UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — T.N. offers policy stability, transparent governance for urban growth: Minister

Q1. Consider the following statements comparing the constitutional provisions for rural and urban local government in India: 1. The Eleventh Schedule lists a larger number of subjects than the Twelfth Schedule, the latter enumerating eighteen functions that State legislatures may devolve to municipalities. 2. Provisions relating to District Planning Committees are contained in the Part of the Constitution dealing with Panchayats, whereas those relating to Metropolitan Planning Committees are contained in the Part dealing with Municipalities. 3. District Planning Committees stand constituted in every State to which the two local-government Parts of the Constitution apply. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Eleventh Schedule lists a larger number of subjects than the Twelfth Schedule, the latter enumerating eighteen functions that State legislatures may devolve to municipalities.
  2. Provisions relating to District Planning Committees are contained in the Part of the Constitution dealing with Panchayats, whereas those relating to Metropolitan Planning Committees are contained in the Part dealing with Municipalities.
  3. District Planning Committees stand constituted in every State to which the two local-government Parts of the Constitution apply.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. Which one of the following bodies has the primary responsibility of recommending how the net proceeds of taxes levied by a State should be distributed between that State and its municipalities?

  • A. The Finance Commission constituted by the President under Article 280 of the Constitution
  • B. The Finance Commission constituted by the Governor under Article 243-Y of the Constitution
  • C. The State Election Commission constituted under Article 243-ZA of the Constitution
  • D. The District Planning Committee constituted under Article 243-ZD of the Constitution

Q3. Consider the following statements relating to urbanisation in Tamil Nadu and in India between the 2001 and 2011 Censuses: 1. The number of census towns in Tamil Nadu rose from 111 to 376 over this decade. 2. Tamil Nadu emerged as the most urbanised State in the country in 2011, with every one of its districts recording an urban share higher than the national average. 3. India's urban population rose from 27.81 per cent of the total population to 32.16 per cent over this decade. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The number of census towns in Tamil Nadu rose from 111 to 376 over this decade.
  2. Tamil Nadu emerged as the most urbanised State in the country in 2011, with every one of its districts recording an urban share higher than the national average.
  3. India's urban population rose from 27.81 per cent of the total population to 32.16 per cent over this decade.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. The identification of settlements that satisfy prescribed population size, density and non-agricultural employment criteria but do not have a municipality, corporation or notified area committee is carried out by which one of the following?

  • A. The National Statistical Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
  • B. The Town and Country Planning Organisation under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
  • C. The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner under the Ministry of Home Affairs
  • D. The National Institute of Urban Affairs under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

Q5. Among the four verticals of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0, the largest number of houses has been sanctioned so far under which one of the following?

  • A. Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP)
  • B. Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC)
  • C. Affordable Rental Housing (ARH)
  • D. Interest Subsidy Scheme (ISS)

Q6. Consider the following statements regarding Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0: 1. It envisages assistance for the construction of one crore houses for urban poor and middle-class families over a period of five years. 2. Affordable Rental Housing is one of the verticals through which the scheme is implemented. 3. Under the Interest Subsidy Scheme vertical, every beneficiary, irrespective of household income, is entitled to a 4 per cent interest subsidy on the entire home loan amount. 4. Households with an annual income of up to ₹18 lakh are classified as Economically Weaker Section for the purposes of the scheme. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It envisages assistance for the construction of one crore houses for urban poor and middle-class families over a period of five years.
  2. Affordable Rental Housing is one of the verticals through which the scheme is implemented.
  3. Under the Interest Subsidy Scheme vertical, every beneficiary, irrespective of household income, is entitled to a 4 per cent interest subsidy on the entire home loan amount.
  4. Households with an annual income of up to ₹18 lakh are classified as Economically Weaker Section for the purposes of the scheme.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 2 only

Q7. Consider the following statements regarding the findings and recommendations of NITI Aayog's report 'Reforms in Urban Planning Capacity in India': 1. It found vacancy levels running as high as 42 per cent against about 3,945 sanctioned posts in State town and country planning departments, and additionally recommended the sanction of 8,268 town planners' posts as lateral entry positions. 2. It found that roughly one-third of India's 7,933 urban settlements are without any master plan. 3. It projected that urban growth would account for 73 per cent of the increase in India's total population during 2011-36. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It found vacancy levels running as high as 42 per cent against about 3,945 sanctioned posts in State town and country planning departments, and additionally recommended the sanction of 8,268 town planners' posts as lateral entry positions.
  2. It found that roughly one-third of India's 7,933 urban settlements are without any master plan.
  3. It projected that urban growth would account for 73 per cent of the increase in India's total population during 2011-36.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. NITI Aayog's report on urban planning capacity proposed the creation of a new statutory body to set standards for planning education and to regulate professional practice in the field. Which one of the following is that proposed body?

  • A. The Town and Country Planning Organisation
  • B. The National Council of Town and Country Planners
  • C. The Institute of Town Planners, India
  • D. The All India Council for Technical Education

Q9. The Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board, referred to in discussions on the State's housing institutions, is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. The renamed Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board, redesignated by a 2021 order of the Housing and Urban Development Department
  • B. The successor to the Tamil Nadu Housing Board, formed by merging it with the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority
  • C. The Metropolitan Planning Committee constituted for the Chennai metropolitan area under Article 243-ZE of the Constitution
  • D. A special purpose vehicle set up under the Smart Cities Mission to execute area-based development projects in Chennai

Q10. Consider the following statements relating to the Real Estate and Urban Infrastructure Summit 2026 and the urban themes highlighted there: 1. The Minister who addressed the Summit holds the Housing and Urban Development portfolio in the Tamil Nadu government. 2. The Summit was hosted by The Hindu Group at Chennai. 3. The two urban goals he stressed correspond at the Union level to AMRUT 2.0, which seeks to make cities garbage-free, and Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0, which seeks to make them water-secure. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Minister who addressed the Summit holds the Housing and Urban Development portfolio in the Tamil Nadu government.
  2. The Summit was hosted by The Hindu Group at Chennai.
  3. The two urban goals he stressed correspond at the Union level to AMRUT 2.0, which seeks to make cities garbage-free, and Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0, which seeks to make them water-secure.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. GRIHA, frequently invoked in Indian discussions on sustainable construction, is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A statutory building code that prescribes minimum energy performance requirements binding on all commercial buildings in the country
  • B. A national system for rating the environmental performance of buildings and habitats, whose latest version dates to 2019
  • C. A central sector scheme extending capital subsidy for rooftop solar photovoltaic installations on residential housing societies
  • D. A certification mark for construction materials issued under licence by the Bureau of Indian Standards

Q12. With reference to the Business Reforms Action Plan, under which Tamil Nadu was placed among the leading States in the 2020 assessment, which one of the following statements is correct?

  • A. It is carried out by NITI Aayog and its category placements are binding on all States as a precondition for additional market borrowing
  • B. It has been carried out in successive editions since 2015 by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, with States grouped into categories such as Top Achievers and Aspirers
  • C. It is conducted every single year without exception and assigns each State a single composite rank that cannot change across editions
  • D. It entirely replaced the World Bank's country assessment for India after 2020 and now extends its coverage to all countries of South Asia