UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Quantum shift

Q1. With reference to the sectoral composition of India's Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) as reported by the Department of Science and Technology, consider the following statements: 1. In 2019-20, private-sector industry accounted for 33.8% of GERD. 2. In 2023-24, the government sector's share of GERD stood at about 48.2%. 3. In 2023-24, India's GERD as a proportion of GDP stood at about 1.2%. 4. Private-sector industry's share of GERD first crossed the 50% mark in 2019-20. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. In 2019-20, private-sector industry accounted for 33.8% of GERD.
  2. In 2023-24, the government sector's share of GERD stood at about 48.2%.
  3. In 2023-24, India's GERD as a proportion of GDP stood at about 1.2%.
  4. Private-sector industry's share of GERD first crossed the 50% mark in 2019-20.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2, 3 and 4

Q2. Consider the following statements comparing India's research and development spending in 2019-20 with 2023-24: 1. Total national R&D spending rose from about ₹1.33 lakh crore to about ₹2.45 lakh crore over this period. 2. The government sector's share of GERD fell from 66.2% to 48.2% over this period. 3. Over this period, R&D spending by the higher education sector grew at a slower compound annual rate than R&D spending by private industry. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Total national R&D spending rose from about ₹1.33 lakh crore to about ₹2.45 lakh crore over this period.
  2. The government sector's share of GERD fell from 66.2% to 48.2% over this period.
  3. Over this period, R&D spending by the higher education sector grew at a slower compound annual rate than R&D spending by private industry.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. Which one of the following brings out the periodic national 'Research and Development Statistics' publication that reports India's Gross Expenditure on Research and Development?

  • A. National Statistical Office, under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
  • B. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, under the Ministry of Science and Technology
  • C. Department of Science and Technology, under the Ministry of Science and Technology
  • D. Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India

Q4. In India's official science and technology statistics, the term 'Gross Expenditure on Research and Development' denotes which one of the following?

  • A. The Union government's annual budgetary outlay on its scientific departments and national laboratories
  • B. Total spending on research performed within the national territory in a year, across all sectors
  • C. Combined research spending of the Centre, the states and public sector undertakings, private industry being excluded
  • D. Research spending of resident firms abroad added to foreign research investment flowing into the country

Q5. Comparative national R&D intensity figures placing Israel at about 6.8% of GDP and the Republic of Korea at about 5.1% of GDP are reported under which one of the following?

  • A. The Global Innovation Index, which alone ranks every economy by its research intensity
  • B. The UNESCO Science Report, the sole authorised source of national research spending data
  • C. The World Development Indicators, which exclusively measure research intensity worldwide
  • D. The Main Science and Technology Indicators, a periodic compilation of R&D indicators by the OECD

Q6. The periodic national surveys on resources devoted to scientific and technological activities, which generate the R&D estimates India uses for cross-country comparison, are conducted by which one of the following?

  • A. The Science and Engineering Research Board, which alone funds all extramural research in the country
  • B. The National Science and Technology Management Information System of the Department of Science and Technology
  • C. The Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council, the sole technology forecasting body in India
  • D. The National Research Development Corporation, which exclusively handles all technology transfer from public laboratories

Q7. In the Department of Science and Technology's disaggregation of India's GERD for 2020-21, apart from private-sector industry, into how many distinct components is the remainder of national R&D expenditure broken up?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five

Q8. Which statutory body, created by an Act of Parliament in 2008 to support extramural research, was repealed and subsumed on the establishment of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation?

  • A. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the country's largest chain of public research laboratories
  • B. The Science and Engineering Research Board, the extramural competitive research funding agency under the Department of Science and Technology
  • C. The Technology Development Board, which extends financial assistance for commercialisation of indigenous technology
  • D. The National Research Development Corporation, the public enterprise engaged in transfer of laboratory technologies to industry

Q9. Overarching strategic direction to the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme is provided by which one of the following?

  • A. The Executive Council of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser
  • B. The Empowered Group of Secretaries headed by the Cabinet Secretary, which reviews scheme performance
  • C. The Governing Council of NITI Aayog, chaired by the Prime Minister, with Chief Ministers as members
  • D. The Governing Board of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, chaired by the Prime Minister

Q10. With reference to the growth of research and development spending in India up to 2023-24, consider the following statements: 1. Private-sector R&D spending rose from ₹44,754 crore in 2019-20 to about ₹1.18 lakh crore in 2023-24. 2. Private-sector R&D spending recorded a compound annual growth rate of about 27.52% between 2019-20 and 2023-24. 3. State governments accounted for roughly 4% of national R&D spending in 2023-24. 4. Higher education R&D spending rose from ₹9,942 crore in 2019-20 to ₹30,909 crore in 2023-24, a compound annual growth rate of about 12.5%. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Private-sector R&D spending rose from ₹44,754 crore in 2019-20 to about ₹1.18 lakh crore in 2023-24.
  2. Private-sector R&D spending recorded a compound annual growth rate of about 27.52% between 2019-20 and 2023-24.
  3. State governments accounted for roughly 4% of national R&D spending in 2023-24.
  4. Higher education R&D spending rose from ₹9,942 crore in 2019-20 to ₹30,909 crore in 2023-24, a compound annual growth rate of about 12.5%.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4

Q11. Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting, mandated for the top 1000 entities by market capitalisation and among the disclosure changes cited as inflating reported corporate research spending, is prescribed by which one of the following?

  • A. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs, which issued the National Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct
  • B. The National Financial Reporting Authority, the audit and accounting standards oversight body
  • C. The Securities and Exchange Board of India, the regulator of the securities market
  • D. The Reserve Bank of India, which prescribes reporting norms for regulated financial entities

Q12. With reference to India's institutional framework for financing research and innovation, consider the following statements: 1. The Research, Development and Innovation Scheme envisages a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore, with the Department of Science and Technology as the nodal department. 2. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation was set up with an outlay of ₹50,000 crore for a five-year period, of which ₹36,000 crore is to be mobilised from non-government sources. 3. Under the Research, Development and Innovation Scheme, funds are routed exclusively as outright grants, equity financing being barred in every case. 4. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023 makes the Prime Minister the ex-officio President of the Foundation. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Research, Development and Innovation Scheme envisages a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore, with the Department of Science and Technology as the nodal department.
  2. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation was set up with an outlay of ₹50,000 crore for a five-year period, of which ₹36,000 crore is to be mobilised from non-government sources.
  3. Under the Research, Development and Innovation Scheme, funds are routed exclusively as outright grants, equity financing being barred in every case.
  4. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023 makes the Prime Minister the ex-officio President of the Foundation.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 3 and 4