UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: DEEP TECH STARTUP POLICY

Q1. The draft National Deep Tech Startup Policy (NDTSP), released for public consultation in 2023, was coordinated and drafted primarily by which one of the following?

  • A. Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India
  • B. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
  • C. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
  • D. NITI Aayog

Q2. The constitution of the National Consortium that framed the draft National Deep Tech Startup Policy was recommended by which one of the following?

  • A. Prime Minister's Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC)
  • B. Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (PM-EAC)
  • C. ANRF Governing Board
  • D. Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet

Q3. Under the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, the Special Purpose Fund that acts as custodian of the ₹1 lakh crore corpus is established within which body?

  • A. Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)
  • B. Technology Development Board (TDB)
  • C. Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)
  • D. NITI Aayog

Q4. The ₹1 lakh crore corpus of the RDI Scheme approved by the Union Cabinet is to be deployed over a period of how many years?

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

Q5. With reference to the office-bearers and organs of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) under the ANRF Act, 2023, consider the following statements: 1. The Prime Minister is the ex-officio President of the ANRF Governing Board. 2. The Union Minister of Science & Technology is an ex-officio Vice-President. 3. The Union Minister of Education is an ex-officio Vice-President. 4. The Executive Council of ANRF is chaired by the Cabinet Secretary. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Prime Minister is the ex-officio President of the ANRF Governing Board.
  2. The Union Minister of Science & Technology is an ex-officio Vice-President.
  3. The Union Minister of Education is an ex-officio Vice-President.
  4. The Executive Council of ANRF is chaired by the Cabinet Secretary.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 4 only

Q6. Which of the following is the administrative department of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)?

  • A. Department of Science and Technology (DST)
  • B. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR)
  • C. Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
  • D. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)

Q7. In the Indian policy context, deep-tech startups are principally distinguished from consumer/SaaS startups by which one of the following characteristics?

  • A. Long gestation, high capital intensity, and dependence on frontier scientific/engineering R&D and intellectual-property creation
  • B. Asset-light, rapid-to-market digital service models with quick revenue realisation
  • C. An exclusive focus on the export of software and IT-enabled services
  • D. A statutory requirement to be funded solely by foreign venture capital

Q8. With reference to sectors treated as deep-technology domains under India's deep-tech and RDI policy framework, consider the following: 1. Quantum computing 2. Space technology 3. Consumer food-delivery aggregation platforms 4. Synthetic biology Which of the above is/are correctly identified as deep-tech domains?

  1. Quantum computing
  2. Space technology
  3. Consumer food-delivery aggregation platforms
  4. Synthetic biology
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q9. The Startup India Action Plan, the foundational framework later widened to support deep-tech startups, was unveiled in which year and by which department?

  • A. 2016, by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
  • B. 2015, by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
  • C. 2016, by the Department of Science and Technology (DST)
  • D. 2020, by NITI Aayog

Q10. Under the RDI Scheme, the actual deployment of funds to projects in the identified sunrise sectors is carried out by which of the following?

  • A. Second Level Fund Managers such as AIFs, TDB and BIRAC
  • B. The ANRF Governing Board
  • C. PM-STIAC
  • D. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)

Q11. Which one of the following advisory councils is chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India?

  • A. Prime Minister's Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC)
  • B. ANRF Governing Board
  • C. NITI Aayog Governing Council
  • D. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs

Q12. With reference to how the RDI Scheme differs from the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), as reflected in the Government's deep-tech policy measures, consider the following statements: 1. The RDI Scheme was established through a Union Cabinet approval, whereas the ANRF was set up through an Act of Parliament. 2. The RDI Scheme mainly provides low- or nil-interest, long-tenor financing to the private sector, while the ANRF primarily funds and coordinates research. 3. Both the RDI Scheme and the ANRF were approved by the Union Cabinet in July 2025. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The RDI Scheme was established through a Union Cabinet approval, whereas the ANRF was set up through an Act of Parliament.
  2. The RDI Scheme mainly provides low- or nil-interest, long-tenor financing to the private sector, while the ANRF primarily funds and coordinates research.
  3. Both the RDI Scheme and the ANRF were approved by the Union Cabinet in July 2025.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3