UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — INDIA’S INNOVATION PERFORMANCE STRENGTHENS STEADILY, GLOBAL INNOVATION INDEX RANK IMPROVES TO 38TH IN 2025 FROM 66TH IN 2019: ECONOMIC SURVEY 2025-26

Q1. In the context of the Economic Survey 2025-26, the Global Innovation Index (GII), on which India ranked 38th in 2025, is best described as:

  • A. A composite index published by the World Intellectual Property Organization that ranks economies on their innovation capabilities and outcomes.
  • B. A ranking of economies based solely on the number of patent applications filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization.
  • C. An index published by the World Economic Forum measuring the overall global competitiveness of economies.
  • D. An index published by the World Bank tracking gross expenditure on research and development as a share of GDP.

Q2. How many economies were assessed and ranked in the Global Innovation Index 2025, in which India secured the 38th position?

  • A. 132
  • B. 139
  • C. 145
  • D. 193

Q3. Since which year has the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) been the sole publisher of the Global Innovation Index?

  • A. 2007
  • B. 2012
  • C. 2020
  • D. 2021

Q4. In the methodology of the Global Innovation Index, the 'Innovation Output Sub-Index' refers to:

  • A. The sub-index capturing the results of innovative activities, comprising the Knowledge & technology outputs and Creative outputs pillars.
  • B. The sub-index measuring the enabling environment for innovation, comprising Institutions, Human capital & research and Infrastructure.
  • C. The sub-index aggregating a country's total gross expenditure on research and development.
  • D. The sub-index that ranks economies solely on the basis of their creative goods and services exports.

Q5. The India Innovation Index, which ranks States and Union Territories and serves as a sub-national mirror of the Global Innovation Index, is released by which of the following?

  • A. NITI Aayog (along with the Institute for Competitiveness)
  • B. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
  • C. Ministry of Science and Technology
  • D. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation

Q6. In the Global Innovation Index 2025, Switzerland retained the top global rank for how many consecutive years?

  • A. 10
  • B. 13
  • C. 15
  • D. 20

Q7. The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, cited in the Economic Survey 2025-26 as a driver of India's innovation performance, is best described as a scheme that:

  • A. Provides incentives to companies calculated on their incremental sales/production of goods manufactured in India over a base year.
  • B. Provides upfront capital subsidies to companies for setting up plants, irrespective of the output achieved.
  • C. Offers blanket income-tax holidays to all export-oriented units regardless of sector.
  • D. Reimburses customs duties paid on capital goods imported for manufacturing.

Q8. With reference to the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes as reported around the Economic Survey 2025-26, consider the following statements: 1. The PLI schemes span 14 key sectors with a combined outlay of about ₹1.97 lakh crore. 2. Unlike a capital subsidy, PLI incentives are disbursed on the basis of incremental production/sales achieved over a base year. 3. As on 31 December 2025, fewer than 500 applications had been approved across all PLI sectors. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The PLI schemes span 14 key sectors with a combined outlay of about ₹1.97 lakh crore.
  2. Unlike a capital subsidy, PLI incentives are disbursed on the basis of incremental production/sales achieved over a base year.
  3. As on 31 December 2025, fewer than 500 applications had been approved across all PLI sectors.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. The Semicon India Programme, backed by a ₹76,000 crore incentive framework, is implemented through the India Semiconductor Mission, which functions under which ministry?

  • A. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
  • B. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • C. Ministry of Science and Technology
  • D. Ministry of Heavy Industries

Q10. For the purposes of the Startup India initiative, an entity 'recognised as a startup' is one that:

  • A. Is recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as meeting the eligibility criteria laid down under the initiative.
  • B. Is any newly incorporated company, without exception, registered in India after 16 January 2016.
  • C. Is any company that has listed its shares on a recognised stock exchange in India.
  • D. Is exclusively a company engaged in information technology and software services.

Q11. In the Global Innovation Index 2025, the ranking of the world's top science and technology (innovation) clusters — in which Bengaluru is India's highest-ranked cluster — is compiled and published by:

  • A. World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
  • B. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
  • C. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
  • D. World Economic Forum (WEF)

Q12. With reference to the Economic Survey 2025-26, consider the following statements: 1. It was tabled in Parliament by the Union Finance Minister. 2. It is prepared under the guidance of the Chief Economic Adviser in the Ministry of Finance. 3. It was presented in Parliament immediately after the Union Budget 2026-27. 4. It is a document constitutionally mandated under Article 112 of the Constitution. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It was tabled in Parliament by the Union Finance Minister.
  2. It is prepared under the guidance of the Chief Economic Adviser in the Ministry of Finance.
  3. It was presented in Parliament immediately after the Union Budget 2026-27.
  4. It is a document constitutionally mandated under Article 112 of the Constitution.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 2 and 4