UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India’s NGOs at a new funding crossroads

Q1. Under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, a single order of the Central Government suspending a certificate of registration may remain in force for a maximum of how many days?

  • A. Ninety days
  • B. One hundred and eighty days
  • C. Two hundred and seventy days
  • D. Three hundred and sixty days

Q2. Applications for registration, renewal and prior permission under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 are processed by which one of the following?

  • A. The Voluntary Action Cell of NITI Aayog, the nodal body for voluntary organisations
  • B. The Foreigners-II Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs
  • C. The Department of Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Finance
  • D. The Corporate Social Responsibility Cell of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs

Q3. With reference to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, consider the following: 1. It provides for a "Designated Authority" for the supervision, management and disposal of foreign contribution and assets of an organisation that ceases to hold an FCRA certificate. 2. It extends the vesting of such assets to cases where the certificate lapses because it was not renewed, a situation not covered by the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. 3. It raises the maximum term of imprisonment for contraventions from one year to five years. 4. Where a vested asset is a place of worship, the Authority is required to ensure that its religious character is maintained. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. It provides for a "Designated Authority" for the supervision, management and disposal of foreign contribution and assets of an organisation that ceases to hold an FCRA certificate.
  2. It extends the vesting of such assets to cases where the certificate lapses because it was not renewed, a situation not covered by the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010.
  3. It raises the maximum term of imprisonment for contraventions from one year to five years.
  4. Where a vested asset is a place of worship, the Authority is required to ensure that its religious character is maintained.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2026 list 105 permitted purposes grouped under five activity categories for which FCRA registration may be sought. Which of the following is/are NOT among those five categories? 1. Economic 2. Environmental 3. Religious 4. Scientific Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Economic
  2. Environmental
  3. Religious
  4. Scientific
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 4 only

Q5. Consider the following constitutional provisions and the content attributed to each: 1. Article 19(1)(c) — the right to form associations or unions 2. Article 19(4) — the grounds on which the State may restrict the right to form associations 3. Article 19(2) — the grounds on which the State may restrict the right to move freely throughout the territory of India 4. Article 19(1)(b) — the right to assemble peaceably and without arms Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Article 19(1)(c) — the right to form associations or unions
  2. Article 19(4) — the grounds on which the State may restrict the right to form associations
  3. Article 19(2) — the grounds on which the State may restrict the right to move freely throughout the territory of India
  4. Article 19(1)(b) — the right to assemble peaceably and without arms
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 2, 3 and 4 only

Q6. Consider the following statements comparing the restriction clauses applicable to different freedoms under Article 19 of the Constitution: 1. Reasonable restrictions on the freedom to form associations or unions may be imposed in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, public order or morality. 2. Unlike the clause governing the freedom of speech and expression, the clause governing the freedom to form associations does not list "friendly relations with foreign States" as a permissible ground of restriction. 3. "Defamation" and "incitement to an offence" are grounds available for restricting the freedom to form associations but are not available for restricting the freedom of speech and expression. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Reasonable restrictions on the freedom to form associations or unions may be imposed in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, public order or morality.
  2. Unlike the clause governing the freedom of speech and expression, the clause governing the freedom to form associations does not list "friendly relations with foreign States" as a permissible ground of restriction.
  3. "Defamation" and "incitement to an offence" are grounds available for restricting the freedom to form associations but are not available for restricting the freedom of speech and expression.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. The earliest Joint Parliamentary Committee set up in India was constituted to enquire into which one of the following?

  • A. Irregularities in securities and banking transactions
  • B. The Bofors gun contracts entered into by the Government
  • C. The stock market scam and matters relating thereto
  • D. Pesticide residues in soft drinks and safety standards

Q8. In Indian parliamentary practice, a Bill pending before the Lok Sabha is said to be referred to a "Joint Committee" rather than to a "Select Committee" when which one of the following is true?

  • A. The committee is chaired by a member belonging to a party other than the party in government
  • B. The committee is constituted on a motion passed in one House and concurred in by the other, and draws members from both Houses
  • C. The committee is required to present its report within the same session in which the Bill was introduced
  • D. The committee is empowered to take oral evidence from persons who are not members of Parliament

Q9. Which one of the following statements about the administration of the corporate social responsibility mandate in India is correct?

  • A. It is administered by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 read with Schedule VII
  • B. It is administered exclusively by NITI Aayog, whose prior approval is necessary for every CSR project before a company may incur any expenditure on it
  • C. It is administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs, whose prior permission is mandatory for all CSR transfers made to any non-governmental organisation
  • D. It is administered by the Ministry of Finance, and the entire CSR outlay of every eligible company must be routed through the Consolidated Fund of India

Q10. Among central public sector enterprises, which one recorded the highest corporate social responsibility expenditure in 2024-25?

  • A. Indian Oil Corporation Limited
  • B. NTPC Limited
  • C. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
  • D. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited

Q11. Consider the following statements regarding the regulation and registration of non-governmental organisations in India: 1. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 is administered by the Foreigners Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs. 2. The NGO Darpan portal, through which a non-profit organisation obtains a system-generated Unique ID, is maintained by the Voluntary Action Cell of NITI Aayog. 3. A Darpan Unique ID is mandatory for a non-profit organisation seeking grants from Ministries and Departments of the Government of India. 4. A certificate of registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 is granted by NITI Aayog on the recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 is administered by the Foreigners Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
  2. The NGO Darpan portal, through which a non-profit organisation obtains a system-generated Unique ID, is maintained by the Voluntary Action Cell of NITI Aayog.
  3. A Darpan Unique ID is mandatory for a non-profit organisation seeking grants from Ministries and Departments of the Government of India.
  4. A certificate of registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 is granted by NITI Aayog on the recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 4 only

Q12. The rules notified in 2026 which excluded proselytisation from several of the categories of activity eligible for registration — a change central to the objections raised by church bodies — were framed in exercise of powers conferred by which one of the following statutes?

  • A. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976
  • B. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010
  • C. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2020
  • D. The Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999