UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — The waning sheen

Q1. In the context of India's GST architecture, the term 'Import IGST' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The Basic Customs Duty levied on goods imported into India under the Customs Tariff Act, 1975
  • B. The Integrated Goods and Services Tax levied on the import of goods, treated as an inter-State supply under Section 5 of the IGST Act, 2017
  • C. The Social Welfare Surcharge collected on imported goods in lieu of education cesses
  • D. The compensation cess levied on imported luxury and demerit goods to fund State revenue shortfalls

Q2. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, which recommended the two-tier rate structure that came into effect in September 2025, is a constitutional body established under which of the following?

  • A. Article 246A, inserted by the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016
  • B. Article 269A, inserted by the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016
  • C. Article 279A, inserted by the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016
  • D. Article 280, as amended by the 88th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003

Q3. With reference to the GST rate structure that came into effect after the 56th GST Council Meeting, as compared with the structure prevailing earlier, consider the following statements: 1. The 12% and 28% standard rate slabs have been abolished. 2. A special rate of 40% has been introduced on selected sin and demerit goods such as tobacco and aerated waters. 3. The new rates came into effect from 1 October 2025. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The 12% and 28% standard rate slabs have been abolished.
  2. A special rate of 40% has been introduced on selected sin and demerit goods such as tobacco and aerated waters.
  3. The new rates came into effect from 1 October 2025.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. With reference to the GST rate structure notified after the 56th GST Council Meeting (in force from 22 September 2025), which of the following are correctly identified as features of the new structure? 1. A merit rate of 5% applicable on essentials and mass-consumption goods. 2. A standard rate of 18% applicable to most goods and services. 3. A special rate of 40% on selected sin and demerit goods. 4. Retention of the 28% slab exclusively for automobiles and consumer durables. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. A merit rate of 5% applicable on essentials and mass-consumption goods.
  2. A standard rate of 18% applicable to most goods and services.
  3. A special rate of 40% on selected sin and demerit goods.
  4. Retention of the 28% slab exclusively for automobiles and consumer durables.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q5. Who is the ex-officio Chairperson of the GST Council that approved the 'two-tier' GST rate rationalisation in September 2025?

  • A. The Prime Minister of India
  • B. The Union Finance Minister
  • C. The Union Minister of State for Finance (Revenue)
  • D. The Chairperson of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC)
  • NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam
    NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam

    The notification of Borjuli site in Sonitpur, Assam as a Biodiversity Heritage Site under an NRAA-funded wild rice conservation project is a named, verifiable fact. Biodiversity Heritage Sites and wild crop genetic resource conservation are tested Prelims topics.

  • India Advances Global Green Hydrogen Leadership under National Green Hydrogen Mission

    Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), a landmark commercial deal for green ammonia and methanol export to Japan (IHI Corporation named) is a concrete outcome. India's green hydrogen ambitions and NGHM are recurring Prelims themes; this adds a factual export-deal hook.

  • NITI Aayog launches report on "Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global"
    NITI Aayog launches report on "Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global"

    A named NITI Aayog report on Ayurveda's global expansion is testable as a policy document. NITI Aayog reports, AYUSH sector initiatives, and traditional medicine diplomacy are recurring Prelims themes; the report's launch date and authoring body are clean factual hooks.

  • INDIAN NAVAL SHIP TRIKAND RESPONDS TO PIRACY ATTEMPT ON MV GOLDEN ARSENAL IN THE GULF OF ADEN

    A named Indian Navy anti-piracy operation with specific ship (INS Trikand — identified as a stealth frigate), vessel flag state (St. Vincent and the Grenadines), and location (Gulf of Aden) offers testable facts. India's maritime security operations are plausible Prelims hooks but appear occasionally, not frequently.

  • Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches nationwide ‘Viksit Bharat – G-Ram G Act’ from Andhra Pradesh with Chief Minister Shri Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Shri Pawan Kalyan

    A newly named nationwide scheme launched by the Rural Development ministry that explicitly positions itself as moving 'beyond MGNREGA' is potentially testable. However, the excerpt lacks concrete numbers or statutory grounding, keeping it at 3 rather than 4.

  • MANAS: A Digital Shield Against Drugs

    MANAS is a named government digital initiative (national narcotics helpline) with a specific mandate under Nasha Mukt Bharat. Named government portals/helplines with specific functions are tested in Prelims, though this release is a backgrounder without new launch data.

  • VB-G RAM G Act comes into force across the country from today; “A historic day for rural India”: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

    The VB-G RAM G Act (likely a renamed/revised MGNREGA or rural employment guarantee framework) came into force across India from July 1, 2026. Key facts: national launch in Tirupati on July 2; revised wage rates notified with no daily wage below ₹300; national average wage increased by over 10%. A new central Act coming into force with specific wage figures is high-priority Prelims material.

  • India Achieves Major Milestone with Approval of Country’s First PinS Instrument Approach Procedure for Helicopter Operations

    DGCA approved India's first Private Point-in-Space (PinS) Instrument Approach Procedure for helicopter operations, implemented at Undavalli Heliport (developed by AAI). This is a named first in Indian aviation with a specific location and implementing body — classic Prelims material for science/tech and aviation sections.

  • 11 Years of Digital India: Better Healthcare & Digital Markets Making Lives Easier

    This release contains high-quality testable data: Greece is named as the 10th country to adopt UPI; every second real-time digital transaction globally is processed via India's UPI; 13 lakh Anganwadi workers connected via Poshan Tracker covering 9 crore beneficiaries. Multiple concrete facts that are prime Prelims material.

  • India, EU Advance Cooperation on Sustainable Ship Recycling; Three Indian Yards Ready for EU Recognition

    India has a 35.4% global market share in sustainable ship recycling. Three Indian ship-recycling yards are ready for EU recognition. India committed $8 billion to strengthen shipbuilding and recycling, with a target of recycling 16,000 ships. These are specific, verifiable figures in a sector where India leads globally — strong Prelims material on maritime/shipping sector.

  • GAGAN: Navigating India’s Skies with Precision

    Detailed backgrounder on GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation), India's Satellite-Based Augmentation System developed jointly by ISRO and Airports Authority of India (AAI). It enhances GPS accuracy for aviation, is certified to international standards, and supports satellite-based landing approaches. GAGAN is a recurring Prelims topic and this backgrounder consolidates key testable facts about its developers, purpose, and certification status.

    • The Hindu

    Latest PIB

    Latest from The Hindu

    Explore