UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — FINANCING IN RESEARCH

Q1. Under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023, the President of the Governing Board may appoint or nominate up to how many experts drawn from the natural sciences, engineering and technology to the Governing Board?

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

Q2. Under the ANRF Act, 2023, who is the chairperson of the Executive Council constituted to implement the provisions of the Act?

  • A. The Prime Minister
  • B. The Principal Scientific Adviser
  • C. The Cabinet Secretary
  • D. The Union Minister of Science and Technology

Q3. The Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme approved by the Union Cabinet envisages its ₹1 lakh crore corpus being deployed over a period of how many years?

  • A. Four years
  • B. Five years
  • C. Six years
  • D. Seven years

Q4. Which single body provides the overarching strategic direction to the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme?

  • A. The Executive Council of ANRF
  • B. The Empowered Group of Secretaries
  • C. The Governing Board of ANRF
  • D. The Department of Science and Technology

Q5. With reference to how funds move through the two tiers of the RDI Scheme, consider the following statements: 1. The Special Purpose Fund established within ANRF directly invests in industries and startups. 2. Funding by the second-level fund managers is normally in the form of long-term loans at low or nil interest rates. 3. The Scheme permits financing only as loans and never through equity. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Special Purpose Fund established within ANRF directly invests in industries and startups.
  2. Funding by the second-level fund managers is normally in the form of long-term loans at low or nil interest rates.
  3. The Scheme permits financing only as loans and never through equity.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q6. With reference to India's Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) relative to other countries, consider the following statements: 1. India's GERD is around 0.6–0.7% of GDP. 2. In India the private sector accounts for about 36% of GERD, whereas in countries such as China, South Korea and the USA private-sector contribution exceeds 70%. 3. In India the private sector alone contributes the entire GERD, with no government funding. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. India's GERD is around 0.6–0.7% of GDP.
  2. In India the private sector accounts for about 36% of GERD, whereas in countries such as China, South Korea and the USA private-sector contribution exceeds 70%.
  3. In India the private sector alone contributes the entire GERD, with no government funding.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. Which of the following contributes the largest share of India's Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD)?

  • A. The private sector / industry
  • B. The Government (public) sector
  • C. The higher education sector
  • D. Foreign and international sources

Q8. With reference to the sunrise/strategic sectors under the RDI Scheme, consider the following statements: 1. Digital economy, including digital agriculture, is among the named sunrise sectors. 2. Technologies whose indigenisation is important for strategic reasons or economic security are covered under the Scheme. 3. The list of sunrise sectors is fixed by statute and cannot be expanded by the ANRF Executive Council or the EGoS. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Digital economy, including digital agriculture, is among the named sunrise sectors.
  2. Technologies whose indigenisation is important for strategic reasons or economic security are covered under the Scheme.
  3. The list of sunrise sectors is fixed by statute and cannot be expanded by the ANRF Executive Council or the EGoS.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. With reference to the administrative control of the RDI Scheme, consider the following statements: 1. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is the nodal department for implementation of the RDI Scheme. 2. The Empowered Group of Secretaries overseeing the Scheme is chaired by the Cabinet Secretary. 3. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is the custodian of the ₹1 lakh crore corpus under the Scheme. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is the nodal department for implementation of the RDI Scheme.
  2. The Empowered Group of Secretaries overseeing the Scheme is chaired by the Cabinet Secretary.
  3. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is the custodian of the ₹1 lakh crore corpus under the Scheme.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3