UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Kerala’s UDF backs PM-SHRI citing need for federal funds

Question 1

As reported by the Ministry of Education, how many schools had been selected as PM SHRI Schools from States/UTs along with KVS/NVS across the first four phases of the challenge-mode selection?

Accepted Answer

12,084 schools drawn from 32 States/UTs and the two central school systems

Answer

6,207 schools drawn from 27 States/UTs and the two central school systems

Answer

14,500 schools drawn from 36 States/UTs and the two central school systems

Answer

18,000 schools drawn from 28 States/UTs and the two central school systems

Question 2

Consider the following in respect of the PM SHRI scheme:
1. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with the Union Ministry of Education as the nodal ministry.
2. Schools enter the scheme through a Challenge Mode in which schools themselves apply on an online portal.
3. Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti schools are kept outside the scheme, which covers only schools managed by State/UT governments and local bodies.
4. Schools eligible to compete are identified from the UDISE+ database.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 4

Answer

1 and 3

Answer

3 and 4 only

Answer

2 and 3

Question 3

Consider the following statements comparing Samagra Shiksha with the schemes it replaced:
1. Samagra Shiksha subsumed the erstwhile Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan and the Teacher Education scheme.
2. Unlike Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, which was confined to elementary education, Samagra Shiksha covers school education from Class I to Class XII but leaves out the pre-school stage.
3. Where the predecessor schemes ran through separate implementing structures, Samagra Shiksha is implemented through a single State Implementation Society at the State/UT level.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

1 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 4

The annual work plans and budgets of States and Union Territories under Samagra Shiksha are cleared by a Project Approval Board chaired by which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

The Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy

Answer

The Union Minister of Education, Government of India

Answer

The Chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education, Ministry of Education

Answer

The Director of the National Council of Educational Research and Training, New Delhi

Question 5

Which one of the following best describes a 'Centrally Sponsored Scheme' as distinguished from a 'Central Sector Scheme' in India's public finance?

Accepted Answer

A scheme financed jointly by the Union and the States in a prescribed sharing ratio and executed through State machinery

Answer

A scheme met wholly from the Union Budget and executed directly by a central ministry or a central agency

Answer

A scheme financed out of grants recommended by the Finance Commission and executed by the State governments

Answer

A scheme financed from the Consolidated Fund of India and executed by district panchayats and municipal bodies

Question 6

Consider the following statements comparing the two main channels of Union transfers to the States:
1. Central taxes devolved to States are untied funds that States may spend at their discretion, whereas grants-in-aid must be applied to specified purposes.
2. For core Centrally Sponsored Schemes the Centre-State sharing ratio is 60:40 for most States but 90:10 for the eight North Eastern States and three Himalayan States.
3. Grants-in-aid have historically formed a larger share of total central transfers to the States than tax devolution.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

1 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 7

Consider the following statements about the linkage between the PM SHRI Memorandum of Understanding and Samagra Shiksha releases:
1. Till 31 January 2025 no central share under Samagra Shiksha had been disbursed to Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
2. Kerala signed the PM SHRI MoU on 23 October 2025, after which the Centre began releasing part of the State's pending Samagra Shiksha dues.
3. Tamil Nadu's continued withholding of consent has been linked to its objection to the three-language formula associated with the National Education Policy, 2020.
4. Punjab and Odisha were the other two States whose Samagra Shiksha central share stood withheld for not signing the PM SHRI MoU.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

4 only

Answer

1 and 3

Answer

2 and 4

Answer

1, 2 and 4

Question 8

PM SHRI, acceptance of which was made the condition for release of Samagra Shiksha central share to States, was approved by the Union Cabinet in which year and draws its mandate from which policy document?

Accepted Answer

2022; the National Education Policy, 2020

Answer

2020; the National Education Policy, 2020

Answer

2022; the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009

Answer

2019; the National Policy on Education, 1986 (as modified in 1992)

Question 9

Consider the following statements about Kerala's position on PM SHRI:
1. Kerala executed the PM SHRI MoU only after Union releases under Samagra Shiksha to the State had been halted.
2. Signing the MoU made Kerala eligible for release of pending Samagra Shiksha dues, part of which the Centre released in November 2025.
3. Signing the PM SHRI MoU permanently transfers the entire administrative control of the selected schools in Kerala to the Union Ministry of Education.
4. Every other State and Union Territory in the country had already signed the PM SHRI MoU before Kerala did, leaving Kerala as the last hold-out.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

3 and 4

Answer

1 and 2

Answer

3 only

Answer

2, 3 and 4

Question 10

The political front heading the Kerala government at the time the State executed the PM SHRI Memorandum of Understanding was led by which single party?

Accepted Answer

The Communist Party of India (Marxist)

Answer

The Indian National Congress

Answer

The Communist Party of India

Answer

The Indian Union Muslim League

Question 11

In the 5+3+3+4 curricular and pedagogical structure of the National Education Policy, 2020, the 'Preparatory Stage' covers which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

Grades 3 to 5, corresponding to ages 8 to 11 years

Answer

Three years of Anganwadi or pre-school together with Grades 1 and 2, ages 3 to 8

Answer

Grades 6 to 8, corresponding to ages 11 to 14 years

Answer

Grades 9 to 12 in two phases, corresponding to ages 14 to 18 years

Question 12

The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976, which placed education in the Concurrent List, shifted how many subjects in all from the State List to the Concurrent List?

Accepted Answer

Five subjects

Answer

Three subjects

Answer

Four subjects

Answer

Seven subjects

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Kerala’s UDF backs PM-SHRI citing need for federal funds

Q1. As reported by the Ministry of Education, how many schools had been selected as PM SHRI Schools from States/UTs along with KVS/NVS across the first four phases of the challenge-mode selection?

Q4. The annual work plans and budgets of States and Union Territories under Samagra Shiksha are cleared by a Project Approval Board chaired by which one of the following?

Q5. Which one of the following best describes a 'Centrally Sponsored Scheme' as distinguished from a 'Central Sector Scheme' in India's public finance?

Q8. PM SHRI, acceptance of which was made the condition for release of Samagra Shiksha central share to States, was approved by the Union Cabinet in which year and draws its mandate from which policy document?

Q10. The political front heading the Kerala government at the time the State executed the PM SHRI Memorandum of Understanding was led by which single party?

Q11. In the 5+3+3+4 curricular and pedagogical structure of the National Education Policy, 2020, the 'Preparatory Stage' covers which one of the following?

Q12. The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976, which placed education in the Concurrent List, shifted how many subjects in all from the State List to the Concurrent List?