UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — NITI Aayog suggests ₹50,000-crore fund for biotech growth
Q1. In the NITI Aayog bioeconomy roadmap, the ₹50,000-crore BioEconomy Growth Fund is intended primarily to bridge the so-called 'valley of death'. In this context, the 'valley of death' refers to which of the following?
- A. The financing gap between laboratory research/proof-of-concept and commercial-scale manufacturing
- B. The shortage of trained biotechnology researchers in Tier-II and Tier-III cities
- C. The decline in India's share of global pharmaceutical exports
- D. The loss of biodiversity caused by unregulated genetic engineering
Q2. The BioEconomy Growth Fund proposed in the NITI Aayog roadmap is envisaged for the period 2026-35. Over how many years is the fund proposed to be deployed?
- A. 8 years
- B. 10 years
- C. 12 years
- D. 15 years
Q3. Consider the following statements comparing the current size and future targets of India's bioeconomy as set out in the NITI Aayog roadmap:
1. In 2025 India's bioeconomy was valued at about USD 195.3 billion.
2. The roadmap sets a 2035 target of USD 691 billion and places India among the world's top three biotechnology powers.
3. The roadmap's 2047 vision is a USD 2.6 trillion bioeconomy contributing 8-10% of GDP.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- In 2025 India's bioeconomy was valued at about USD 195.3 billion.
- The roadmap sets a 2035 target of USD 691 billion and places India among the world's top three biotechnology powers.
- The roadmap's 2047 vision is a USD 2.6 trillion bioeconomy contributing 8-10% of GDP.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q4. In the NITI Aayog bioeconomy roadmap, the figure of USD 195.3 billion denotes which of the following?
- A. The current (2025) size of India's bioeconomy
- B. The bioeconomy target set for the year 2035
- C. The corpus of the proposed BioEconomy Growth Fund
- D. The projected bioeconomy value for 2047
Q5. Consider the following as thematic/strategic sectors identified under the BioE3 Policy:
1. Smart proteins and functional foods
2. Precision biotherapeutics
3. Semiconductor fabrication
4. Carbon capture and its utilisation
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as a BioE3 thematic sector?
- Smart proteins and functional foods
- Precision biotherapeutics
- Semiconductor fabrication
- Carbon capture and its utilisation
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 1, 2 and 4
- D. 3 only
Q6. The BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy was formally approved in August 2024 by which of the following?
- A. The Union Cabinet
- B. The NITI Aayog Governing Council
- C. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)
- D. Parliament, through a dedicated statute
Q7. With reference to the release of the NITI Aayog bioeconomy roadmap, consider the following:
1. Debjani Ghosh is a Distinguished Fellow of NITI Aayog.
2. Dr Jitendra Singh, associated with unveiling the roadmap, holds the Science & Technology portfolio.
3. The roadmap was released in Mumbai.
4. The roadmap is titled 'Roadmap for building India as a leading bioeconomy powerhouse by 2035'.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- Debjani Ghosh is a Distinguished Fellow of NITI Aayog.
- Dr Jitendra Singh, associated with unveiling the roadmap, holds the Science & Technology portfolio.
- The roadmap was released in Mumbai.
- The roadmap is titled 'Roadmap for building India as a leading bioeconomy powerhouse by 2035'.
- A. 1 and 4 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1, 2 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q8. Consider the following statements comparing the BioE3 Policy with the NITI Aayog bioeconomy roadmap:
1. The BioE3 Policy was approved in 2024, whereas the bioeconomy roadmap was released in 2026.
2. Unlike BioE3's broad-policy framework, the roadmap advocates a mission-mode execution strategy.
3. Both the BioE3 Policy and the roadmap were issued by NITI Aayog.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The BioE3 Policy was approved in 2024, whereas the bioeconomy roadmap was released in 2026.
- Unlike BioE3's broad-policy framework, the roadmap advocates a mission-mode execution strategy.
- Both the BioE3 Policy and the roadmap were issued by NITI Aayog.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q9. With reference to NITI Aayog, consider the following statements:
1. It was established on 1 January 2015.
2. It replaced the erstwhile Planning Commission.
3. It was created through a dedicated Act of Parliament.
4. The Prime Minister serves as its ex-officio Chairperson.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- It was established on 1 January 2015.
- It replaced the erstwhile Planning Commission.
- It was created through a dedicated Act of Parliament.
- The Prime Minister serves as its ex-officio Chairperson.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 3 only
- D. 3 and 4
Q10. Which one of the following is the ex-officio Chairperson of NITI Aayog?
- A. The Prime Minister
- B. The Vice-Chairperson of NITI Aayog
- C. The Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog
- D. The Union Finance Minister
Q11. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the nodal department for biotechnology promotion in India, functions under which one of the following Union Ministries?
- A. Ministry of Science and Technology
- B. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- C. Ministry of Earth Sciences
- D. Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
Q12. Consider the following as focus areas that the proposed BioEconomy Growth Fund is intended to support:
1. Advanced therapeutics
2. Petroleum refining
3. Synthetic biology
4. Fermentation technologies
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as a focus area of the Fund?
- Advanced therapeutics
- Petroleum refining
- Synthetic biology
- Fermentation technologies
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 2 only
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4