UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Nilekani to lead high-powered task force on exam reforms: PM

Q1. The high-powered task force constituted in July 2026 to recommend a leak-proof, technology-driven national examination system is chaired by whom?

  • A. Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys
  • B. S. Somanath, former Chairman of ISRO
  • C. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras
  • D. Tapan Deka, former Director of the Intelligence Bureau

Q2. Besides its chairperson, how many members were named to the high-powered task force on examination reforms announced in July 2026?

  • A. Four
  • B. Five
  • C. Six
  • D. Seven

Q3. In the NEET-UG 2026 case, the identified 'kingpin' had access to the question papers by virtue of his role in the examination process of which body?

  • A. The Central Board of Secondary Education
  • B. The National Testing Agency
  • C. The University Grants Commission
  • D. The National Medical Commission

Q4. Consider the following statements about the penalty structure of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024: 1. A candidate resorting to unfair means faces 3 to 5 years' imprisonment, whereas a person committing an organised crime faces 5 to 10 years. 2. The maximum fine that can be imposed on a service provider exceeds the maximum fine that can be imposed on an individual candidate. 3. All offences under the Act are bailable and compoundable. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A candidate resorting to unfair means faces 3 to 5 years' imprisonment, whereas a person committing an organised crime faces 5 to 10 years.
  2. The maximum fine that can be imposed on a service provider exceeds the maximum fine that can be imposed on an individual candidate.
  3. All offences under the Act are bailable and compoundable.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. What is the longest term of imprisonment that can be awarded under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024?

  • A. Three years
  • B. Five years
  • C. Seven years
  • D. Ten years

Q6. In the National Testing Agency, the day-to-day management and functioning of the Secretariat is headed by the holder of which office?

  • A. The Patron-in-Chief
  • B. The President of the Society
  • C. The Director General
  • D. The Chairperson of the Executive Committee

Q7. The National Testing Agency is legally constituted as a society registered under which law?

  • A. The Societies Registration Act, 1860
  • B. The Companies Act, 2013
  • C. The Indian Trusts Act, 1882
  • D. The National Testing Agency Act, 2017

Q8. Consider the following statements comparing the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) with the Indian Penal Code (IPC): 1. Criminal conspiracy, earlier dealt with under Sections 120A/120B of the IPC, is now covered under Section 61 of the BNS. 2. Section 318 of the BNS consolidates the IPC provisions on cheating that were spread across Sections 415, 417 and 420. 3. The BNS retained the punishment for criminal breach of trust exactly as it was in the IPC, leaving it entirely unchanged. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Criminal conspiracy, earlier dealt with under Sections 120A/120B of the IPC, is now covered under Section 61 of the BNS.
  2. Section 318 of the BNS consolidates the IPC provisions on cheating that were spread across Sections 415, 417 and 420.
  3. The BNS retained the punishment for criminal breach of trust exactly as it was in the IPC, leaving it entirely unchanged.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. Nandan Nilekani was invited to become the first Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) during the tenure of which Prime Minister?

  • A. Atal Bihari Vajpayee
  • B. Manmohan Singh
  • C. Narendra Modi
  • D. P. V. Narasimha Rao

Q10. The setting up and functioning of fast-track courts in India falls primarily within the domain of which authority?

  • A. State Governments, in consultation with the respective High Courts
  • B. The Union Ministry of Law and Justice alone
  • C. The Supreme Court of India through its collegium
  • D. The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)