UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — President Murmu announces ‘Skill the Nation Challenge’ to Boost AI Awareness and Future-Ready Learning; Jayant Chaudhary nominates three others after completing his SOAR AI Module

Q1. In the context of the '#SkillTheNation Challenge', which one of the following correctly describes 'SOAR'?

  • A. Skilling for AI Readiness — an MSDE initiative launched in July 2025 and delivered on the Skill India Digital Hub
  • B. Skilling for AI Readiness — a MeitY initiative launched in 2023 under the IndiaAI Mission
  • C. Skill-Oriented Apprenticeship Reform — an MSDE scheme launched in 2015 alongside PMKVY
  • D. Students' Online AI Repository — a Ministry of Education portal launched in 2024

Q2. How many micro-credential courses constitute Phase 1 of the SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness) programme?

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

Q3. Which single platform serves as the national Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for skilling through which the SOAR courses are delivered?

  • A. Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH)
  • B. DIKSHA
  • C. National Career Service (NCS) portal
  • D. DigiLocker

Q4. The Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), through which SOAR is delivered, is operationalised by which ministry?

  • A. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
  • B. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
  • C. Ministry of Education
  • D. Ministry of Labour and Employment

Q5. Consider the following statements comparing the Skill India Mission and its AI-era extension, SOAR: 1. The National Skill Development Mission (Skill India) was launched on 15 July 2015. 2. SOAR was launched in July 2025, during the tenth-anniversary celebrations of the Skill India Mission. 3. Unlike the Skill India Mission, which is anchored in MSDE, SOAR is anchored in the Ministry of Education. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The National Skill Development Mission (Skill India) was launched on 15 July 2015.
  2. SOAR was launched in July 2025, during the tenth-anniversary celebrations of the Skill India Mission.
  3. Unlike the Skill India Mission, which is anchored in MSDE, SOAR is anchored in the Ministry of Education.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. Which ministry is the nodal ministry for the Skill India Mission, which completed ten years in 2025?

  • A. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
  • B. Ministry of Education
  • C. Ministry of Rural Development
  • D. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

Q7. Under whose authority was the '#SkillTheNation Challenge' announced on 1 January 2026?

  • A. President Droupadi Murmu
  • B. Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary
  • C. Prime Minister Narendra Modi
  • D. Vice-President of India

Q8. At the Rashtrapati Bhavan ceremony on 1 January 2026, how many Members of Parliament received SOAR AI course certificates?

  • A. 10
  • B. 15
  • C. 17
  • D. 25

Q9. Which SOAR micro-credential module did Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary complete before nominating others to the challenge?

  • A. AI to be Aware
  • B. AI to Aspire
  • C. AI to Acquire
  • D. AI for Educators

Q10. After completing his SOAR module, Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary nominated a set of individuals to take up the '#SkillTheNation Challenge'. Consider the following: 1. Nara Lokesh Rao 2. Gaurav Dwivedi, IAS 3. Nitin Narang, President of the All India Chess Federation 4. Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education Which of the above is/are correctly identified as persons nominated by him?

  1. Nara Lokesh Rao
  2. Gaurav Dwivedi, IAS
  3. Nitin Narang, President of the All India Chess Federation
  4. Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q11. At the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre ceremony on 1 January 2026, the 17 students conferred SOAR AI certificates were drawn from certain school systems. Consider the following school categories: 1. PM SHRI Schools 2. Kendriya Vidyalayas 3. Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas 4. Eklavya Model Residential Schools Which of the above is NOT correctly identified as a source of those students?

  1. PM SHRI Schools
  2. Kendriya Vidyalayas
  3. Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas
  4. Eklavya Model Residential Schools
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 3 and 4 only