UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Lack of ‘sustainable water sources’ will thwart Jal Jeevan Mission: panel

Q1. Which one of the following best describes the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) following its 2.0 restructuring approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2026?

  • A. A Central Sector Scheme fully funded by the Union Government covering both rural and urban household water supply
  • B. A Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti for rural Functional Household Tap Connections, restructured towards a service-delivery model
  • C. A statutory mission constituted under the National Water Mission of the National Action Plan on Climate Change
  • D. A NABARD-administered market-borrowing window for funding rural water utility corporations

Q2. With reference to Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2026, consider the following statements: 1. The mission timeline has been extended up to December 2028. 2. The total outlay has been enhanced to about Rs. 8.69 lakh crore. 3. The Centre:State fund-sharing pattern for North-Eastern and Himalayan States has been revised to 50:50. 4. Implementation focus has been shifted from infrastructure creation to a service-delivery model. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The mission timeline has been extended up to December 2028.
  2. The total outlay has been enhanced to about Rs. 8.69 lakh crore.
  3. The Centre:State fund-sharing pattern for North-Eastern and Himalayan States has been revised to 50:50.
  4. Implementation focus has been shifted from infrastructure creation to a service-delivery model.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q3. Which one of the following is the nodal department of the Union Government for implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission?

  • A. Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti
  • B. Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti
  • C. Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development
  • D. Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development

Q4. As per the Union Cabinet decision of 10 March 2026 on Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, the additional central share approved over and above the central assistance sanctioned in 2019-20 is approximately:

  • A. Rs. 0.51 lakh crore
  • B. Rs. 1.51 lakh crore
  • C. Rs. 2.59 lakh crore
  • D. Rs. 3.59 lakh crore
  • NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam
    NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam

    The notification of Borjuli site in Sonitpur, Assam as a Biodiversity Heritage Site under an NRAA-funded wild rice conservation project is a named, verifiable fact. Biodiversity Heritage Sites and wild crop genetic resource conservation are tested Prelims topics.

  • India Advances Global Green Hydrogen Leadership under National Green Hydrogen Mission

    Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), a landmark commercial deal for green ammonia and methanol export to Japan (IHI Corporation named) is a concrete outcome. India's green hydrogen ambitions and NGHM are recurring Prelims themes; this adds a factual export-deal hook.

  • NITI Aayog launches report on "Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global"
    NITI Aayog launches report on "Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global"

    A named NITI Aayog report on Ayurveda's global expansion is testable as a policy document. NITI Aayog reports, AYUSH sector initiatives, and traditional medicine diplomacy are recurring Prelims themes; the report's launch date and authoring body are clean factual hooks.

  • INDIAN NAVAL SHIP TRIKAND RESPONDS TO PIRACY ATTEMPT ON MV GOLDEN ARSENAL IN THE GULF OF ADEN

    A named Indian Navy anti-piracy operation with specific ship (INS Trikand — identified as a stealth frigate), vessel flag state (St. Vincent and the Grenadines), and location (Gulf of Aden) offers testable facts. India's maritime security operations are plausible Prelims hooks but appear occasionally, not frequently.

  • Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches nationwide ‘Viksit Bharat – G-Ram G Act’ from Andhra Pradesh with Chief Minister Shri Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Shri Pawan Kalyan

    A newly named nationwide scheme launched by the Rural Development ministry that explicitly positions itself as moving 'beyond MGNREGA' is potentially testable. However, the excerpt lacks concrete numbers or statutory grounding, keeping it at 3 rather than 4.

  • MANAS: A Digital Shield Against Drugs

    MANAS is a named government digital initiative (national narcotics helpline) with a specific mandate under Nasha Mukt Bharat. Named government portals/helplines with specific functions are tested in Prelims, though this release is a backgrounder without new launch data.

  • VB-G RAM G Act comes into force across the country from today; “A historic day for rural India”: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

    The VB-G RAM G Act (likely a renamed/revised MGNREGA or rural employment guarantee framework) came into force across India from July 1, 2026. Key facts: national launch in Tirupati on July 2; revised wage rates notified with no daily wage below ₹300; national average wage increased by over 10%. A new central Act coming into force with specific wage figures is high-priority Prelims material.

  • India Achieves Major Milestone with Approval of Country’s First PinS Instrument Approach Procedure for Helicopter Operations

    DGCA approved India's first Private Point-in-Space (PinS) Instrument Approach Procedure for helicopter operations, implemented at Undavalli Heliport (developed by AAI). This is a named first in Indian aviation with a specific location and implementing body — classic Prelims material for science/tech and aviation sections.

  • 11 Years of Digital India: Better Healthcare & Digital Markets Making Lives Easier

    This release contains high-quality testable data: Greece is named as the 10th country to adopt UPI; every second real-time digital transaction globally is processed via India's UPI; 13 lakh Anganwadi workers connected via Poshan Tracker covering 9 crore beneficiaries. Multiple concrete facts that are prime Prelims material.

  • India, EU Advance Cooperation on Sustainable Ship Recycling; Three Indian Yards Ready for EU Recognition

    India has a 35.4% global market share in sustainable ship recycling. Three Indian ship-recycling yards are ready for EU recognition. India committed $8 billion to strengthen shipbuilding and recycling, with a target of recycling 16,000 ships. These are specific, verifiable figures in a sector where India leads globally — strong Prelims material on maritime/shipping sector.

  • GAGAN: Navigating India’s Skies with Precision

    Detailed backgrounder on GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation), India's Satellite-Based Augmentation System developed jointly by ISRO and Airports Authority of India (AAI). It enhances GPS accuracy for aviation, is certified to international standards, and supports satellite-based landing approaches. GAGAN is a recurring Prelims topic and this backgrounder consolidates key testable facts about its developers, purpose, and certification status.

    • The Hindu

    Latest PIB

    Latest from The Hindu

    Explore