued its guidelines.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The Union Ministry of Education's Guidelines for Regulation of Coaching Centres were issued in 2024 and sent to States and Union Territories for consideration by way of an appropriate legal framework.
- While the Union guidelines only suggested registration of coaching centres, the Rajasthan legislation makes registration valid for three years and requires each branch of a centre to register separately.
- Rajasthan enacted its Coaching Centres (Control and Regulation) legislation in 2023, that is, before the Union Ministry of Education issued its guidelines.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q11. Under the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, how many existing statutory regulators of education are proposed to be replaced by the single Commission it creates?
- A. Two, namely the University Grants Commission and the All India Council for Technical Education
- B. Three, namely the University Grants Commission, the All India Council for Technical Education and the National Council for Teacher Education
- C. Four, namely the University Grants Commission, the All India Council for Technical Education, the National Council for Teacher Education and the National Medical Commission
- D. All statutory professional regulators of education, including those for medical, legal and veterinary education, without exception