UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — data point

Q1. In discussions of India's science financing, the country's 'Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD)', frequently cited as being about 0.6-0.7%, is best defined as which one of the following?

  • A. The total research and development expenditure — public and private — performed within the country during a year, expressed as a share of GDP
  • B. The Central Government's annual R&D outlay alone, expressed as a share of the total Union Budget
  • C. The R&D expenditure of only public-sector undertakings and central research institutes, as a share of GDP
  • D. The gross external research grants received by India from multilateral bodies, as a share of GDP

Q2. According to figures placed before Parliament, the private (business) sector accounts for approximately what share of India's Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD)?

  • A. About 36%
  • B. About 55%
  • C. About 70%
  • D. About 14%

Q3. In India's Gender Budget Statement, 'Part A' is best described as comprising which of the following?

  • A. Schemes in which 100% of the provision is meant for women (women-specific schemes)
  • B. Schemes in which at least 30% of the allocation is directed to women
  • C. Schemes newly introduced in the current financial year that have any women beneficiaries
  • D. Schemes funded jointly by the Centre and States on a matching basis for women's welfare

Q4. Which of the following is the nodal ministry championing gender budgeting in the Government of India, promoting Gender Budgeting Cells and steering national consultation on the practice?

  • A. Ministry of Women and Child Development
  • B. Ministry of Finance
  • C. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
  • D. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

Q5. Consider the following head-wise allocations reported for Kerala's 2026-27 budget: 1. Ecology and Environment head — ₹27.8 crore 2. Department of Environment and Climate Change — ₹10.82 crore 3. Kerala State Biodiversity Board — ₹13 crore 4. Climate Adaptation Mission — ₹27.8 crore Which of the above pairings is/are NOT correctly matched?

  1. Ecology and Environment head — ₹27.8 crore
  2. Department of Environment and Climate Change — ₹10.82 crore
  3. Kerala State Biodiversity Board — ₹13 crore
  4. Climate Adaptation Mission — ₹27.8 crore
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 4 only

Q6. Kerala's allocation to Scientific Services and Research rose from ₹165.4 crore in 2022-23 to ₹288.6 crore in 2026-27. This represents a nominal increase of approximately:

  • A. 74%
  • B. 15%
  • C. 174%
  • D. 44%

Q7. Under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, the Chairperson of a State Biodiversity Board is best described as which of the following?

  • A. An eminent person with adequate knowledge and experience in conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and equitable benefit sharing, appointed by the State Government
  • B. A retired judge of the High Court nominated by the Governor of the State
  • C. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of the State, serving ex officio
  • D. An officer of the National Biodiversity Authority deputed to head the Board in the State

Q8. Regarding the fiscal-federal constraints that limit States' discretionary spending, consider the following: 1. Under Article 293(3), a State indebted to the Union must obtain the Centre's consent before raising fresh loans. 2. The Net Borrowing Ceiling for States is generally set at 3% of GSDP. 3. The FRBM framework targets a fiscal deficit of 3% of GSDP for States. 4. States require the prior approval of the Reserve Bank of India before they may undertake open-market borrowing. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Under Article 293(3), a State indebted to the Union must obtain the Centre's consent before raising fresh loans.
  2. The Net Borrowing Ceiling for States is generally set at 3% of GSDP.
  3. The FRBM framework targets a fiscal deficit of 3% of GSDP for States.
  4. States require the prior approval of the Reserve Bank of India before they may undertake open-market borrowing.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Q9. The net borrowing ceilings within which States must contain their annual borrowings — and which are ultimately enforced through the Union's consent under Article 293(3) — are recommended by which of the following?

  • A. The Finance Commission
  • B. The Reserve Bank of India
  • C. NITI Aayog
  • D. The GST Council

Q10. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) is envisaged to be funded with a corpus of about ₹50,000 crore spread over a period of:

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

Q11. Data-journalism scrutiny of budgets often contrasts nominal with real growth. Consider the following statements: 1. Nominal growth measures the change in rupee value of an allocation without adjusting for inflation, whereas real growth strips out the effect of price changes. 2. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) expresses an average annualised growth over a multi-year period, unlike a single point-to-point percentage change. 3. A budget head that grows in nominal terms but slower than nominal GSDP is necessarily rising as a share of the economy. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Nominal growth measures the change in rupee value of an allocation without adjusting for inflation, whereas real growth strips out the effect of price changes.
  2. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) expresses an average annualised growth over a multi-year period, unlike a single point-to-point percentage change.
  3. A budget head that grows in nominal terms but slower than nominal GSDP is necessarily rising as a share of the economy.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3