UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Centre mandates local committees to oversee and govern schools

Q1. Under the School Management Committee (SMC) Guidelines, 2026 issued by the Ministry of Education, the new unified SMC structure replaces which one of the following pre-existing bodies at the secondary school level?

  • A. School Management Development Committee (SMDC)
  • B. Village Education Committee (VEC)
  • C. Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)
  • D. School Development and Monitoring Committee (SDMC)

Q2. As per the School Management Committee (SMC) Guidelines, 2026, what is the minimum proportion of women members mandated in every School Management Committee?

  • A. One-third (33%)
  • B. Forty per cent (40%)
  • C. Fifty per cent (50%)
  • D. Seventy-five per cent (75%)

Q3. With reference to the School Management Committee (SMC) Guidelines, 2026, consider the following statements: 1. At least 75% of the members of an SMC shall be parents or guardians of children studying in the school. 2. The mandate of SMCs has been extended up to Class 12, replacing the erstwhile School Management Development Committees. 3. Every SMC is required to constitute a School Building Committee and an Academic Committee as sub-committees. 4. Members of the SMC shall serve a term of five years with no re-nomination permitted. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. At least 75% of the members of an SMC shall be parents or guardians of children studying in the school.
  2. The mandate of SMCs has been extended up to Class 12, replacing the erstwhile School Management Development Committees.
  3. Every SMC is required to constitute a School Building Committee and an Academic Committee as sub-committees.
  4. Members of the SMC shall serve a term of five years with no re-nomination permitted.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q4. With reference to how the School Management Committee (SMC) Guidelines, 2026 differ from the earlier SMC/SMDC framework under Samagra Shiksha, consider the following statements: 1. Unlike the earlier framework which had a separate School Management Development Committee for secondary schools, the 2026 Guidelines provide a unified SMC covering schools up to Class 12. 2. The statutory basis for constituting SMCs continues to be the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. 3. The 2026 Guidelines, for the first time, reduce the proportion of parent/guardian members below the threshold earlier prescribed under Section 21 of the RTE Act. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Unlike the earlier framework which had a separate School Management Development Committee for secondary schools, the 2026 Guidelines provide a unified SMC covering schools up to Class 12.
  2. The statutory basis for constituting SMCs continues to be the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.
  3. The 2026 Guidelines, for the first time, reduce the proportion of parent/guardian members below the threshold earlier prescribed under Section 21 of the RTE Act.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. With reference to the institutional architecture under the School Management Committee (SMC) Guidelines, 2026, consider the following pairings of body / instrument and its assigned role: 1. School Building Committee — sub-committee of the SMC overseeing civil works and infrastructure of the school. 2. Academic Committee — sub-committee of the SMC monitoring learning outcomes, attendance and counselling of students. 3. School Development Plan — to be prepared by the SMC as mandated under the Right to Education Act, 2009. 4. Block Resource Centre — designated as the parent body to which every SMC must submit a monthly financial audit report. Which of the above are correctly identified?

  1. School Building Committee — sub-committee of the SMC overseeing civil works and infrastructure of the school.
  2. Academic Committee — sub-committee of the SMC monitoring learning outcomes, attendance and counselling of students.
  3. School Development Plan — to be prepared by the SMC as mandated under the Right to Education Act, 2009.
  4. Block Resource Centre — designated as the parent body to which every SMC must submit a monthly financial audit report.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4