UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — MSDE Signs Landmark MoU with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to Deepen Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training
Q1. Which one of the following is the nodal Union ministry responsible for coordinating all skill development efforts across the country and for hosting the India Skills Accelerator on the Indian side?
- A. Ministry of Education
- B. Ministry of Labour and Employment
- C. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
- D. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
Q2. With reference to the formation of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), consider the following statements:
1. The Department of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship was created in 2014 and later upgraded the same year to a full-fledged Ministry.
2. The National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship was unveiled in 2015.
3. Prior to MSDE's creation, the Directorate General of Training was administered by the Ministry of Education.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The Department of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship was created in 2014 and later upgraded the same year to a full-fledged Ministry.
- The National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship was unveiled in 2015.
- Prior to MSDE's creation, the Directorate General of Training was administered by the Ministry of Education.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. With reference to the World Economic Forum (WEF), consider the following statements:
1. It is headquartered near Geneva in Switzerland.
2. It was founded in 1971.
3. It is a specialised agency of the United Nations.
4. Its flagship Annual Meeting is held at Davos.
Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?
- It is headquartered near Geneva in Switzerland.
- It was founded in 1971.
- It is a specialised agency of the United Nations.
- Its flagship Annual Meeting is held at Davos.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1, 2 and 4
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q4. Which one of the following best describes the constitutional-legal character of the World Economic Forum?
- A. An independent international not-for-profit foundation for public-private cooperation
- B. An intergovernmental organisation functioning under the UN Economic and Social Council
- C. A specialised financing agency of the World Bank Group
- D. A treaty-based economic bloc of the G20 economies
Q5. In the context of the World Economic Forum, the 'Reskilling Revolution' refers to which one of the following?
- A. A platform launched in 2020 aiming to provide one billion people with better skills, education and jobs by 2030
- B. A UN Sustainable Development Goal target on universal secondary education by 2030
- C. An OECD framework mandating minimum vocational-training spending by member states
- D. An ILO convention setting global apprenticeship wage standards
Q6. With reference to the World Economic Forum's Reskilling Revolution, consider the following statements:
1. It was launched at the WEF Annual Meeting in 2020.
2. Its stated target is to reach one billion people by 2030.
3. As of January 2026 it was reported to be on track to reach over 850 million people.
4. It is implemented exclusively by the Government of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- It was launched at the WEF Annual Meeting in 2020.
- Its stated target is to reach one billion people by 2030.
- As of January 2026 it was reported to be on track to reach over 850 million people.
- It is implemented exclusively by the Government of India.
- A. 1 only
- B. 3 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 4
Q7. Which one of the following best describes the 'India Skills Accelerator' established under the MSDE–WEF Memorandum of Understanding?
- A. A national multi-stakeholder public-private platform to address workforce skills gaps, forming part of WEF's Global Accelerators Network
- B. A legally binding bilateral treaty between India and Switzerland on labour mobility
- C. A Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a fixed 60:40 centre-state funding pattern
- D. A statutory regulatory body created by an Act of Parliament to accredit training institutes
Q8. The Memorandum of Understanding institutionalising the India Skills Accelerator was signed by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship with which one of the following organisations?
- A. The World Bank
- B. The International Labour Organization
- C. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
- D. The World Economic Forum
Q9. As per the announcement of the India Skills Accelerator, how many emerging 'Future of Work' domains were specifically named as focus areas for collaboration?
- A. Three
- B. Four
- C. Five
- D. Six
Q10. With reference to the emerging 'Future of Work' domains named as focus areas of the India Skills Accelerator, consider the following:
1. Artificial intelligence
2. Cybersecurity
3. Advanced manufacturing
4. Space technology
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as a named focus domain?
- Artificial intelligence
- Cybersecurity
- Advanced manufacturing
- Space technology
- A. 4 only
- B. 1 only
- C. 3 and 4
- D. 2 only
Q11. With reference to India's skilling ecosystem, consider the following statements:
1. The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is a Public-Private Partnership enterprise functioning under MSDE.
2. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) is the flagship scheme launched in 2015 under the Skill India Mission.
3. The National Skill Development Mission was launched in 2020.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is a Public-Private Partnership enterprise functioning under MSDE.
- Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) is the flagship scheme launched in 2015 under the Skill India Mission.
- The National Skill Development Mission was launched in 2020.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q12. On joining the World Economic Forum's global Accelerators Network in 2026, India became part of a network comprising how many national accelerators?