UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Will a survey error threaten the credibility of govt. schools?

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the Comprehensive Modular Survey: Education (CMS:E), 2025. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. It was conducted as part of the National Sample Survey (NSS) 80th Round.
  2. Its field work was carried out during April–June 2025.
  3. It exclusively covered higher (tertiary) education institutions.
  4. It was conducted by the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q2. The Comprehensive Modular Survey: Education, 2025, whose findings on fees in government schools generated debate, was conducted by which one of the following bodies?

  • A. National Statistics Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
  • B. National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)
  • C. Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education
  • D. Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) cell, Ministry of Education

Q3. In the Comprehensive Modular Survey: Education, 2025, the 'course fee' captured for each student is best understood as which one of the following?

  • A. Fees paid to the educational institution for the course of study, such as tuition and examination fees
  • B. The total household expenditure on a student's education, including books, uniforms and transport
  • C. Only the one-time admission fee paid at the time of first enrolment
  • D. The per-child amount reimbursed by the State to private schools under the RTE 25% quota

Q4. As per the Comprehensive Modular Survey: Education, 2025, which one of the following categories of schools had the largest share of total school enrolments in India?

  • A. Government schools
  • B. Private unaided (recognized) schools
  • C. Private aided schools
  • D. Madrasa and other schools
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