UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Centre yields to A.P.; to modify education Bill

Q1. The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill, 2025 is best described as a legislation that primarily seeks to:

  • A. create a single apex higher-education regulator by repealing the UGC Act and subsuming the functions of the UGC, AICTE and NCTE
  • B. establish a dedicated central funding agency to channel grants exclusively to State-affiliated universities
  • C. set up an accreditation-only authority for privately-run higher educational institutions
  • D. constitute an apex body to regulate school education and teacher recruitment across States

Q2. With reference to the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill, 2025, consider the following statements: 1. It repeals the University Grants Commission Act, 1956. 2. It dissolves the All India Council for Technical Education and the National Council for Teacher Education. 3. It vests the proposed Commission with the function of disbursing grants to universities. 4. It establishes an apex Commission as the primary regulatory authority for higher education. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It repeals the University Grants Commission Act, 1956.
  2. It dissolves the All India Council for Technical Education and the National Council for Teacher Education.
  3. It vests the proposed Commission with the function of disbursing grants to universities.
  4. It establishes an apex Commission as the primary regulatory authority for higher education.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q3. With reference to the controversy over Clause 47 of the VBSA Bill, 2025, consider the following statements: 1. Clause 47 empowered the Centre to suspend or supersede the Commission or its councils. 2. Under the original Clause 47, supersession could be for up to six months, extendable by a further six months. 3. Andhra Pradesh demanded mandatory State concurrence before any Central action affecting State-affiliated colleges and universities. 4. The parliamentary panel recommended the complete and unconditional deletion of Clause 47 from the Bill. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. Clause 47 empowered the Centre to suspend or supersede the Commission or its councils.
  2. Under the original Clause 47, supersession could be for up to six months, extendable by a further six months.
  3. Andhra Pradesh demanded mandatory State concurrence before any Central action affecting State-affiliated colleges and universities.
  4. The parliamentary panel recommended the complete and unconditional deletion of Clause 47 from the Bill.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. Under the original Clause 47 of the VBSA Bill, 2025, what was the maximum total period for which the Commission or a council could be suspended or superseded?

  • A. Six months
  • B. Twelve months
  • C. Eighteen months
  • D. Twenty-four months

Q5. In the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, the entry 'Education, including technical education, medical education and universities' is at present enumerated in which one of the following Lists?

  • A. Concurrent List (List III)
  • B. State List (List II)
  • C. Union List (List I)
  • D. It is a residuary subject not enumerated in any List

Q6. By which one of the following Constitutional Amendment Acts was 'Education' transferred from the State List to the Concurrent List?

  • A. The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976
  • B. The 44th Amendment Act, 1978
  • C. The 46th Amendment Act, 1982
  • D. The 24th Amendment Act, 1971

Q7. Under the regulatory architecture proposed by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the National Higher Education Regulatory Council (NHERC) was envisaged as the vertical responsible for:

  • A. regulation of higher education
  • B. accreditation of institutions
  • C. disbursal of funds and grants
  • D. framing of academic standards and learning outcomes

Q8. Consider the following statements comparing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 vision with the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill, 2025: 1. NEP 2020 envisaged HECI with four independent verticals, whereas the VBSA Bill provides for three councils under the Commission. 2. NEP 2020 proposed a separate funding vertical (HEGC), whereas the VBSA Bill omits funding as a function of the Commission. 3. Both NEP 2020 and the VBSA Bill bring medical and legal education within the ambit of the single higher-education regulator. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. NEP 2020 envisaged HECI with four independent verticals, whereas the VBSA Bill provides for three councils under the Commission.
  2. NEP 2020 proposed a separate funding vertical (HEGC), whereas the VBSA Bill omits funding as a function of the Commission.
  3. Both NEP 2020 and the VBSA Bill bring medical and legal education within the ambit of the single higher-education regulator.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. Consider the following statements about the regulators proposed to be subsumed under the VBSA Bill, 2025: 1. The University Grants Commission was established under an Act of Parliament in 1956. 2. The All India Council for Technical Education was accorded statutory status by an Act of Parliament in 1987. 3. The National Council for Teacher Education became a statutory body under an Act of 1993. 4. The National Council for Teacher Education is the statutory regulator of technical education in India. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The University Grants Commission was established under an Act of Parliament in 1956.
  2. The All India Council for Technical Education was accorded statutory status by an Act of Parliament in 1987.
  3. The National Council for Teacher Education became a statutory body under an Act of 1993.
  4. The National Council for Teacher Education is the statutory regulator of technical education in India.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 and 2
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2 only

Q10. The University Grants Commission, the All India Council for Technical Education and the National Council for Teacher Education all function as regulatory bodies under which one of the following Union Ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Education
  • B. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
  • C. Ministry of Science and Technology
  • D. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

Q11. For detailed examination and report, the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill, 2025 was referred to which one of the following?

  • A. A Joint Committee of Parliament constituted for the Bill
  • B. The Department-related Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports
  • C. The Public Accounts Committee
  • D. The Law Commission of India

Q12. The State whose demand for mandatory State concurrence led the parliamentary panel to recommend diluting the Centre's supersession power in the VBSA Bill was, at the time, governed by which of the following parties?

  • A. Telugu Desam Party (TDP)
  • B. Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP)
  • C. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)
  • D. Indian National Congress (INC)