UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — A.P., AstraZeneca ink pact for genomic solutions centre

Q1. With reference to the integrated genomic solutions centre for precision oncology announced in July 2026, which one of the following statements is correct?

  • A. It is being implemented by the Centre for Development of Telematics under a Centre of Excellence agreement with the State's ITE&C Department.
  • B. It is being set up entirely by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, as a central sector project with no State participation whatsoever.
  • C. It is being executed exclusively by Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone Ltd., the sole implementing agency for every genomics project in the State.
  • D. It is being set up under a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Government of Andhra Pradesh with AstraZeneca India.

Q2. Consider the following with reference to the integrated genomic solutions centre agreed upon in the Andhra Pradesh–AstraZeneca India Memorandum of Understanding of July 2026: 1. Lung cancer is among the disease areas identified for the centre at launch. 2. Breast cancer is among the disease areas identified for the centre at launch. 3. Advanced genomic testing and biomarker analysis are its core technologies. 4. It is to come up on the Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone campus at Visakhapatnam. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Lung cancer is among the disease areas identified for the centre at launch.
  2. Breast cancer is among the disease areas identified for the centre at launch.
  3. Advanced genomic testing and biomarker analysis are its core technologies.
  4. It is to come up on the Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone campus at Visakhapatnam.
  • A. 1 and 4
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding precision oncology and genomic medicine: 1. Precision oncology pairs molecularly targeted agents with predefined driver genes or biomarkers identified in a patient's tumour. 2. Companion diagnostics are tests developed around biomarkers and are used to guide the choice of cancer therapy. 3. Somatic mutations detected by next-generation sequencing are those inherited from a parent and present in every cell of the body. 4. Conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy, unlike targeted therapy, acts only on cells carrying a specific molecular alteration. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Precision oncology pairs molecularly targeted agents with predefined driver genes or biomarkers identified in a patient's tumour.
  2. Companion diagnostics are tests developed around biomarkers and are used to guide the choice of cancer therapy.
  3. Somatic mutations detected by next-generation sequencing are those inherited from a parent and present in every cell of the body.
  4. Conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy, unlike targeted therapy, acts only on cells carrying a specific molecular alteration.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q4. The 'MATCH' precision-oncology trial, in which patients are assigned to treatment arms on the basis of predefined molecular biomarkers in their tumours rather than the organ of origin, is conducted under the aegis of which one of the following?

  • A. The International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization
  • B. The Oncology Center of Excellence of the United States Food and Drug Administration
  • C. The National Cancer Institute of the United States, under the National Institutes of Health
  • D. The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency

Q5. With reference to the whole-genome data resource generated under the GenomeIndia project and dedicated to researchers in January 2025, which one of the following statements is correct?

  • A. It is hosted by the National Informatics Centre, which stores all biological data generated by every Central scientific department.
  • B. It is archived at the Indian Biological Data Centre, the national repository set up by the Department of Biotechnology at Faridabad.
  • C. It is held by the Indian Council of Medical Research, which is the sole custodian of all human genomic data generated in the country.
  • D. It is held by the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, the country's only whole-genome sequencing facility.

Q6. The GenomeIndia project, which has completed whole genome sequencing of 10,000 individuals drawn from 83 population groups, is funded and spearheaded by which one of the following?

  • A. The Indian Council of Medical Research, under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
  • B. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, through its Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology
  • C. The Department of Atomic Energy, through its grant-in-aid institution the Tata Memorial Centre
  • D. The Department of Biotechnology, under the Ministry of Science and Technology

Q7. The National Cancer Grid, a network created to develop uniform standards of cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, is an initiative of the Government of India operationalised through which one of the following?

  • A. The Department of Atomic Energy, through its grant-in-aid institution the Tata Memorial Centre
  • B. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, through the National Health Authority
  • C. The Department of Health Research, through the National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research
  • D. The Department of Biotechnology, through the Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad

Q8. Consider the following statements about the National Cancer Grid (NCG): 1. It is funded by the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India. 2. Its membership is confined entirely to cancer centres and institutions located within India. 3. Its member organizations together treat about 60 per cent of all new cancer patients in India every year. 4. It is coordinated by the Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, New Delhi, which serves as its apex coordinating centre. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It is funded by the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India.
  2. Its membership is confined entirely to cancer centres and institutions located within India.
  3. Its member organizations together treat about 60 per cent of all new cancer patients in India every year.
  4. It is coordinated by the Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, New Delhi, which serves as its apex coordinating centre.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. Consider the following statements regarding Andhra Pradesh's deep-tech and health-tech infrastructure: 1. The Amaravati Quantum Valley Tech Park, launched in February 2026, counts IBM, TCS and L&T among its industry partners. 2. The Centre for Development of Telematics has agreed to establish a Centre of Excellence in the Amaravati Quantum Valley for quantum communication and security solutions. 3. The Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone at Visakhapatnam was the country's first medical technology manufacturing park. 4. The National Quantum Mission, with an outlay of about Rs 6,000 crore, is implemented by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Amaravati Quantum Valley Tech Park, launched in February 2026, counts IBM, TCS and L&T among its industry partners.
  2. The Centre for Development of Telematics has agreed to establish a Centre of Excellence in the Amaravati Quantum Valley for quantum communication and security solutions.
  3. The Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone at Visakhapatnam was the country's first medical technology manufacturing park.
  4. The National Quantum Mission, with an outlay of about Rs 6,000 crore, is implemented by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 4 only

Q10. Agreements for setting up Centres of Excellence in the Amaravati Quantum Valley are entered into on behalf of the State by which one of the following departments of the Government of Andhra Pradesh?

  • A. The Department of Health, Medical and Family Welfare, which handles biomedical technology tie-ups
  • B. The Department of Industries and Commerce, which administers industrial park allotments
  • C. The Information Technology, Electronics and Communications Department, headed by its own Cabinet Minister
  • D. The Department of Higher Education, which coordinates university-linked research facilities

Q11. Consider the following statements about AstraZeneca: 1. It was formed in 1999 by the merger of Sweden's Astra AB with the United Kingdom-based Zeneca Group. 2. Astra AB, which dated back to 1913, had as its first blockbuster product an anti-ulcer drug called Xylocaine. 3. Zeneca Group, founded in Britain in 1993, was demerged from Imperial Chemical Industries and held a major share of the oncology market. 4. AstraZeneca's Global Innovation and Technology Centre in India is located at Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It was formed in 1999 by the merger of Sweden's Astra AB with the United Kingdom-based Zeneca Group.
  2. Astra AB, which dated back to 1913, had as its first blockbuster product an anti-ulcer drug called Xylocaine.
  3. Zeneca Group, founded in Britain in 1993, was demerged from Imperial Chemical Industries and held a major share of the oncology market.
  4. AstraZeneca's Global Innovation and Technology Centre in India is located at Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh.
  • A. 2 and 4
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. Consider the following statements regarding India's foreign direct investment policy in the pharmaceutical and medical devices sectors: 1. FDI up to 100 per cent is permitted under the automatic route in greenfield pharmaceuticals. 2. In brownfield pharmaceuticals, FDI up to 74 per cent is permitted under the automatic route, and beyond that up to 100 per cent under the Government approval route. 3. FDI up to 100 per cent is permitted under the automatic route for manufacturing of medical devices, without any distinction between greenfield and brownfield. 4. Proposals for brownfield pharmaceutical FDI requiring approval are appraised and cleared by the Securities and Exchange Board of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. FDI up to 100 per cent is permitted under the automatic route in greenfield pharmaceuticals.
  2. In brownfield pharmaceuticals, FDI up to 74 per cent is permitted under the automatic route, and beyond that up to 100 per cent under the Government approval route.
  3. FDI up to 100 per cent is permitted under the automatic route for manufacturing of medical devices, without any distinction between greenfield and brownfield.
  4. Proposals for brownfield pharmaceutical FDI requiring approval are appraised and cleared by the Securities and Exchange Board of India.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 4