UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Tata unit, ASML ink MoU to boost chip making in India

Q1. Under the fiscal-support (incentive) framework of the Semicon India Programme, consider the following categories of investment. Which of the above is/are correctly identified as eligible for support?

  1. Silicon-based semiconductor fabrication units
  2. Display fabrication units
  3. Solar photovoltaic module manufacturing units
  4. Semiconductor chip design
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. As of December 2025, how many semiconductor projects had been approved under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM)?

  • A. 6
  • B. 8
  • C. 10
  • D. 14

Q3. The technology portfolio made accessible to the Tata Electronics Dholera fab through its PSMC partnership includes several process nodes. Which of the following is/are correctly identified as part of that portfolio?

  1. 28 nanometre
  2. 65 nanometre
  3. 90 nanometre
  4. 110 nanometre
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. Consider the following statements about the Tata Electronics commercial semiconductor fab. Which of the above is NOT correct?

  1. The total investment is of the order of Rs 91,000 crore.
  2. The planned wafer capacity is 50,000 wafer starts per month (WSPM).
  3. It is India's first commercial front-end wafer fabrication fab.
  4. It is located at Sanand in Gujarat.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 4 only

Q5. In semiconductor manufacturing, the photolithography tools supplied by ASML are used essentially for which one of the following?

  • A. Patterning circuit designs onto silicon wafers using light
  • B. Slicing silicon ingots into thin wafers
  • C. Assembling, testing and packaging finished chips
  • D. Growing single-crystal silicon ingots from molten silicon

Q6. As of 2025-26, how many companies in the world manufacture extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines?

  • A. 1
  • B. 3
  • C. 5
  • D. 7

Q7. During Prime Minister Modi's May 2026 visit to the Netherlands, how many outcomes/agreements were announced by the two countries?

  • A. 7
  • B. 12
  • C. 17
  • D. 22

Q8. During the May 2026 visit, India-Netherlands relations were elevated to which one of the following?

  • A. Strategic Partnership
  • B. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership
  • C. Special Privileged Strategic Partnership
  • D. Comprehensive Strategic and Global Partnership

Q9. Consider the following statements about India's semiconductor ecosystem and the global chip supply chain. Which of the above is NOT correct?

  1. Micron's Sanand facility is a back-end ATMP (assembly, testing, marking and packaging) plant.
  2. The Tata-PSMC Dholera unit is a front-end wafer fabrication fab.
  3. CG Semi and Kaynes Technology have OSAT facilities at Sanand.
  4. Taiwan accounts for less than 20% of the world's semiconductor output.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q10. The Tata Electronics Dholera fab proposal (about Rs 91,526 crore) was approved under the India Semiconductor Mission in which year?

  • A. 2021
  • B. 2022
  • C. 2023
  • D. 2024

Q11. Under the Fiscal Support Agreement for the Dholera fab, what share of the project cost is met by the Central Government on a pari-passu basis?

  • A. 30%
  • B. 40%
  • C. 50%
  • D. 70%

Q12. The Dholera facility is distinguished as India's first commercial unit of which one of the following types?

  • A. 300 mm (12-inch) front-end wafer fabrication fab
  • B. OSAT/ATMP back-end assembly and packaging unit
  • C. Display panel fabrication unit
  • D. Compound semiconductor fabrication unit