UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Shivakumar to convene MPs’ meet in Delhi on State issues
Q1. The meeting of Karnataka MPs convened by CM D.K. Shivakumar sought release of Central disaster-relief funds. Which one of the following is the nodal Union ministry that administers disaster management and notifies State Disaster Response Fund allocations?
- A. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare
- B. Ministry of Finance
- C. Ministry of Home Affairs
- D. Ministry of Rural Development
Q2. With reference to the meeting of Karnataka MPs convened in New Delhi in July 2026 to press the State's demands on the Centre, consider the following statements:
1. It was convened at Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi.
2. It was held during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, 2026.
3. It was presided over by the KPCC president, B.K. Hariprasad, in place of the Chief Minister.
4. Its immediate trigger was the drought situation in Karnataka.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- It was convened at Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi.
- It was held during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, 2026.
- It was presided over by the KPCC president, B.K. Hariprasad, in place of the Chief Minister.
- Its immediate trigger was the drought situation in Karnataka.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 2 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 3 and 4 only
Q3. With reference to Karnataka's demand for Central drought relief following the Kharif 2023 drought, consider the following statements:
1. For the Kharif 2023 season, Karnataka declared 223 of its 236 taluks as drought-affected.
2. Karnataka approached the Supreme Court seeking release of funds from the National Disaster Response Fund.
3. The Centre released the entire amount that Karnataka had sought under the NDRF.
4. All 236 taluks of Karnataka were categorised as severely drought-affected.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- For the Kharif 2023 season, Karnataka declared 223 of its 236 taluks as drought-affected.
- Karnataka approached the Supreme Court seeking release of funds from the National Disaster Response Fund.
- The Centre released the entire amount that Karnataka had sought under the NDRF.
- All 236 taluks of Karnataka were categorised as severely drought-affected.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1, 2 and 4 only
- D. 3 and 4 only
Q4. With reference to Karnataka's 2024 pursuit of Central drought-relief funds, consider the following statements:
1. Karnataka sought over ₹18,000 crore from the NDRF for drought management.
2. The Centre released ₹3,454 crore under the NDRF for Karnataka's drought relief.
3. Karnataka's petition for release of drought funds was filed before the Supreme Court.
4. The funds were released only after the Karnataka High Court directed the Union government to do so.
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified?
- Karnataka sought over ₹18,000 crore from the NDRF for drought management.
- The Centre released ₹3,454 crore under the NDRF for Karnataka's drought relief.
- Karnataka's petition for release of drought funds was filed before the Supreme Court.
- The funds were released only after the Karnataka High Court directed the Union government to do so.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 4 only
- C. 3 and 4 only
- D. 2 only
Q5. The release of additional financial assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to a disaster-affected State is authorised by a High-Level Committee chaired by which one of the following?
- A. The Prime Minister
- B. The Union Home Minister
- C. The Union Finance Minister
- D. The Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog
Q6. For a general-category State (other than the North-Eastern and Himalayan States), what is the Central Government's share in the annual corpus of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF)?
- A. 75 per cent
- B. 50 per cent
- C. 90 per cent
- D. 100 per cent
Q7. Statutory grants-in-aid to the States under Article 275 of the Constitution are given on the recommendation of which one of the following?
- A. The Finance Commission
- B. The NITI Aayog
- C. The GST Council
- D. The Inter-State Council
Q8. Under which Article of the Constitution can the Union make discretionary grants to the States for any public purpose, even on a matter outside its legislative competence?
- A. Article 275
- B. Article 280
- C. Article 282
- D. Article 293
Q9. The Monsoon Session of the Karnataka Legislature, announced to commence on 13 August 2026 — like every session of a State Legislature — is summoned by which one of the following?
- A. The Chief Minister of the State
- B. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
- C. The Governor of the State
- D. The President of India
Q10. As per the Constitution, the maximum permissible gap between the last sitting of one session and the first sitting of the next session of a State Legislature is:
- A. Three months
- B. Four months
- C. Twelve months
- D. Six months
Q11. The 2026 Monsoon Session of Parliament was held from 20 July to 13 August 2026. How many sittings did it comprise?
Q12. With reference to the Manual for Drought Management in India, consider the following statements:
1. The Manual for Drought Management, 2016 was issued by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.
2. The 2016 Manual superseded the earlier drought management manual of 2009.
3. Under the 2016 Manual, States affected by moderate as well as severe drought are eligible to seek Central assistance.
4. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) is among the rainfall-related indicators used to trigger drought assessment.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- The Manual for Drought Management, 2016 was issued by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.
- The 2016 Manual superseded the earlier drought management manual of 2009.
- Under the 2016 Manual, States affected by moderate as well as severe drought are eligible to seek Central assistance.
- The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) is among the rainfall-related indicators used to trigger drought assessment.
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 1, 2 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3 only