UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Can middle school students engage with AI?

Q1. With reference to CBSE's Computational Thinking and Artificial Intelligence curriculum being rolled out from the 2026-27 academic session, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It is designed for students of Classes 3 to 8.
  2. Computational Thinking and AI are integrated into existing subjects such as Mathematics, Science and EVS.
  3. It is aligned with NEP 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education, 2023.
  4. It is offered as a standalone examination subject assessed through traditional written examinations.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4

Q2. In CBSE's new curriculum, the term 'Computational Thinking' is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A cognitive problem-solving skill set built on decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction and algorithmic thinking
  • B. Proficiency in writing programs in a specific high-level programming language such as Python
  • C. The ability to operate generative AI chatbots to answer classroom questions
  • D. The hardware skill of assembling and maintaining computer systems in a school laboratory

Q3. Consider the following statements comparing the OECD-European Commission AI Literacy (AILit) Framework with the US AI4K12 initiative. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The AILit Framework was jointly developed by the OECD and the European Commission, whereas AI4K12 is sponsored by AAAI and CSTA.
  2. Unlike AI4K12's 'Five Big Ideas', the AILit Framework organises AI literacy into a set of competency domains.
  3. The AILit Framework is meant only for higher and tertiary education, while AI4K12 covers school education.
  • 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 OECD-European Commission AI Literacy (AILit) Framework, consider the following. Which of the above are correctly identified as competency domains of the framework?

  1. Engage with AI
  2. Create with AI
  3. Manage AI
  4. Perception
  • A. 1 and 4
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q5. In the US AI4K12 initiative's 'Five Big Ideas in AI', which one of the following is designated as the first (Big Idea No. 1), on which the others build?

  • A. Perception
  • B. Learning
  • C. Societal Impact
  • D. Representation & Reasoning

Q6. In the AI4K12 'Five Big Ideas' framework, the Big Idea 'Representation & Reasoning' primarily refers to which one of the following?

  • A. Agents maintaining representations of the world and using them to draw inferences and reason
  • B. Computers improving their performance by learning patterns from data and experience
  • C. Computers extracting meaning from sensory signals such as images and sound
  • D. The broader positive and negative effects of AI systems on human society

Q7. Under the 5+3+3+4 curricular structure introduced by NEP 2020, the Middle Stage — at which coding is introduced — spans how many years/grades?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five

Q8. The National Education Policy 2020 was formulated and released by which one of the following Union entities?

  • A. The Ministry of Human Resource Development (renamed the Ministry of Education in 2020)
  • B. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
  • C. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
  • D. NITI Aayog

Q9. The US AI4K12 initiative, cited as a global precedent for school-level AI education, is jointly sponsored by which one of the following pairs of organisations?

  • A. The Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) and the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA)
  • B. The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the IEEE
  • C. AAAI and the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
  • D. CSTA and Code.org

Q10. In which year did the US AI4K12 initiative first release its 'Five Big Ideas in AI', later benchmarked against India's CBSE curriculum?

  • A. 2019
  • B. 2016
  • C. 2021
  • D. 2023

Q11. Under the YUVAi (Youth for Unnati and Vikas with AI) programme of MeitY's National e-Governance Division and Intel India, students develop AI-driven solutions across how many thematic areas?

  • A. Five
  • B. Six
  • C. Eight
  • D. Ten