UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India’s rural models are shaping development diplomacy

Q1. Within India's rural poverty-alleviation architecture, the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) is most accurately described as which one of the following?

  • A. The world's largest women-centric livelihoods programme
  • B. India's largest rural wage-employment guarantee programme
  • C. The world's largest rural housing programme
  • D. India's first collateral-free microfinance bank-linkage pilot

Q2. With reference to the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), consider the following statements: 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development. 2. It was renamed Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–NRLM in 2016. 3. It was created by restructuring the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana. 4. It is a Central Sector Scheme fully funded by the Union Government. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development.
  2. It was renamed Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–NRLM in 2016.
  3. It was created by restructuring the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana.
  4. It is a Central Sector Scheme fully funded by the Union Government.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. With reference to NABARD's SHG-Bank Linkage Programme, consider the following statements: 1. It was launched by NABARD in 1992. 2. It began as a pilot to link about 500 Self-Help Groups with banks. 3. It is regarded as the world's largest microfinance programme by outreach. 4. NABARD was established in the same year that this programme was launched. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. It was launched by NABARD in 1992.
  2. It began as a pilot to link about 500 Self-Help Groups with banks.
  3. It is regarded as the world's largest microfinance programme by outreach.
  4. NABARD was established in the same year that this programme was launched.
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. Consider the following statements comparing NABARD's SHG-Bank Linkage Programme (SHG-BLP) with the DAY-NRLM: 1. The SHG-BLP is anchored by NABARD, whereas DAY-NRLM is anchored by the Ministry of Rural Development. 2. The SHG-BLP predates the launch of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission. 3. Unlike DAY-NRLM, the SHG-BLP is confined exclusively to women's self-help groups. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The SHG-BLP is anchored by NABARD, whereas DAY-NRLM is anchored by the Ministry of Rural Development.
  2. The SHG-BLP predates the launch of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission.
  3. Unlike DAY-NRLM, the SHG-BLP is confined exclusively to women's self-help groups.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. DAY-NRLM, funded with ₹19,200 crore in the Union Budget 2026-27, is classified as a 'Centrally Sponsored Scheme'. In this context, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme is best defined as one that is:

  • A. Funded jointly by the Centre and the States and implemented through the State machinery
  • B. Funded and implemented entirely by the Union Government through central agencies
  • C. Funded wholly by the States with only technical guidance from the Centre
  • D. Financed by external multilateral agencies and merely routed through the Centre

Q6. Which one of the following best characterises the ₹19,200 crore provided to DAY-NRLM in the Union Budget 2026-27?

  • A. It is roughly a 20% increase over the scheme's 2025-26 revised estimate
  • B. It is the single largest scheme allocation within the Ministry of Rural Development
  • C. It fully funds the scheme, requiring no financial contribution from the States
  • D. It is a one-time capitalisation grant paid directly to individual Self-Help Groups

Q7. India's sharing of its Self-Help Group-based livelihoods experience with developing countries of the Global South, largely through training and capacity building, is primarily carried out under which one of the following programmes of the Ministry of External Affairs?

  • A. Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme
  • B. Indian Development and Economic Assistance Scheme (IDEAS)
  • C. Concessional Financing Scheme (CFS)
  • D. Focus Africa Programme

Q8. The domestic Self-Help Group-based livelihoods model that India now shares with African governments is designed and operationalised within India by which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Rural Development
  • B. Ministry of External Affairs
  • C. Ministry of Women and Child Development
  • D. NITI Aayog

Q9. Among the following programmes of the Ministry of Rural Development, which one is the only one that provides a legally enforceable statutory guarantee of wage employment?

  • A. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act programme (MGNREGA)
  • B. Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission
  • C. Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana–Gramin
  • D. Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana

Q10. MGNREGA, DAY-NRLM and Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana–Gramin are all implemented by which one of the following ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Rural Development
  • B. Ministry of Panchayati Raj
  • C. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
  • D. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

Q11. As per the latest available data on the SHG-Bank Linkage Programme, which one of the following statements about its women-centric character is correct?

  • A. More than 83% of its Self-Help Groups are exclusively women's groups
  • B. It provides only fully collateralised loans exclusively to women members
  • C. It is administered as a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Finance
  • D. It disburses direct cash subsidies to individual women beneficiaries